What People Get Wrong About Schizophrenia

This is a re-upload of a previous episode. Thanks to one of our astute viewers for pointing out the last episode was problematic, and thanks to all our viewers that help us think about the world more complexly!

Scientists have learned a great deal about schizophrenia in the past few decades, but public perception of the disorder is still often rooted in outdated myths.

Hosted by: Brit Garner
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[zedizdead]

"[...] First, having schizophrenia doesn't mean you’re indecisive,
or you change your mind a lot, or you have multiple personalities—
which apparently nearly two-thirds of Americans think is a thing.
Maybe they’re thinking that because “schizophrenia”
comes from Greek words for "split mind." [...]"

I think most people, Americans or not, have this image of people with schizophrenia because that's how they are often presented in movies and TV series, which are mostly likely to be American made.

[naturesfinest]

General population: educated enough to know that schizophrenia is Greek for split mind.

General population: not educated enough to know what schizophrenia actually is.

[sup]

Thank you for this. I'm so sick of explaining why I'm not a bad person for having schizophrenia.

[mschrisfrank]

My great-uncle had paranoid schizophrenia, it was sad how the family largely avoided him. He did often stop taking medicine, but he wasn’t dangerous.

[SciShowPsych]

This is a re-upload of a previous episode. Thanks to one of our astute viewers for pointing out the last episode was problematic, and thanks to all our viewers that help us think about the world more complexly!

[Antikia]

Some of the nicest, most caring people I know have schizophrenia. It's really not the 'crazy' it's sometimes portrayed as

[grannykiminalaska]

My sister had schizophrenia. The medication was almost as bad as the disorder. We supported her in every way we could. For a while after her first stroke things were much better. Her second stroke was the killer.

[Psittac]

I'm a mostly recovered schizophrenic. I have a genetic predisposition as my grandmother and uncle have/had dementia. I got into drugs right out of HS and my supposed best friend poured large amounts of LSD into my mouth one night because he thought I slept with his ex girlfriend. That was about 20 years ago and I have been fighting for a better life ever since. I have always been improving but nothing major until the past 3 or so years when I went from group therapy at a university into a local care center. I got one on one with a doctor for my meds and have been seeing a therapist every month or two. While in group therapy I would meet people that were just not ok and they would give a laundry list of medications they had been on, almost like it was their obsession or a mark of endurance. I was afraid that I would be that person so I kept my mouth shut and stuck to one medication that was giving minimal improvement. Now I've switched meds and am in the middle of switching meds again, this time to something newer like abilify. The problem is that I'm doing so good now that I really don't want to risk relapse, for a long time I have said that I'm 99.9% there and somehow that's always redefined as symptoms get weaker and weaker. Currently I'd say my biggest symptom is flat affect as I find it hard to express emotions. And somewhat related to that I have zero motivation to do anything with my life, I work with my dad and it's great but all I do is work and play video games. I've got a messy house and always have dirty clothes, I never have that sense of well being where I can just go and brush my teeth. For some reason I think "bah I'm not going to do that" along with a pit of the stomach feeling that I shouldn't feel normal. At any rate I'm looking forward to what the future brings, because I'm always improving and since I consider myself normal or symptom free, I can't wait to see what my new normal is even a year from now. My theory is that medication is a tool not a fixall.

[sadpotato]

Can you do a video on or Disassociative disorders?

[miriambucholtz]

I was actually misdiagnosed with schizophrenia 45 years ago. I learned nearly 3 years ago that what I actually have is Asperger's syndrome. The only time I've ever hallucinated, I had a high fever when I was a little girl. I can see where the mistake was made, though; my thoughts are in images (think "mind movies") and could be misconstrued by someone with his head stuck in a psych textbook as hallucinations. I also have synesthesia. This particular gift is also something that could be seen as hallucinating by someone who refuses to understand this and other benign neurological phenomena. I tend to view the world differently from many people and do not particularly enjoy socializing. Bingo. Schizophrenia. The worst part was not the zombie pills that I weaned myself off of; the worst part was losing the prime of my life to the fear that the "schizophrenia" would come back and turn me into a burden. I'm a bit old to try going after that 4-year college degree that I never got, but I just might do it anyway.

[swingloveEKL]

Please do a video on misconceptions/myths about bipolar disorder!

[limalicious]

Two things you failed to mention:
Hearing voices can be internal (hearing them in your head) or external (hearing them around you).
High levels of serotonin is dangerous, too.

[iothefrog]

As someone with schizoaffective disorder, I am happy that you are doing a video on clearing up some of the misconceptions about it.

[abbyroadme]

My cousin has it and he is amazing. So friendly and a kind guy.

[NewMessage]

I just wish people would learn the difference between schizophrenia and schizoid PD. I'm sick to death of seeing that telltale raising of the eyebrows when they hear I have the one, and mistake it for the other.

[TheElementalBlood]

My husband has schizophrenia. I love him to death and he is un-medicated. It's quite mild so the side effects weren't really worth the little help they were giving him. I know he has visual hallucinations; he'll wake up in the middle of the night and swear that people are standing around the bed staring at him or that someone's in the back seat of the car when he gets in. He knows they aren't real after a few moments but I still occasionally catch him talking to "me" when I've been in another room and come back.


He's the sweetest person I know and is an amazing father to our daughter. I am a bit worried she will have it and am not certain how I could explain that what she sees or feels isn't real. It is comforting to know that the chances are much lower than I thought. Not that I'd love her any less but like any parent I want her to have as few difficulties as possible for her in her physical and mental health.

[sebastianelytron]

Thanks to videos like this, I now feel like I have a beautiful mind.

[crowofcainhurst]

My uncle said he sometimes seeing ghosts or hearing the dead talking to him. My whole family believed that he's spiritually gifted and monetized his ability. I told them long time ago that he might suffer from schizophrenia and we should take him to psychiatrist but they took my word as a joke. Yes my family are highly superstitious and I am stuck with them.

[moosepocalypse]

I have diagnosis of "high-functioning schizophrenia" I do get auditory hallucination and have difficulties with emotions. I do find it a bit frustrating though when they usually show schizophrenics being violent and dangerous... Or if a politician changes their mind a lot they sometimes get called "schizophrenic"... If changing my mind a lot was the problem lol

[cakie]

My friend has schizophrenia and I want to be as supportive as possible. This was very helpful because I’m not that educated on it. Thank you :)