how can i know if my cousin is affected by Schizophrenia?

Question

i'm in doubt and wanna be sure? should he see a doctor to know?is there any other way, i don't think he will agree to go

Answer 1

Does your cousin have some of these symptoms?

*delusions (false beliefs - ideas that seem far-fetched - often paranoid in nature like someone is following them etc)
*hallucinations (usually this is auditory - they hear voices)
*unorganized behavior (laughing one minute then in a totally different mood the next)
*association disturbance (they seem to not act appropriate in certain social settings - bizarre type behavior)
*not functioning like he/she used to (i.e. going to school, getting up to work, relationships with family, friends is strained, etc)

these are the hallmark symptoms and usually strike during college age however, there are cases that hit people in their adulthood too. dont forget, depression and bipolar disorder can also carry some of these symptoms, so yes, ultimately, it needs to be ruled out by a doctor. the hard part is getting them to see one. i went thru this with my mom - she didn't think anything was wrong with her and wouldn't see a doc. ultimately, she was a risk to herself (she stopped eating) and we were able to "Section 12" her - a term for getting permission to admit her against her will because she was a risk to herself - each state is different on this law. some social service agencies have therapists that can come to the house. see if you can find one. if the therapist can determine that your cousin is a risk to themselves, they might be able to admit them for 24-48 hours at least and then determine what is going on with your cousin. if shizophrenia is the diagnosis, push for a anti-psychotic medication, it really really helps! i wish you the best of luck. i seriously hope this is not what your cousin is struggling with, schizophrenis is such a devastating brain disease - to the patient and the family involved. best wishes!

Answer 2

Delusions and hallucinations are the most apparent symptoms of schizophrenia, but they can be signs of depression, bipolar disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder, and probably other things. There are so called negative symptoms of schizophrenia, where maybe a person doesn't interact with others in the usual way (I don't know what these symptoms are, but they are listed in a diagnosis chart). *SCHIZOPHRENIA IS THOUGHT TO BE A PROGRESSIVE ILLNESS AND SHOULD BE TREATED EARLY TO PREVENT POSSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. * Also, people with schizophrenia may lack insight into their condition, in other words, not know that they are sick. I mean, how do any of us know what's real or not? You maybe can talk to that cousin's closest person and see what they think and then see if they can get him to go to the doctor. You will have to google schizophrenia and read up on it. Schizophrenia is a really really really bad thing to get, if you really think he has this, you need to lean on relatives to help get your cousin some medical help.

Answer 3

If he had Schizophrenia......I think your gut would tell you that something odd is going on.

One hallmark is hearing voices that tell you things that simply are not true. And then letting trusted friends know about them.

Another thing is that people can seem normal for years, and then "come down" with schizophrenia, often during their mid 20's.

This is what happened to a very close friend of mine over a period of about a year.

Good luck with this. It's a difficult situation, but the up side is that people who do have this disease can find significant relief from medication.

Bob J.

Answer 4

The main symptoms of Schizophrenia are paranoia and abnormal beliefs with or without halliousinations. Only a doctor or other qualified mental health professional can diagnosis this disorder, but you can read up on the symptoms and see if your cousin has the symptoms and decide for yourself because there isn't a blood test for it, it all goes by the symptoms.

Answer 5

Here are some negative symptoms you can look for:

Inability to experience pleasure. This is a common symptom in schizophrenia and includes difficulty enjoying activities that once brought pleasure, such as playing golf or visiting with friends.

Lack of emotion. This can lead to few friendships or social contacts. Showing little facial expression, having poor eye contact, and slowed speech are characteristic.

Loss of motivation to succeed or accomplish goals. Job or school performance problems are common and usually due to an inability to complete tasks or goals.

Problems focusing or paying attention, difficulty processing information, confusion, and fragmented thoughts.

Ironically, here are the positive symptoms (from Yahoo Health):

Hallucinations. These usually involve hearing voices, but they can involve all the senses—seeing, tasting, touching, hearing, or smelling something that is not there.

Delusions. These are firmly held but false beliefs. Some common experiences include thinking you are the President of the United States, or that you are being persecuted or chased by the CIA or by demons.

Disordered (confused) thinking and speech that does not make any sense. Examples include abruptly responding to questions, not being able to respond with enough information, or always giving a one-word reply to questions.

Bizarre or disorganized behavior. Usually the behavior involves being overly excited, angry, or unresponsive to other people. It may also include bizarre body movements, such as rocking back and forth or grimacing repeatedly.

Self-neglect, such as becoming isolated from other people, wearing dirty clothes, or neglecting living space until it becomes untidy or cluttered.

Inappropriate emotions, such as smiling when speaking of sad topics or laughing for no reason.

**I would definitely see if you're able to get him to go see someone who is clinically able to diagnose your cousin. Go to the link provided...that'll get you started. Good Luck.

Answer 6

I'm sure you can find the symptoms on the internet but you're better off going to a doctor. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Just have a large family gathering. You'll find out pretty quickly.