Pretend Friends
This is a story about schizophrenia and other illnesses that can cause hallucinations. Collaborators include Katy Gray, who has schizophrenia and has consulted on the book.
I AM A HUMAN AND NOT A ROBOT
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The power of metaphor is used to describe the schizophrenia experienced by Big Jay, an adult, and the imaginary friends of Little Bea, a child. Little Bea wants to make her pretend friends big so Big Jay’s pretend friends—that is to say, distressing hallucinations and delusions—can’t hurt or scare him anymore. Read more.
What Is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that affects about 1.1 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.
People with the disorder may hear voices other people don’t hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated.
People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking. Read full article.
Source: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) | Schizophrenia
According to the NIHM, schizophrenia occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. Read full article.