Macbeth's Analysis

Teenage Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is an often-misunderstood illness. Even those who have it do not totally understand the nature of their condition, so it can be a confusing, terrifying experience. Add to that the normal stress of teenage life, and you have captured the essence of teenage schizophrenia: a world of fear, confusion and helplessness where no one else can join you a world of your own.
The disorder is physically, emotionally and mentally draining for the families of those afflicted. Schizophrenic teens often have difficulty functioning normally in society and may need financial assistance, emotional support and daily help for tasks such as taking medication.
As the symptoms normally progress slowly over time, in most cases, teachers and peers will be the first to notice the early signs.
"My daughter was 13 years old when diagnosed with schizophrenia," says Shirley Good of Altoona, Pa. "She had a history of running away as early as age 7 and began having problems with extreme arachnophobia fear of spiders at age 8. She also had problems with vomiting when she rode in the family car, especially on her way to and from ballet classes."
Her daughter's symptoms progressed until around age 11, when she intensified her running away tactics and became highly uncooperative in school. "One day her father showed up with bleeding arms and face saying our daughter had attacked him," Good says. "I went to her room and found her banging her head against a window frame, drawing blood. She was forcibly restrained and taken to the hospital where she was treated for injuries, then admitted to the psychiatric unit for diagnosis and treatment. This was the first of many admissions and diagnoses of schizophrenia."
Schizophrenia affects 1 percent of the nation's general population, according to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), a nonprofit organization in Great Neck, NY. Although males and females are equally affected by...