The Most Common Schizophrenia Triggers
Ever had a banana split before? Yum… right? There’s everything to like about a banana split, mostly if you’re a fan of sweet desserts, but there’s not much to like at all about a split personality. There’s a misconception that being schizophrenic is the same as have a split personality. That term is a much better fit for multiple personality disorder. The only ‘split’ that people with schizophrenia experience is that their perception of day-to-day life is different from the reality most other people experience at the same time. It really is one of the toughest things to see someone go through. Fortunately there are effective medication treatments for it with Latuda or other meds. Some may want to know what can trigger schizophrenia.
Being objective, based on accurate assessments of realities around us, is a big part of our everyday life and one we don’t appreciate enough at times. A person with schizophrenia is not so fortunate, their episodes really do occur completely out of their control. For them, being out of touch with reality is too simple a definition for those still wondering what is schizophrenia. We must understand that it is a chronic brain disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts, speech, and motivation deficiencies.
The good thing about Latuda and other schizophrenia medications is that they all work in much the same way; by blocking some neurotransmitter receptors while promoting the activation of others at the same time. The most primary one of those neurotransmitters that needs to be handled carefully and regulated for schizophrenia treatment is serotonin, and in particular with the way the 5-HT1A receptors need to be ‘turned on’ while the 5-HT2A receptors that live right next door need to be ‘turned off’.
We’ll leave the pharmacology aspect of it alone for now, and instead spend the remainder of this entry talking specifically about what can trigger schizophrenia.
Switch Flippers
Medical professionals who have experience helping people with schizophrenia say that when a person with schizophrenia is triggered it really is like a flip has been switched. The way they can go from what is seemingly a normal person to one that comes across as completely unhinged in an instant is quite something, and it’s important to remember that the person has no ability to control this or prevent it from happening.
This is what makes schizophrenia so troubling and why there is an ongoing need to find better ways to treat it. Understanding what triggers schizophrenia isn’t as challenging as finding those better ways, but it is helpful to understand what exactly causes the person to have their episodes. The first place to start is with a look at why women get schizophrenia later in life then men. It is also believed that men may have fewer positive results from schizophrenia treatment medications.
Another consideration is that it has been proven that people who grew up in a lower socioeconomic class or have gone through extensive life trauma may also have more severe schizophrenia once it onsets at that certain time of their life. As for what causes schizophrenia – genetics, faulty brain chemistry or circuit networks, an inherent brain abnormality, or environmental factors like infection, toxins, substance abuse, or prolonged excess stress.
Schizophrenia Triggers
Genetics likely paly the biggest role in what causes schizophrenia, and there’s also a belief that some people have a genetic makeup that makes them super sensitive to caffeine. That’s great if you rely on that cup of Joe to get going in the morning, but for someone with this mental disorder excessive caffeine consumption can make schizophrenia worse. And unfortunately, what happens all too often is schizophrenia patients start drinking more coffee to counter the sedating effects of schizophrenia treatment medications.
As for what can trigger schizophrenia, it can be triggered by any number of factors and it is hard to pinpoint just one because of the unique mental biochemistry each person has. For some people getting a viral infection may cause them to have resulting schizophrenia episodes because the cytokines released by immune system alter brain function temporarily and promote more mental unwellness as a result.
Add exposure to toxins as another possible on our list of what can cause schizophrenia. Lead was banned from gasoline in 1996, and it’s a darn good thing it was. Lead exposure can trigger schizophrenia, and so it makes you wonder how many people suffered unnecessarily in the years before that just from visiting a gas station regularly. Highly stressful situations and emotional crises can also trigger schizophrenia for people, and in some cases the person may have a certain hybrid type of mental condition that is a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Understanding what can trigger schizophrenia is going to beneficial for family members of people dealing with it, as in some cases they may be able to help by keeping them out of certain environments where triggers may exist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
