Table of Contents
- 0.1 Paranoid schizophrenia – the symptoms can be so blatant
- 0.2 Doctor about schizophrenia: “The world often seems very colorful”
- 0.3 Treating psychosis: the sooner the better
- 1 Based on the information presented, what are some potential implications of Stehfest’s story for improving support systems for people with mental health conditions navigating demanding careers?
Berlin. Eric Stehfest only recently made his diagnosis of schizophrenia public. A doctor explains what role drugs play in this.
Eric Stehfest was actually supposed to enter the ring at the celebrity boxing match “Fame Fighting” at the beginning of November – but the former GZSZ star had to cancel his fight. The reason: The 35-year-old actor suffers from one paranoid schizophrenia. Stehfest commented on this in a video on his Instagram account. “There were several conversations with psychologists, all of whom advised me against participating,” the celebrity writes in a statement under the video.
Eric Stehfest is married to actress and singer Edith Stehfest. © imago/STAR-MEDIA | IMAGO stock
Stehfest had already made his diagnosis public on Instagram in October. In a long text under one of his posts, he writes how sick people often feel: They considered everyone around them to be a potential danger. This is a typical symptom of paranoid schizophrenia, confirms Ragnhild Rössing, chief physician at the My Way Psychiatric Clinic in Eckenhagen (NRW).
Paranoid schizophrenia – the symptoms can be so blatant
“Schizophrenia in general is a mental illness characterized by a loss of contact with reality,” explains the psychiatry specialist psychotherapy. The most common symptoms of the disease include delusions and hallucinations. “Patients hear voices and see things that are not there in reality,” says the expert.
Hallucinations and delusions are among the most common symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia, says Ragnhild Rössing, chief physician at the My Way Psychiatric Clinic in Eckenhagen. © My Way Psychiatric Clinic | Klaus Dirk Kampz
Paranoid schizophrenia is better known to most people under the term psychosis. Experience in Germany according to the project psychenet One to two percent of the total population has one at least once in their life Psychosis. According to the project, 52 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia.
How Actor Stehfest revealed to the tabloid BILD that he consists of three Erics and they all live in different realities. “For example, one of these Erics is constantly panicking that something bad is going to happen. “Think that there is only evil lurking everywhere,” says the 35-year-old. Another Eric doesn’t remember beautiful moments. “For example, he believes his wife just wants to embarrass him.” Eric Stehfest has been married to Edith Stehfest since 2015 and they have two children.
Doctor about schizophrenia: “The world often seems very colorful”
Rössing emphasizes that psychoses are particularly stressful for the relatives of those affected. This is also because some patients, in their delusions, thought that their relatives were someone dangerous. “Sick people themselves often don’t have much suffering. The world often seems very colorful to her.” She recognizes that Psychiatrist for example, in the dazzling and cheerful drawings that patients make. “This hallucinated world is in a way taken away from the sufferers when they are treated.”
How can they? Delusions look? Rössing reports on patients who are convinced that they are astronauts and are on a mission to save Mars. “Then they plan the expedition all day and look forward to the night when the mission takes place,” she says. But there is also the opposite case: when patients are threatened and harassed in their own imagination. A patient once told the doctor that a piece of music had been playing on a loop in her head all night long and that was why she couldn’t sleep.
Paranoid schizophrenia can be very different get lost and varies greatly from person to person. Psychoses can arise very suddenly or develop gradually. The first symptoms usually appear in adolescence or young adulthood, between puberty and the mid-30s, says Rössing. This is also the case with Stehfest. He explained to BILD: “I’ve had this since I was a teenager, but it’s only now that I decided to get help.”
Treating psychosis: the sooner the better
Stehfest is open with his drug past around. Experts have been researching for some time whether drugs such as cannabis can trigger psychosis. “Long-term drug use can increase the risk of schizophrenia,” says Rössing. Consumption in early adolescence is particularly dangerous. In addition, a hereditary predisposition is also suspected as the cause of schizophrenia. That’s why the doctor always asks patients whether there have been cases of paranoid schizophrenia in the family. The disease can break out due to stressful events, such as a stroke of fate.
Anyone can get psychoses. However, it is suspected that hereditary predispositions, drug use and stressful events are factors that increase the risk. © Getty Images | Katarzyna Bialasiewicz
In general, the earlier schizophrenia is treated, the better. “Paranoid schizophrenia can be treated well with psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy,” emphasizes Rössing. After successful treatment, patients could be completely symptom-free. However, there is a big challenge: “Many patients are afraid to take medication because they see something evil in everything and everyone.”
This was also a problem with Stehfest. The actor admits to BILD that if his wife had had his way, he would have gone to a clinic much earlier. “It took me a long time to understand that she wanted to help me,” he said. It is now located GZSZ actors in treatment.
This article offers lots of material for discussion! Here are some open-ended questions divided by theme:
**Eric Stehfest’s Experience:**
* How do you think Eric Stehfest’s decision to bepublic about his diagnosis might impact others struggling with similar challenges?
* What challenges do you think Stehfest faces in managing his condition, specifically considering his demanding career?
* How might Stehfest’s experience shed light on the broader conversation surrounding mental health in the entertainment industry?
**Understanding Paranoid Schizophrenia:**
* The article mentions “three Erics” living in different realities. How can we best understand the nature of delusions and hallucinations from a patient’s perspective?
* The article states that those with schizophrenia “often don’t have much suffering.” How can we reconcile this statement with the apparent distress experienced by both Stehfest and others who have the condition?
* Dr. Rössing mentions the importance of early treatment. What are the complex factors that might prevent individuals from seeking help for mental health issues?
**Role of Drugs and Heredity:**
* The article highlights the link between drug use and increased risk of schizophrenia. Considering the complexities of addiction and mental health, how can we create more nuanced discussions about substance use and its impact?
* How can we balance individual responsibility with understanding the potential influence of genetic predispositions in developing schizophrenia?
* What ethical considerations arise when discussing the role of heredity in mental illness, particularly concerning privacy and potential discrimination?
**Treatment and Support:**
* What are the most effective ways to support individuals with paranoid schizophrenia, both during treatment and after recovery?
* How can we overcome the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage help-seeking behavior?
* What role should society play in creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for those living with schizophrenia?
I hope these questions spark a thoughtful and engaging discussion!
