can stress cause a schizophrenia attack or episode?

Hi Bluebunny,

Stress is a well known trigger for a psychotic event, even relatively 'mild' levels of stress can be damaging. Schizophenia is associated with difficulties in filtering incoming information - so the person is effectively bombarded with information that they are unable to effectively discard or process in a meaningful way. This is partly why people with sz seem to misunderstand or misread information around them. People with schizophrenia 'feel' stress both physically (increased heart rate, higher blood pressure) and psychologically.

Stress can also cause damage to the brain. Cortisol, which is released as a result of stress, can damage an area of the brain known as the hippocampus. People with sz often experience problems with memory and coordination - two processes controlled by the hippocampus.

Like anyone else who is prone to stress you should take on board stress reduction techniques such as relaxation, or meditation, or yoga, etc.

Hello bluebunny,

With the history of SZ and depression in your family, you need to consider carefully what's going on in your own life.  How often do you cycle in and out of stress-provoked schizophrenic episodes?  How quickly do you bounce back into a well state after each episode?  Are you able to function to the degree that you would like?  Are the schizophrenic episodes disabling?  I don't see how any schizophrenic episode could be a good thing, and if I had the choice, I'd rather not have a schizophrenic episode at all, then to keep riding them out when they come and go.

There is a diagnosis, "Brief Reactive Psychosis" that psychitrists give a patient who has undergone extreme stress, and I agree with everything Jerry, the other expert, wrote.  He said that even mild stress could provoke a schizophrenic episode in someone who has a tendency towards SZ.

You have to be honest with yourself about the level and intensity and frequency of the stressors that set off your schizophrenic episodes.  One major life stressor could cause a brief reactive psychosis; everyday irritants that cause a similar reaction are another story.  Be honest with yourself: do you want to keep having psychotic episodes when medication could possibly stop them, or at least alleviate their severity and frequency?

The point is, stress can cause schizophrenia.  From what you've said, you haven't been able to control, stop or halt your stress.  You seem to be suggesting that if the stress is out of your life, the schizophrenia will be gone too.  Again, you need to be honest about your history of having symptoms.

I know others [and I myself had stress-induced schizophrenia] who decided to stop their medication once they got better, and this resulted in the SZ coming back in full force.  It's like playing Russian Roulette: you don't know when the last episode will occur that will send you permanently over the edge, and that could happen if you just keep letting stress "pull the trigger."

If I had the choice between having symptoms or having an episode every so often, and being on the medication and not having symptoms or being able to control the symptoms so that I didn't have a psychotic episode, the choice is clear to me.

My break with reality was sudden, total and irreversible.  Even though the stress was out of my life, when I stopped taking the meds, I relapsed.

I believe you owe it to yourself to consider taking some kind of SZ medication.  Having a schizophrenic reaction every time you're under stress is not healthy, and you deserve peace of mind.

Respectfully,

Christina

I am glad that you have had two answers to your specific question from the experts on the forum.

I would like to comment, as a non expert, hopefully constructively, but less specifically to your query., more responding to the anxious distressed 'flavour ' of your post. There is suffering here. Do seek help. You will be understood.

From reading your post it seems that you definitely are experiencing significant severe negative mood , with ideas of self harm, triggered by external stresses.

 As Christina suggests, that surely warrants urgent  thorough assessment by a sympathetic psychiatrist so a plan towards  relief, can be put in place.

You owe it to yourself....

 The plan might well be a combination of de-stressing meds , tailored to your needs and some listening therapy for example. You have great insight . It seems likely with your FH that you may have sz/ bipolar spectrum tendencies under stress.

 Best to avoid the trauma of a full blown flare and have some defences in place.From my understanding this approach can sometimes avoid a big guns approach of crisis management and reqire lower dosage of meds.

Good luck,

Chris

UK

retired doc (non psych)

Family member  has untreated episodic psychosis