When people hear the term schizophrenia, it creates all kinds of incorrect notions about the individual with the psychosis. Yes, schizophrenia is a form of psychosis, which means the individual will be prone to delusions or hallucinations. This doesn’t necessarily make them dangerous, though some individuals may have symptoms that create violent tendencies. Since schizophrenia usually begins during adolescence, teens are particularly vulnerable to the disorder. With this in mind, we want to focus on the signs of schizophrenia in teens and mental health treatment.
What Are Some Signs of Schizophrenia in Teens?
In general, any individual who suffers from this psychosis will experience either delusions, hallucinations or perhaps both. Basically, the individual is prone to flee from reality at any time.
In young people, this disorder will progress slowly through their teenage years. Experts refer to this as pro-drone. As the disorder progresses, symptoms will begin to appear over a matter of months. The signs of schizophrenia in teens include:
- Lack of attention to hygiene
- Expression of bizarre ideas
- Attempts to be overly religious or philosophical
- Substance abuse addictions
- Paranoia
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty concentrating on simple tasks
Treating Teen Schizophrenia at Destinations for Teens
It’s very important for anyone who displays the symptoms of schizophrenia to get into treatment as soon as possible. For teens, early treatment usually translates to the teen being able to learn how to manage their illness quicker. However, at its worst, schizophrenia can drive a teen into the hospital. The proper teen schizophrenia treatment model will also usually include medication to control the disorder. The individual will also need to undergo therapy to help them learn how to cope with their episodes. At our Destinations for Teens facility in Woodland Hills, CA, we prefer to use evidence-based treatment options. The specific treatment modalities we use include Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
More About Destinations for Teens
Our concern for teens evolves from our desire to make sure young people have a fair chance at success and happiness. To this end, we offer a full range of addiction and mental health treatment options. We use these options to build custom treatment plans that will be effective for each client. Aside from the aforementioned treatment evidence-based treatment options, we also offer:
- Inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment
- Dual diagnosis for co-existing conditions (focus on mental health issue)
- Holistic treatment options like art, yoga and equine
- Alumni aftercare program
Of course, if you notice your child is showing the signs of schizophrenia in teens, you need to get them help immediately. The longer you avoid treatment, the more likely the disorder will escalate. That could make it infinitely more difficult to give your teen the help they need. The first step you need to take is to call one of our Destinations for Teens facilities. With our help, there’s real hope for your child. Call us at 877-466-0620 to get the help your child deserves.
