Just because you exhibit one or two symptoms of schizophrenia does not necessarily mean that you are schizophrenic. Many of the symptoms of schizophrenia overlap with symptoms of other mood disorders and physical ailments, and it’s important that these health problems are differentiated among so that the patient can have the best chance at recovery.
If your symptoms are being caused by a different issue, then the treatment of that issue should make those symptoms go away.
For example, if your depression and anxiety are being caused by bipolar disorder, then treatments that are used to combat schizophrenia will not help patients recover from their bipolar disorder, but drugs and therapies designed to treat bipolar specifically will.
Conditions that have symptoms in common with schizophrenia include:
1. Bipolar Disorder:
This mood disorder can mimic some of the symptoms of schizophrenia including severe depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and hallucinations.
2. Substance Abuse:
Abusing drugs such as hallucinogens and stimulants may cause individuals to experience similar symptoms to those of schizophrenia, including hallucinations, delusions, and changes in both personality and behavior.
3. Depression:
Depression is one of the symptoms of schizophrenia but can itself be a standalone condition requiring different treatments than those used in the treatment of schizophrenia.
4. Interactions of Medications:
If common medications being used to treat common health conditions are not carefully monitored, they may actually interact with each other and cause symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal.
If you or someone you love is struggling with these symptoms, you should visit a doctor immediately to determine whether you need to be treated for schizophrenia or for something else. We want to help you take back control of your health–whether mental, physical and emotional.