Can Anxiety Cause Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia and anxiety are two distinct chronic brain disorders with risk factors, some of which are the same — genetics, for example. However, when exclusively talking about the two, can anxiety cause schizophrenia? If so, what are the symptoms, and what are the triggers? I’ll cover that and more in this post.

Henceforth, anxiety and heartfelt symptoms are visible features of schizophrenia which are often present in the prodromal phase of the illness and preceding psychotic relapses. Furthermore, a number of studies suggest that genetic risk for the disorder may be associated with increased anxiety long before the onset of psychotic symptoms.

“You have succeeded in life when all you want is only what you need.” —Vernon Howard

Anxiety Disorder and Schizophrenia

In any event, frequently observing among patients with schizophrenia, anxiety can be present. Consequently, anxiety may present as a component of schizophrenia (particularly during an acute psychotic episode), a result of an underlying organic condition, a medication side effect, or a symptom of a co-occurring anxiety disorder.

Overall, schizophrenia and anxiety may seem like separate experiences, but a feeling of intense, heightened anxiousness prior to paranoia can be a noteworthy feature of schizophrenia. When you live with schizophrenia, you might experience anxiety often, sometimes simply from piloting daily life. In fact, anxiety may play a significant role in schizophrenia, even if these two conditions seem very different.

Nonetheless, anxiety may present as a component of schizophrenia (particularly during an severe psychotic episode). As a result of an underlying organic condition, a medication side effect, or a symptom of a associated anxiety disorder.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” —Marie Curie

Anxiety Schizophrenia Symptoms

Clearly, schizophrenia symptoms revolve around experiences of psychosis, while anxiety disorders are based on impairing feelings of intense anxiety or dread.

In sum with symptoms like auditory hallucinations (hearing things that aren’t there), derealization (feeling like you’ve lost touch with reality), and depersonalization (feeling as though you’re on the outside, watching yourself).

In short, the two anxiety disorders most commonly associated with schizophrenia fears are panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. This is due to the overlapping symptoms of the anxiety disorders with schizophrenia.

Therefore, both panic disorder and schizophrenia have:

Hallucinations
Trouble thinking
Trouble speaking
Depersonalization
Derealization

Causes of Schizophrenia and Anxiety

In short, knowing that genetic factors play a significant role in facilitating risk for schizophrenia. Also, a number of studies have investigated the influence of genetic risk for schizophrenia on anxiety.

In addition, a number of non-genetic risk factors for psychosis – such as stress, abuse, migration and cannabis misuse – can also increase anxiety levels. Specificly suggesting that elevated anxiety may represent a common consequence of both genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” —Marie Curie

Treating Anxiety in Schizophrenia

In general, both anxiety and schizophrenia can be treated successfully using medications, cognitive behavioral therapies, holistic therapies, peer support, and family therapies. Although, the disorders are not treated using the same methods, though.

In effect, someone with schizophrenia should prepare for long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication, as it is not curable. They may need life-long treatment. On the other hand, anxiety disorders can be overcome in a matter of months, depending on the intensity of the diagnosis.

 Medicine for Schizophrenia and Anxiety

Atypical antipsychotics are also known as second-generation antipsychotics. Therefore, these medications are generally the first course of medication prescribed because they have a lower risk of serious side effects. In sum, they are less likely to cause disorders of movement like tardive dyskinesia. Although, they may increase the risk of weight gain or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which can lead to diabetes.

Atypical antipsychotics include:

Abilify (aripiprazole)

Fanapt (iloperidone)

Geodon (ziprasidone)

Invega (paliperidone)

Latuda (lurasidone)

Risperdal (risperidone)

Rexulti (brexpiprazole)

Saphris (asenapine)

Seroquel (quetiapine)

Vraylar (cariprazine)

Zyprexa (olanzapine)

In particular, typical antipsychotics were the first generation of antipsychotic drugs to be developed, starting in the 1950s. On the whole, they can be effective in managing symptoms but also can cause short-term and long-term side effects.

Of course, one long-term effect is the development of tardive dyskinesia (TD), which is an involuntary movement disorder. People with tardive this may experience random movements in their muscles, eyes, tongue, jaw, and lips. All in all, typical antipsychotics are usually prescribed when atypical antipsychotics have not been effective.

Therefore, typical antipsychotics include:

Haldol (haloperidol)

Loxitane (loxapine)

Navane (thiothixene)

Prolixin (fluphenazine)

Thorazine (chlorpromazine)

Thioridazine

Trilafon (perphenazine)

Stelazine (trifluoperazine)

Side Effects of Antipsychotics
Side effects of first-generation, or typical, antipsychotics can include:

Sedation
Dry mouth, blurry vision
Dizziness
Weight gain that can lead to metabolic syndrome
Constipation, urinary retention

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.” —Serena Williams

Can Anxiety Cause Schizophrenia?

Although some people with schizophrenia suffer anxiety, it is impossible for people with anxiety disorders to cause schizophrenia as a result of their anxiety disorder. Therefore, anxiety sufferers should be reassured that they cannot develop schizophrenia as part of their anxiety state, no matter how bad the anxiety becomes.

Altogether, it’s no wonder that so many people with severe anxiety begin to fear they have schizophrenia. While anxiety disorders can co-occur with schizophrenia, it is far more common for a person to have anxiety without schizophrenia than it is for someone to have both or just schizophrenia.

Hence, schizophrenia symptoms develop over time, starting in the late teens and gradually worsening. Also, schizophrenic episodes triggered by anxiety happen quickly, leave quickly, and usually follow severe stress like a panic attack.

Above all, someone with schizophrenia may lose touch with reality, but they are unaware it is happening. Someone with anxiety can also lose touch with reality but know they are isolating.

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” —Friedrich Nietzsche

Conclusion

Therefore, the symptoms of schizophrenia and the worsening course can be linked to changes in brain structure and functioning. They are entirely different from those associated with anxiety. So, no, anxiety cannot cause schizophrenia!

I want to share something with all of you out there. Accordingly, I’m going to go deep for a second. I’ve been experiencing hallucinations (if that’s what you want to call them). I fall asleep and within an hour of sleeping, I wake up with sheer terror. Usually, I sense movement of something that I can only see an outline of it (because of the dark). All things considered, the last couple of nights, I had a hairy tarantula coming towards my face. I absolutely, positively hate spiders (especially big ones). Could this be the schizophrenia (along with anxiety) in me scaring me to death? I don’t know because it seems so frickin’ real and it has been happening every night over several weeks. I could use some feedback guys! Until next time…

Articles

-Anxiety Symptoms and Schizophrenia

https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/not-schizophrenia

-Treating Comorbid Anxiety Disorders in Patients With Schizophrenia: A New Pathway

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/treating-comorbid-anxiety-disorders-patients-schizophrenia-new-pathway

-How to Cope With Schizophrenia and Anxiety

https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-and-anxiety#recap

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice – Unstoppable

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward however they like.” —Lao Tzu.

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