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Schizophrenia

Behavioral Health & Recovery located in Washington, DC
Schizophrenia services offered in Washington, DC

Schizophrenia is often diagnosed in young adults, causes psychotic episodes, and can’t be cured — but it can be managed with comprehensive treatment from Gregory Obiwuma, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN, and the experienced team at New Era Recovery and Behavioral Health LLC. They prescribe medications that may keep psychosis in remission and therapy that supports your quality of life. You can also get the treatment you need through telehealth and in-person visits. Call the office in Washington, DC, or request an appointment online to learn more about managing schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia Q & A

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a challenging mental health disorder that changes your thoughts, emotions, and how you perceive the world. When the disease is active, it causes psychotic episodes that make it impossible to tell the difference between your thoughts and the real world. As a result, you can’t function in daily life.

 

What are the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia?

During a psychotic episode, you experience:

Delusions

Delusions occur when you believe something that’s not based in reality. For example, you may believe you’re a famous actor or that someone is controlling your thoughts.

 

Hallucinations

Having a hallucination means you smell, see, hear, feel, or taste something that doesn’t exist.

 

Disorganized thoughts and speech

Schizophrenia causes illogical, jumbled, or chaotic thoughts. Your thoughts may run through your head in a random, disjointed manner. You may also have memory lapses.

The state of your brain is reflected in the way you talk. You may say things that don’t make sense, jump from one topic to another, stop talking in the middle of a sentence, or mix up your words.

 

Disorganized or catatonic behavior

Disorganized behavior refers to engaging in senseless, inappropriate, or repetitive behaviors. You may also develop catatonic behavior that makes it hard or impossible to move or speak.

 

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Negative symptoms refer to having a slow reaction, lack of motivation, and no desire to engage in daily life. You may not express emotions or withdraw from all interactions with people.

 

How is schizophrenia treated?

Treatment for schizophrenia begins with antipsychotic medications. These medications are essential because they reduce the severity and frequency of psychotic episodes and, with consistent use, may put psychosis into remission.

Psychotherapy focuses on teaching crucial skills and managing challenging emotions and behaviors. You may learn social skills, coping strategies, or stress management. Through therapy, you can learn to identify the signs of a relapse and steps you can take to prevent a psychotic episode.

When one family member has schizophrenia, the entire family is affected and often at a loss about how to support their loved one. The team at New Era Recovery and Behavioral Health LLC offers family therapy to provide information and help your loved ones understand schizophrenia and recommends ways to communicate and interact together.

Call New Era Recovery and Behavioral Health LLC or request an appointment online to get the comprehensive care you need for schizophrenia.