Top Schizophrenia Myths Debunked

There are many myths that surround people with a schizophrenia diagnosis. Some examples of these myths are that people with schizophrenia have multiple personalities, that those with schizophrenia are dangerous and need to be hospitalized permanently, or that schizophrenia is caused by childhood abuse. None of these are true. Schizophrenia spectrum disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Dispelling these myths is crucial for reducing stigma. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard break down the common myths surrounding schizophrenia and how to respond when you hear them, in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Guest Kit Wallis, who goes by SchizoKitzo, joins later in the show. She is a content creator who advocates for schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. Kit was diagnosed with the bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder in late 2020, but has been managing symptoms since she was in middle school. The mission of SchizoKitzo is to raise awareness of schizoaffective disorder and all of its aspects, from the mood side to the psychotic side. Guest Bio: Kit Wallis, who goes by SchizoKitzo, is a content creator who advocates for schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. She uses long-form videos on her YouTube channel and short-form content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Her content centers around her personal experience with schizoaffective disorder and often includes deep dives into research topics regarding mental health. Kit was diagnosed with the bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder in late 2020 and has struggled with symptoms since she was in middle school. Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition where someone experiences symptoms of schizophrenia–such as delusions and hallucinations–but also symptoms of a mood disorder–either major depression or, in Kit’s case, bipolar. The mission of SchizoKitzo is to raise awareness of schizoaffective disorder and all of its aspects, from the mood side to the psychotic side. Kit works to bridge the gap between life and science so she can help break the stigma around mental health. Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself. Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS ) Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators. Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, Inside Bipolar, with Dr. Nicole Washington. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices