Myths About Schizophrenia: Subverting The Stigma

Medically reviewed by Nikki Ciletti, M.Ed, LPC
Updated October 16, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Over the years, researchers have learned much about schizophrenia, a mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms. However, schizophrenia often continues to be surrounded by myths and stereotypes. These can be harmful to people living with the disorder and may even discourage them from seeking care. To improve our understanding of schizophrenia, we can review facts and research about the disorder while dispelling myths. For instance, most individuals with schizophrenia are not violent and they generally don’t have multiple personalities. While schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder with no cure, the condition can often be effectively managed with the proper treatment.

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Relief from schizophrenia symptoms can be possible

Understanding schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that can cause a variety of symptoms, the primary one being psychosis. Psychosis involves losing track of what's real and what's not. This could include experiencing hallucinations and holding delusions. People with schizophrenia may experience psychosis more than once in their lives.

Schizophrenia is often detectable in early adulthood, when symptoms first start to appear. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, symptoms of schizophrenia usually start earlier in men than in women. Men often start showing symptoms in their late teens to early 20s. Women may begin to display symptoms between their mid-20s and early 30s. 

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia symptoms can be either positive or negative. “Positive” symptoms refer to those that are added to a person’s experience as a result of the disorder. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia may include the following:

  • Hallucinations: Seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting, or hearing things that aren’t there
  • Delusions: False beliefs that can’t be changed
  • Changes in speech and thought: Going on tangents, mixing up words, repeating sounds, or drawing illogical conclusions

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

“Negative” symptoms are those that are taken from a person’s experience as a result of the condition. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia may include those listed below:

  • Loss of motivation to bathe, pay bills, go to work, or get dressed
  • Loss of ability to experience pleasure
  • Loss of interest in other people
  • Lack of facial expressions, hand gestures, or other displays of emotion

Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia may also have effects on people’s mental abilities. These other symptoms are sometimes called “cognitive” symptoms. For example, people with schizophrenia may struggle to:

  • Pay attention
  • Remember information
  • Make plans
  • Think abstractly
  • Use logic
  • Solve problems
  • Learn new information

Symptoms like these can cause challenges in everyday life. They may also contribute to other mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety. When more than one mental health condition occurs at the same time (called “comorbid”), this may require a more specialized treatment plan to adequately address both or all conditions. 

People with schizophrenia may not always be aware that they have a mental disorder. As a result, they may not realize that they could benefit from seeking treatment. This can make it harder for them to manage work, relationships, and daily responsibilities.
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Myths about schizophrenia: Separating fact from fiction

Despite our growing knowledge of the disorder, schizophrenia often continues to be surrounded by myths. These can create stigma and make it harder for people to get the help and support they deserve. Correcting these myths may be the first step toward building a better understanding of this mental illness. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.

Myth: People with schizophrenia are dangerous

Fact: Media portrayals can make it seem like schizophrenia is associated with violence. However, in most cases, this isn’t true. Most people with schizophrenia don’t commit violent acts, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In fact, they may be more likely to experience violence from others than to be violent themselves.   

Myth: People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities

Fact: One of the most common myths about schizophrenia may be that it gives people a “split personality.” This may be due to the fact that schizophrenia can affect people’s moods and behavior, possibly making them seem like they have a different personality. Possibly adding to the confusion, there is a condition called dissociative identity disorder (DID) that can involve people developing multiple identities. However, this is a separate mental illness, which isn’t related to schizophrenia.

Myth: Having a family member with schizophrenia means you’ll develop it

Fact: The relationship between genetics and schizophrenia can be complicated. While genetics likely play a role in causing schizophrenia, they aren’t the only factor. According to the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (also known as the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America), even in genetically identical twins, the risk of both siblings developing schizophrenia is 50%. Other factors that may increase the risk of schizophrenia can include the following:

  • Cannabis use
  • Health issues during pregnancy
  • Childhood trauma
  • Social isolation
  • Living in an urban environment
  • Being born at a low weight
  • Being born in the winter

Some researchers believe that schizophrenia may be triggered by a combination of genes, life experiences, and environmental factors like these

Myth: Schizophrenia looks the same for everyone

Fact: People’s experiences of schizophrenia can vary widely. Not everyone may have the same types of symptoms, or at the same intensity. For example, some people may have more positive symptoms, while others might have more negative symptoms. Scientists used to divide schizophrenia into different subtypes based on these differences. However, schizophrenia is now considered a “spectrum disorder.” This can capture the wide variety of symptoms and effects that individuals may experience. 

Myth: You can’t recover from schizophrenia

Fact: Some may believe it’s impossible to live a fulfilling life with a schizophrenia diagnosis. This may be because schizophrenia is considered a lifelong condition. However, many schizophrenia treatment options can improve its symptoms and enhance the quality of life:

  • Medication (as prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist for improving mood and reducing positive symptoms)
  • Therapy
  • Social skills training
  • Community support (such as job placement programs and housing assistance)
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (for symptoms that don’t respond to medication)

According to the World Health Organization, at least one in three people with schizophrenia may make a full recovery from their symptoms with proper treatment

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Relief from schizophrenia symptoms can be possible

Therapy for people with schizophrenia

In a 2022 review, researchers looked at data from 14 studies of over 1,900 people with schizophrenia. They found that, in addition to those who had a complete recovery, over 35% had outcomes that were “good or better.” That said, positive outcomes like these may depend on ongoing mental health support. Alongside medication, therapy can often be a resource for managing schizophrenia. A therapist may be able to provide coping strategies, tips for reducing symptoms, and other forms of support.

However, finding affordable therapy isn’t always easy, according to a recent report from Mental Health America. The report stated that as of 2023, most U.S. adults with unmet mental healthcare needs didn’t receive treatment due to the cost. Platforms like BetterHelp can generally empower you to work with a licensed therapist from your own home with prices as low as $65 per week. This may make online therapy a more affordable alternative. 

Studies show that online therapy can effectively treat mental illnesses that often occur alongside schizophrenia. In a 2016 study, 704 patients with depression and anxiety participated in an internet-based therapy program. Within six months, they usually saw significant improvements in their symptoms. However, please note that it may be necessary to seek care in person if you are experiencing acute psychosis.

Takeaway

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can change people’s moods and behaviors. The disorder can also affect the way people experience reality. There tend to be many myths about schizophrenia that are partly or completely false. For example, schizophrenia does not look the same for everyone, and it is not a purely genetic condition. Most people with schizophrenia are not violent, and with proper treatment, often including medication and in-person or online therapy, many can manage their symptoms. Some may even recover completely. Staying informed and dispelling myths may improve our understanding of this complex mental illness.
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