Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental health conditions you can develop. Without treatment, uncontrollable psychotic episodes derail your life. If you have schizophrenia, you need the expertise of Bobbi Bridges, AGACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, at Puentes Medical Consultants. Bobbi offers intensive, comprehensive treatment for schizophrenia, helping you keep psychosis in remission and supporting your ability to engage in life. She provides all schizophrenia treatments through telemedicine. To schedule an appointment, call the office in San Antonio, Texas, or St. Petersburg, Florida, or use the online booking feature today.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder that causes psychosis. When you go through a psychotic episode, you can’t tell the difference between real life and delusions or hallucinations. You have such distorted thoughts and unusual behaviors that you can’t go to work, maintain personal relationships, or care for yourself.

What psychotic symptoms does schizophrenia cause?

During a psychotic episode, you may have any of the following:

Delusions

A delusion refers to a belief that’s not grounded in reality. Two of the most common include believing you’re a famous person or that someone else is controlling your thoughts.

Hallucinations

When you hallucinate, you see, smell, taste, hear, or feel something that isn’t real.

Disorganized thoughts and speech

Schizophrenia makes it hard to process your thoughts in a logical and cohesive manner. In other words, you can’t organize your thoughts, which causes problems with your memory and ability to reason or make decisions.

Disorganized thoughts naturally affect the way you speak and communicate. For example, you may say things that don’t make sense, jump from one topic to another unrelated topic, or stop talking in the middle of a sentence.

Disorganized motor (muscle) behaviors

Disorganized behaviors include repetitive, senseless behaviors (pacing), inappropriate behaviors (laughing at a sad event), and unpredictable agitation. You could also develop catatonia and have little to no movement.

Does schizophrenia cause other symptoms?

Schizophrenia also causes negative symptoms, meaning you don’t show typical or expected emotions and behaviors. You may not express any emotions, have no desire to speak, or lose all interest in socializing or daily activities.

How is schizophrenia treated?

Treatment typically begins with antipsychotic medications to reduce the severity and frequency of your psychotic symptoms. Bobbi may prescribe daily tablets, or you may be a good candidate for monthly injections. As long as you take your pills or get your injection without missing doses, medications may keep your psychotic symptoms in remission.

Though medications treat psychosis, you need therapy to manage negative symptoms. Bobbi uses several therapies to reduce your symptoms, improve your ability to function, and get rid of stress. Therapy can also help with problems caused by schizophrenia, whether you need anger management or want to improve your social skills.

Bobbi offers compassionate care and intensive support for people with schizophrenia. To schedule an appointment, call Puentes Medical Consultants or book a telemedicine appointment online today.