It’s
easy to dwell on the negatives when dealing with schizophrenia, but the truth
is, there are many reasons for hope:
·
We
know, without question, that schizophrenia is a no-fault disorder of the brain
and that with appropriate treatment and supports, the illness doesn't necessarily have to have a chronic, deteriorating course. People do and can
recover!
·
Early
diagnosis and the availability of community-based treatment and social supports
can restore an individual’s dignity, improve her quality of life, and enable
her to make meaningful contributions to her family and community. Your loved
one may find a different path than you or she anticipated, but it can still be
a good one.
·
The
ultimate goal of recovery is about more than relief of symptoms. Recovery
entails helping people get back to work or school, live with others, and make
their own life decisions. Patients and families should accept no less.
·
The role of
families and friends is critical to recovery. They
need to:
§ Support and anchor their loved ones during the acute phases
of the illness
§ Help their loved ones find the tools they need to recover
and avoid relapse
·
Continue to educate themselves to
better cope with the challenges they encounter, working individually and
collectively to fight stigma and discrimination based on misunderstanding.
Just as scientists now know that
there are many different types of cancer, researchers may one day learn that
schizophrenia is a family of similar disorders that are currently lumped under
one term. This discovery could pave the way for
more targeted and personalized treatments. Because the precise causes of
schizophrenia are still unknown for any particular individual, scientists are
exploring a number of possibilities including genetic, viral, infectious,
chemical, developmental, and environmental explanations. There has never been
more research being conducted on the causes and cures for schizophrenia than
there is today.
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