Experiencing Schizophrenia (Essay Sample)

Experiencing Schizophrenia: Simulation
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Schizophrenia is a mental condition whereby the affected develop abnormal social behavior characterized by auditory hallucinations and false beliefs. Genetics, the environment, social and psychological processes are some of the contributory factors for this disorder (Maj and Sartorius, 2003). The video by Anderson Cooper is a simulation in Schizophrenia whereby the level of dysfunction is clearly portrayed. Several mental disorders cause auditory hallucinations and, as a result, the affected engage in violent behavior. It is an informative video in that it enlightens persons on how Schizophrenia patients may experience such hallucinations and tend to adapt to the situation. As a result, the condition may influence the manner in which we perform our certain routine tasks.
Myself I have concerns when it comes to understanding what having auditory hallucinations would feel like. The video portrays Cooper as wearing earphones that act as a source of schizophrenia simulation. I tried replicating the video in real life to confirm the efficiency of the video whereby the results were remarkably true. The voices are quite irritating as they seem in this video and the hallucinations get worse with the variations in the simulation. Anderson Cooper demonstrates the voices to be aggressive, whispering and at times even comforting. The voices in one’s mind seem to become eviler as the period without treatment is prolonged.
Regarding Tsuang, Faraone and Glatt (2011), common medication for schizophrenia include antipsychotic drugs that suppress the activity of the dopamine receptors. After watching the suffering Cooper undergoes, simulated schizophrenia is quite disturbing thus emphasizing the effects of experiencing multiple voices. The simulator also results in diso...