Schizophrenia Article and Case Study
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NOVEMBER 11, 2011
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Can You See The Voices?
By Natascha Schoepl
A Battle Against Himself CONNECTICUT - Ken Steele has heard voices most of his life. He was 14 years old when he started having auditory hallucinations. These voices commanded him to hurt himself and they were predicting his death. "Hang yourself," the voices told him. "The world will be better off. You 're no good, no good at all." The voices got louder and louder everyday and he was no longer in control of his life. They were. Ken’s behavior unexpectedly changed and Ken’s parents grew worried. No one was aware of what has happening. They took him to the family doctor, who announced that Ken had schizophrenia. Ken Steele at the age of 14 Subsequently, Ken committed his first suicide attempt. Denying the illness, Ken’s father refused for Ken to be brought into a hospital. Since his condition was growing worse Steele dropped out of school and left Connecticut for New York City, without a job and no experience. Steele was out of work, homeless and felt isolated. Steele began working as a hustler, living on the streets. He found that alcohol muffled the voices, drank to excessive therefore, turning into an alcoholic.
MUNICH - Do you hear voices, hammering inside of your head? Do you feel or perceive strange imaginations, making it difficult to concentrate on your daily life? These are only a few of the symptoms of a schizophrenic. Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that influences how a person behaves, thinks, sees and feels. Schizophrenia means “a split mind” which is often misconceived as “split personality disorder” or “bipolar disorder”. The person has a loss of reality, finds it harder to think logically, to express feelings, and to behave normally in social situations.
About 1 percent of the population is affected by schizophrenia and it ranks among the top 10 causes of disabilities list. Males between the ages 15 and 24 and females between the ages 25 and 34 are
NOVEMBER 11, 2011
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Can You See The Voices?
By Natascha Schoepl
A Battle Against Himself CONNECTICUT - Ken Steele has heard voices most of his life. He was 14 years old when he started having auditory hallucinations. These voices commanded him to hurt himself and they were predicting his death. "Hang yourself," the voices told him. "The world will be better off. You 're no good, no good at all." The voices got louder and louder everyday and he was no longer in control of his life. They were. Ken’s behavior unexpectedly changed and Ken’s parents grew worried. No one was aware of what has happening. They took him to the family doctor, who announced that Ken had schizophrenia. Ken Steele at the age of 14 Subsequently, Ken committed his first suicide attempt. Denying the illness, Ken’s father refused for Ken to be brought into a hospital. Since his condition was growing worse Steele dropped out of school and left Connecticut for New York City, without a job and no experience. Steele was out of work, homeless and felt isolated. Steele began working as a hustler, living on the streets. He found that alcohol muffled the voices, drank to excessive therefore, turning into an alcoholic.
MUNICH - Do you hear voices, hammering inside of your head? Do you feel or perceive strange imaginations, making it difficult to concentrate on your daily life? These are only a few of the symptoms of a schizophrenic. Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that influences how a person behaves, thinks, sees and feels. Schizophrenia means “a split mind” which is often misconceived as “split personality disorder” or “bipolar disorder”. The person has a loss of reality, finds it harder to think logically, to express feelings, and to behave normally in social situations.
About 1 percent of the population is affected by schizophrenia and it ranks among the top 10 causes of disabilities list. Males between the ages 15 and 24 and females between the ages 25 and 34 are
Bibliography: Ken Steele passed away October 2000 - peacefully in his bed due to heart failure - at the age of 52, having become a productive and better-known advocate for individuals dealing with mental illness. Rest in Peace. Ken Steele, at his office at home Documentary arte: Der Spuk in meinem Kopf - Leben mit Schizophrenie http://www.arte.tv/de/suche/769690.html ABC: Schizophrenia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74vTftboC_A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXimT5CHCDE&feature=related Websites http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=86623 http://www.schizophrenia.com/New/sz.news.1.15.03.htm http://www.netplaces.com/schizophrenia/success-stories-and-case-histories/ken-steele.htm http://www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au/library/home.php?r=26&menu=News&news=238&p=1 http://www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au/index.php?r=3&menu=About http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/emotional_health/mental_health/disorders_schiz.shtml#symptoms_of_schizophrenia http://ehealthmd.com/content/what-causes-schizophrenia http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001925/ http://www.schizophrenia24x7.com/causes ! PAGE 3