Why does schizophrenia impair the ability to work so much?

[Slobster]

Why does schizophrenia tend to impair the ability to work so much for most people? What precise aspects of the disease make it impossible to work?

[WinterRosie]

Negative symptoms.

[confused]

Maybe it is just me, but this puts me on the defensive. 

 

I am sure it varies by individual. 

[San]

Are you schizophrenic? This makes me uncomfortable.

[Slobster]

Are you schizophrenic? This makes me uncomfortable.

No, I'm not schizophrenic, but schizophrenia was once diagnosed in my case and later dismissed. I'm wondering because I want to know whether the previous opinion was right and I'm indeed schizophrenic. I can work etc. I think; at least I can easily see myself working as long as I'm not depressed.

 

What brought up this questioning is my psychologist saying that it's impossible or close to impossible to work if you're schizophrenic, and that I should be "grateful" that I'm bipolar and not schizophrnic. For some reason, I see his reasoning as simply wrong.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Slobster

[confused]

Your psychologist is an idiot. Why should you be grateful for having a mi? working or not is in not the list of symptoms for either dx. 

 

I am guessing your dx changed when mood symptoms or other symptoms of bp like racing thoughts were recognized.

 

Maybe you could start another post or read up on the differences between the 2? Not about working but about diagnostic symptoms

[melissaw72]

For me, mainly the hallucinations and delusions.  Any stress or  being overtired will cause them to come on full force.

Edited June 5, 2015 by melissaw72

[SchizoHH]

That doesn't make a lot of sense. From what I have read, approximately 50% of people with schizophrenia can lead normal lives with therapy and medication. I assume that includes working. I know there are some CB members diagnosed with SZ who work full-time jobs. That being said, my pdoc told me people with schizophrenia basically have symptoms all the time and he is questioning my diagnosis. So, I really don't know what the criteria are because they seem to change with each pdoc.

[puddle of fire]

Paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. Also, negative symptoms like lack of motivation and inability to communicate. Like Melissa said, stress or lack of sleep amplifies these symptoms.

[hannaostepop]

That doesn't make a lot of sense. From what I have read, approximately 50% of people with schizophrenia can lead normal lives with therapy and medication. I assume that includes working. I know there are some CB members diagnosed with SZ who work full-time jobs. That being said, my pdoc told me people with schizophrenia basically have symptoms all the time and he is questioning my diagnosis. So, I really don't know what the criteria are because they seem to change with each pdoc.

Your pdoc is wrong. There are times when the symptoms can go in remission.

For the question, I'd say it's hard to do more than one thing at once. It can be hard to concentrate. And stress making symptoms worse (as It's already been said).

[SchizoHH]

That doesn't make a lot of sense. From what I have read, approximately 50% of people with schizophrenia can lead normal lives with therapy and medication. I assume that includes working. I know there are some CB members diagnosed with SZ who work full-time jobs. That being said, my pdoc told me people with schizophrenia basically have symptoms all the time and he is questioning my diagnosis. So, I really don't know what the criteria are because they seem to change with each pdoc.

Your pdoc is wrong. There are times when the symptoms can go in remission.

For the question, I'd say it's hard to do more than one thing at once. It can be hard to concentrate. And stress making symptoms worse (as It's already been said).

Well. I basically agree with you and am frustrated myself with my diagnosis or lack thereof...

[mellifluous]

i don't work because i have persistent symptoms--medications only do so much, but not enough for me. but also, stress often unravels me and i end up in the hospital. and i'm tired of having repeated psychotic breaks. well, i'm tired of the aftermath, at least. one day there won't be an aftermath. but then i've made it this long, so maybe. i don't know.

 

i don't work because i'm never asymptomatic enough to do so is what i'm saying.

[melissaw72]

i don't work because i'm never asymptomatic enough to do so is what i'm saying.

 

^^Me too.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

i don't work because i'm never asymptomatic enough to do so is what i'm saying.

 

^^Me too.

Yep. Me too. 

