Because schizophrenia is an illness that most teens and adults do not understand, erroneous beliefs and myths about the illness can easily spread throughout the general public. It should be noted that it’s rare for teens to experience schizophrenia. However, if adolescents are prone to this illness or another psychotic disorder, late adolescence is when a teen may experience their first signs of the illness. In fact, if and when this happens, most teens will recover from it and never experience psychosis again.

However, other teens might experience the beginning signs of schizophrenia and end up facing struggles with this disorder for the rest of their lives. A psychotic break may be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with having a psychotic disorder. Schizophrenia is a psychological illness that affects thinking, feeling, movement, and behavior. If a teen is going to develop the illness, it will likely show up around 19, 19, or 20 years old.

This article will address five common myths about schizophrenia and provide accurate explanations.

It is the parent’s fault that a teen suffers from schizophrenia. Whether it’s schizophrenia or another form of mental illness, it’s easy for others to judge parents as being the cause of a psychological disorder. However, most mental illnesses are caused by the environment, biology, or both. It’s true that schizophrenia has a strong genetic component. However, the genes for the illness might stem from relatives beyond a teen’s parents – such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also, someone who has the genetic disposition for schizophrenia might never experience the illness. While those who do not have a genetic disposition might develop the illness due to other factors, including excessive drug use.

Teens with schizophrenia are “psycho” and should be locked away.  Schizophrenia is an illness that might cause a teen to experience significant symptoms, but he or she can go on to live a normal life. With treatment, schizophrenia doesn’t have to interfere with one’s enjoyment of life. They don’t have to be locked away. They should be welcomed and accepted into the general public.

All people with schizophrenia are violent. Sadly, the media portrays those with mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, as violent people. However, this is not the case. In fact, it is more often the case that teens with schizophrenia are victims of crime versus the other way around.

Schizophrenia does not affect children or youth. As mentioned above, schizophrenia typically affects a teen when he or she is in late adolescence, around age 18. However, there are cases of children with schizophrenia, which is very rare. And developing schizophrenia later in life is also not very common.

Teens with schizophrenia lack intelligence. Actually those with mental illness are often quite intelligent, sometimes more so than what you might find in the general public. Also, intelligence has nothing to do with mental illness or any brain disorder, such as addiction. Although schizophrenia can sometimes make it difficult for people to remember facts or get along with others, making them appear as though they are not intelligent, the truth is that the levels of intelligence among those who are schizophrenic are along the same levels among those who are healthy.

If you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hearing voices or experiencing delusions, contact a mental health provider today.