Euphoria in schizophrenia: what is it and how to detect it?

Such a beautiful term as euphoria is usually associated with a worsening of the course of mental illness. Doctors attribute this condition to a deviation in the course of schizophrenia. Euphoria is a unit of mental health and at the same time, a painful, psychopathic state. Interestingly, the concept is not a separate disease or syndrome, but a symptom.

The concept of euphoria and other features to be aware of

Despite the fact that in translation from the Greek the concept means «fertility», nothing of the kind is observed in it. Euphoria is an empty emotion, and it does not increase the productivity of its wearer. To make it clearer, consider another empty emotion — apathy. This is not melancholy, sadness and depression, which are manifested by changes in the mood and psyche of a person. On the contrary, it is a complete lack of emotion. In the same way, euphoria does not carry any responses from emotions or the psyche.

It is expressed by a certain «inhibition» of any emotional manifestations. It occurs in three cases:

  1. Manic state. It can be a symptom of various mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.
  2. Affective insanity. It is accompanied by frequent changes in the patient’s mood: he can be cheerful, and at another second become angry or deeply saddened.
  3. Hypomanic Syndrome. Similar to manic, but more pronounced.

There are also such manic states when the patient does not experience a surge of euphoria, but he feels a surge of strength and energy in himself, ready to work and work until you drop.

What is said in medicine?

In clinical psychology, there are two concepts of euphoria:

  1. The defeat of the central nervous system by narcotic substances. In this case, a person feels complete harmony and peace in the soul. When the drug wears off, he wants to do it all over again to experience this bliss. This is how addiction develops.
  2. A sign of dementia. It can be congenital or acquired after certain life situations. Patients with a congenital diagnosis in childhood and adolescence noted the instability of their emotional background. Their mood was constantly changing, and they could not control themselves. As they grow older, these differences already go on a par with mental retardation, a low level of intelligence. Such people are predisposed to the appearance of either apathy or euphoria.

Any of the conditions is important to be treated in a specialized psychiatric clinic. Only in this way, everyone in need will be able to receive competent and qualified assistance in the treatment of this terrible disease, which can turn into more severe forms and provoke the development of other ailments.

Euphoria in a schizophrenic

It is especially important to observe a change in the emotional background in mentally unstable people. The fact is that schizophrenics themselves are emotional, quick-tempered people, they talk a lot and out of place, they have a lot of ideas that are not connected with each other. If we add to this a new state, which, as we already know, “freezes” emotions, we can face a split personality. It becomes difficult for a person to accept himself.

Euphoria in schizophrenia: what is it and how to detect it?

Schizophrenia does not lead to dementia. But with a new emotional background, the chances of this greatly increase. Therefore, if a person has the effect of “balls for rollers”, as the people say, then he should urgently be provided with medical assistance. If you allow the development of the disease and do not stop the development of a feeling of euphoria, then it will simply be too late and it will hardly be possible to achieve a full or even partial recovery.

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