Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that changes how a person experiences reality. It can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, sometimes making it difficult to tell what is real and what is not. If you have schizophrenia, your friends and family may think you’ve lost touch with reality.
The good news is schizophrenia is treatable, but early intervention is very important.
This condition often begins in late adolescence or early adulthood and affects men and women at similar rates. While schizophrenia can feel isolating and overwhelming, it is not the result of personal weakness or poor character—it is a medical condition that requires care and support.
Symptoms of schizophrenia usually fall into three categories:
Positive symptoms: hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking.
Negative symptoms: reduced motivation, difficulty expressing emotions, or withdrawal from social interactions.
Cognitive symptoms: trouble with memory, concentration, or decision-making.
Not everyone experiences all symptoms, and their severity may change over time. Without treatment, these symptoms can disrupt relationships, work, and daily functioning.
The risk factors for schizophrenia include:
Genetics: Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but it doesn’t necessarily affect everyone in a family.
Brain structure and chemistry: Research has found that certain brain differences are associated with schizophrenia.
Life circumstances: Very stressful experiences, such as poverty or constant threat of danger, can contribute to schizophrenia. If your mother had certain pregnancy complications, or you were exposed to a virus or poor nutrition before birth, you may also have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.
Our coordinated care includes therapy and psychiatry to help you manage mental health symptoms, navigate life challenges, and build resilience.
A Brave Health therapist can help you cope with your condition and learn to live with its effects. Your therapist can also help you work through any anxiety and depression you are experiencing alongside your schizophrenia.
People who experience psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thoughts and speech, can benefit from taking antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic medications can cause side effects, so you will have regular appointments with your Brave Health clinician for medication management.
At Brave Health, you don’t have to go through life’s challenges alone. We offer over 40 therapist-led groups, including specialized options for LGBTQ+ individuals, men, women, teens, and parents. We’ll help you find the group that’s right for you.
It can be very difficult to support someone with schizophrenia when they seem out of touch with reality. But with the right systems in place, you can be there for your loved one.
Start by learning about schizophrenia and the treatment options available. Understanding what your loved one is experiencing will help you feel more compassionate.
Early treatment for schizophrenia is essential. Help your loved one connect with a Brave Health provider as soon as possible to get the support they need.
Your loved one needs a support system that includes doctors, friends, family, support workers, and others. You need a support system, too. Find friends or family members you can talk to and lean on when you need help or a break from your caregiving responsibilities.
Brave Health believes that everyone should have access to high-quality mental health care.
Our providers are in-network with a wide variety of insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Commercial insurance. Many Medicaid plans waive a co-payment for services. Contact your insurance plan to find out the total cost of care.
We also accept private patients who do not have insurance. See our fee schedule.
Brave Health’s team of clinicians includes licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, and counselors. Each of our team members has received specialized training in mental health care.
At Brave Health, therapists typically meet with patients for 50-minute video sessions on our secure telehealth platform. The frequency of sessions can vary based on the individual's needs and goals.
You will need a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a camera and microphone, as well as a reliable internet connection.
You will receive a text reminder 24 hours before your appointment, and another text and email reminder 15 minutes prior to the appointment with a link to the telehealth session. At that time, prepare to move to a private space and click the link to join a private waiting room where the clinician will arrive.
During the first 60-minute video appointment, the mental health clinician will ask questions, evaluate needs, and present treatment options.
