Monday Mental Health Fact 10/30

Do you know the difference between schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder? Many times the symptoms of these two mental health conditions get confused or even portrayed incorrectly in TV shows and movies.

Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is characterized by positive symptoms and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions, while negative symptoms often include being emotionally flat or speaking in a dull, disconnected way. People with the negative symptoms may be unable to start or follow through with activities, show little interest in life, or sustain relationships. Negative symptoms are sometimes confused with clinical depression.

DID: Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder is characterized by alternating between multiple identities. A person may feel like one or more voices are trying to take control in their head. Often these identities may have unique names, characteristics, mannerisms and voices. People with DID will experience gaps in memory of every day events, personal information and trauma.

Info thanks to www.nami.org and sardaa.org