But I wanted to reiterate that some people with SZ disorders can and do work. I think you are judging unfairly. 

[scatter_scz]

I am diagnosed as schizophrenic. I was working full time before being hospitalized for almost 3 months. Even after that, I was only let hoe because of side effects from meds. I can work again as soon as my meds are adjusted. 

Edited July 29, 2015 by scatter_scz

[Natalya]

I can't speak for everyone else, but for me it is very simple.

I get overwhelmed and stressed easily and stress is a huge trigger for psychosis for me. Stress almost always leads to hallucinations, delusions and paranoia, which in turn make it very difficult to work.

[Tylenol Trident]

After a year of getting on meds and having them adjusted I'm happy to report I plan to return to work in the near future!  I work for myself so if I get too stressed out I'll simply back off and take a break.

[saintalto]

This is what my psychiatrist and psychologist explained to me yesterday when I was upset about not ever safely working full time. Their logic behind this was based on their treatment of me and my individual presentation of condition. Everyone's different. Mood disorders and thought disorders are different from one another, though. Prognosis is often different simply because they are not the same disorder. Think of two different but sometimes similar physical illnesses, epidemic typhus and scrub typhus, They present in similar ways and both are devastating. It doesn't change that they are not the same illness, they have different fatality rates, and are not treated as equal/same in their prognosis.

Mood disorders and thought disorders are not necessarily more or less serious than one another given how uniquely everyone presents with MI, but they are still different in regards to general prognosis. Bipolar is debilitating, but recovery is usually possible (barring treatment resistance) after a relapse. This relapse/recovery process can happen repeatedly through out a person's lifetime without a progressive worsening of their condition or treatment response (again, barring treatment resistance). Thought disorders act differently in that the more relapses a person has, the less treatable their illness becomes.

Thought disorders can bet treated very successfully of course, but the problem with every successive relapse is that it becomes harder to stabilise an individual. This can lead to a patient becoming completely unresponsive to treatment and having to live with symptoms permanently. I'm sure some people have less problems working and one person with a thought disorder could outperform a person with a mood disorder, but sensitivity to stress still triggers symptoms in thought disorder patients and then possible relapses (and it can for bipolar too). Given the disastrous impact each relapse has on prognosis overall, however, it make work very dangerous to thought disorder patients. Work can damage the future outlook of their illness and if it stays treatable.

[dazed and confused]

I'm schizoaffective so for me:

Bipolar symptoms:
Mania - yeah right as If I could concentrate on any tasks and besides I have money I need to be out spending...

Depression - should be self explanatory really but when depressed it's almost impossible to get out of bed, get dressed and go about your daily life. Everything including simple things like getting dressed and brushing your hair can be a massive effort.

The schizophrenia symptoms:
Positive:
Paranoid delusions: I don't know about anyone else but I find it very hard to leave the house when they decide to make an appearance - especially since a few of my delusions are about being followed and having thoughts inserted or taken out of my head and when this is going on I find it very hard to concentrate on other things.

Disorganised thinking. Who can keep their mind on a job when you have thoughts being put into your head or taken out. Or you have so many ideas that it's like a freight train going through your head or you feel the need to rhyme every word you hear?

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia:

Apathy, problems with concentration, not wanting to be around people, etc.

And that is why a lot of us struggle to do everyday things...

[Dusk]

Cognitive impairment

[Lozzaboi]

Schizophrenia can impair your ability to work for a variety of reasons. First there're the obvious- such as delusions and hallucinations distracting you, but more likely you're asking about the cognitive impairment aspect of the illness. When I was first diagnosed I couldn't think straight at all and when I spoke I was more or less monosyllabic- some of the most troubling negative symptoms can temporarily cripple your intellect leading to an inability to function at a cognitive level. Schizophrenia is a thought disorder and it savagely attacks the sufferers ability to think normally.

[Bellatrix]

I found this article that describes some specific impairments that make work difficult. 

[melissaw72]

I found this article that describes some specific impairments that make work difficult. 

That is a GREAT article, Bellatrix!  Thank you for posting it!