Schizophrenia

            
             Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects about one percent of the world's population, and more than two million Americans. It occurs equally in men and women, but is rare in children. Men tend to get it in their teens and early twenties and it emerges in women in their twenties or early thirties. There is no cure yet, but medications can help make this disease more manageable. It is believed to be caused by genetics and chemical or structural abnormalities in the brain. People can have schizophrenia and other medical problems at the same time, and many people have the symptoms of this illness but they do not necessarily have it. .
             Schizophrenia causes someone to withdraw from their daily life into a fictitious world. Their brain becomes disordered and they interpret reality abnormally. Some signs of this illness include: delusions, hallucinations, lack of or inappropriate display of emotions, and trouble functioning socially or with hygiene. If these symptoms persist for more than a few months, schizophrenia could be possible. However, many people do not show any symptoms and they behave normally most of the time. .
             The most common type of schizophrenia is Paranoid Schizophrenia. This is when someone has repeated hallucinations or delusions of the same theme. The first signs usually show between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four. Antipsychotic medications can help control it, but there is no known cure. When someone has a severe attack of Paranoid Schizophrenia, they may need hospitalization. Symptoms of this illness include anxiety, anger, argumentativeness, and violence. .