Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population in the United States. Although not as common as other mental health disorders, schizophrenia is disabling. As an expert in neuropsychiatric disorders with many years of experience working as an inpatient and outpatient clinician, Dr. Heidi Erickson offers treatment and therapy for schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder that affects your ability to think clearly, interact with others, make decisions, and manage your feelings. It’s a long-term illness that usually presents in your 20s or 30s. Symptoms may start when you’re in your teens, but it’s often difficult to diagnose at an early age.
While schizophrenia is a complicated disorder, you can live a happy and productive life with the right treatment
Doctors are still researching factors that increase your risk of developing schizophrenia, but they believe it may be a combination of genetics and environment.
If you have a close relative with schizophrenia, your risk of developing the mental health disorder increases to 10%. Malnutrition and exposure to viruses while you’re in utero, or growing in your mother’s belly, may also increase your risk.
Neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and glutamate, may also trigger the onset of schizophrenia.
Dr. Erickson uses medication, psychotherapy, and coordinated specialty care to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic medications are provided daily as a pill or liquid or monthly by injection. It can take some time to find the right combination of medication to control symptoms.
Once symptoms are under control, Dr. Erickson works with you to help you manage life with your symptoms. Dr. Erickson encourages support from family or groups to help your efforts.
As an integrative psychiatrist, Dr. Erickson may also recommend Nordic Naturals® brand of omega-3 fatty acids to help in the management of schizophrenia symptoms.
Caring for a friend or family member with schizophrenia may be difficult. You can support your loved one by:
If you are in crisis or you know of a person that may be in danger, call 911 immediately or contact one of these services for immediate assistance.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Crisis Text Line: Text “DESERVE” TO 741-741
Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):
https://988lifeline.org/chat
Self-Harm Hotline: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)
Essential local and community services: 211
https://www.211.org/
American Association of Poison Control Centers: 1-800-222-1222
National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Hope Line:
1-800-622-2255
National Crisis Line – Anorexia and Bulimia: 1-800-233-4357
LGBT Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
TREVOR Crisis Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
AIDS Crisis Line: 1-800-221-7044
Veterans Crisis Line:
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net
TransLifeline: 877-565-8860
https://www.translifeline.org