Academic pressure leads to schizophrenia, doctors and patients join hands to get out of the shadow of the disease

"Could it be that you are also a special person?" After working as a psychiatrist for several years, I have heard a lot of strange things, but this is the first time I have been asked this question.

She is a 20-year-old college student, tall and thin. In her spare time, she likes to embroider and draw cartoon illustrations, especially cats.

Her mother told me that she was the kind of gentle and reserved child when she was a child. She didn't know why she had become more withdrawn and even irritable in the past few months. .

No matter how her mother tried to coerce and lure her, she couldn't "lead the snake out of its hole", and in the end she couldn't pull her to seek medical treatment.

Written by: Dr. Li Ka Tai, School of Mental Health, Castle Peak Hospital

At first she was reluctant to talk to me.

"Don't force me to tell me, I'll have a hard time, okay?" Seeing her panicked face, she thought she had uncovered some earth-shattering secret and would be killed at any time, until I explained to her that the doctor's diagnosis was kept secret. responsibility, she gradually opened up.

She told me that the academic pressure has been rising since she went to school. One time when she was preparing for an exam, she began to have a series of strange experiences: passers-by on the street seemed to be sent to follow her, her mind became chaotic, and the water at home seemed to There are some strange smells, I don't know if her memory has deteriorated due to being poisoned... She was very puzzled about all this, until one day she figured out: she has special powers, and the secret world government is doing everything to stop her She uses her abilities to subvert the order of the world.

Yes, that explains all sorts of weirdness for months, it must be.

"You can understand that the outside world is so dangerous that you dare not go out," I said.

"But I also want to know, apart from these experiences, have you ever heard someone talking to you when no one was around?"

She was surprised: "How do you know?" She began to dance, telling her that every day she heard several old women chatting, singing, and even judging her, which made her annoyed.

Just as she was talking about being elated, she suddenly stopped, as if she had an epiphany.

"Could it be that you are also a peculiar?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Great, I thought I was the only one in the world!"

I couldn't help but smile.

"No, I'm not a special person. The reason why I can guess your situation is because other people have the same experience."

I explained that the ever-changing symptoms were also of the same origin - brain lesions.

Academic stress caused an imbalance of dopamine in her brain, leading to schizophrenia.

Auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions, and confusion, her experiences are all common symptoms of patients, and the symptoms will be unique to her upbringing, memories, culture, and surrounding environment.

She was dubious, and this argument was always against her understanding for months; but perhaps the doctor still had some credibility in her heart, and she was willing to try treatment.

The young woman is most afraid of fat. After some discussion, we chose the schizophrenic drug that does not affect her weight the most to regulate the secretion of dopamine in her brain.

Before leaving the consultation room, I reminded them that mental illness is a disease of the brain, and it takes time to change the secretion of the brain, so be patient.

Her case is also considered ideal, and it is better to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

After taking the medicine for three months, the spies of the World Government will no longer be present, their thoughts will no longer be polluted by poisonous water, and the old women will no longer make noise.

Her mother also praised her great improvement in temperament, and even began to want to resume her studies.

"I'm also very puzzled, why did you have such a strange idea in the first place." Speaking of which, she was a little shy.

I told her not to be embarrassed, anyone could get sick and it wasn't her fault.

At that time, her neurotic substance was playing tricks, and those were not her own thoughts.

Fortunately, her mother never gave up on her, and we made a suitable treatment plan together, which enabled her to embark on the road of recovery step by step.

"Hong Kong 01" "01 Medical Clinic" cooperates with the School of Mental Health of Castle Peak Hospital to publish a column written by medical staff every other Tuesday.

"Cheng" means to let the water stand still, let the water settle down, and then become clear.

I hope you can meditate and savor every little story, see the details, understand the heart of yourself and others, and see things and situations more clearly.

See clearly, know how to cherish, I hope this column can calm your emotional waves and enjoy the quiet time.

I hope you will share this experience with the people you care about, so that you can have one more partner on the road to a better life.

Story details have been revised to protect patient privacy.

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