Everything you need to know about schizophrenia in teens must be known for a better understanding of it. Can you be born with Schizophrenia? A lot of research is required to answer this question but it is significant to know that there are several factors during their birth itself that affect the possibility of your teen son or daughter having a schizophrenia diagnosis. Not to worry, we will help with everything you need to know about schizophrenia in teens.
Symptoms of schizophrenia in teens
Various schizophrenia symptoms in teens can tell you to be alert as a parent of a teen daughter or son. They include a decrease in levels of motivation and energy, lacking social skills, fewer movements of facial muscles, and body.
In addition to the difficulties of low energy and motivation, they will also face difficulties with their memory and the ability to focus. These difficulties include thinking very slowly, having a hard time expressing themselves, lack of alignment in thoughts, feelings, and behavior, poor concentration and memory, being unable to understand, and no organization in their thoughts.
If you want to detect it sooner which will lead to immediate treatment and hence better recovery, you must take them to the doctor if you see these early signs of schizophrenia in teenagers. They are poor academic performance, having doubt and suspicion about small things, being uneasy with others, inability to take care of them, and maintain personal hygiene. Moreover, it is also necessary to notice if they like being in isolation for long periods, being sensitive to sounds and sights, hearing something which does not exist, having very strange ideas, and being able to feel for someone in an unusual manner or not feel at all.
When you think that these symptoms have been present in your teen for roughly six months, this is when they will receive the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Hence, it becomes very important for you to track these symptoms accurately with time and date which will make it easier for the doctor to give the diagnosis of schizophrenia to them.
Treatment of schizophrenia in teens
Aren’t the symptoms scary and dreadful? But schizophrenia treatment in children can make it possible for them to recover quickly. You need to consider all these things before you are regarding the decision of providing them with the best and the most appropriate treatment for them.
Proper diagnosis
What are the far-reaching effects of a wrong diagnosis? There are several other disorders in which psychosis can take place and hence one requires a very skilled and psychiatrist with valid certification and training. This is why the credentials of the mental health professional need to be considered when seeking for the diagnosis of your teenager.
Consider various options for treatment
You need to gain detailed knowledge of the good effects and the side effects of the medications given to them. There can be various side effects such as restlessness, menstrual issues, tremors, weight gain, skin rashes, dizziness, drowsiness, blurry vision, increased heartbeat, metabolic changes, loss of sexual drive, high risk of diabetes, and being sensitive.
You need to question the experience that the therapist and the psychiatrist has in giving particular medication and therapy. In addition to it, there is a need to question them about the effects of therapy on their child. You should also question them about the availability of the doctor in case of a crisis. It will be easier for you to handle them during the psychotic episode if you have the information taken from their doctor about the ways of dealing with them.
How would you know that they are recovering? You can also ask about it to your doctor and also the signs that their health is worsening and they might need to be admitted to the hospital.
Help them to adhere to the treatment
Is your support less than a medication? It is very important that your teenage son or daughter takes medication regularly and attends the therapy sessions, does the homework, and exercises of it. This is how they are going to recover soon. But you must give them time to accept that they have the disorder and it will never be the same. Not just them but also you will require some time to accept the reality and grow over it. And you should not motivate them immediately when they are frustrated about their diagnosis.
It is very important for you to let them express their emotions and how they are feeling about having been diagnosed with the disorder. Once they have accepted that this is how life is going to be, you should then motivate them to have purposes and goals in their life. You need to give them inspirational examples of individuals like John Nash who lived beyond the limitations of their disorder and had great achievements.
Since they have hit their puberty, it will not be rational for you to just force them to take the medication. They might feel that you are being bossy and controlling. You need to use smart techniques to convince them or take the help of their therapist to help them understand the importance of medication and therapy.
You can also help their recovery by participating in family therapy. Moreover, you need to take care of yourself and don't let your caregiver burn out affect their mental health. You can always go to the therapist for your mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Taking part in the support groups for the caregivers of schizophrenia will help you understand various successful coping mechanisms and strategies that others use. You will feel that you are not alone.
In this way, this is everything you need to know about schizophrenia in teens medication and else. Everything is very much possible for them to recover from it by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and through all the above-prescribed methods. It is surely difficult but not impossible. How can your love, patience, and understanding toward your teenage son or daughter not show the magic?