How to Cope With Common Misconceptions About Schizophrenia
Health ConditionsMental Health ConditionsSchizophrenia

How to Cope With the Stigma of Schizophrenia

People who live with schizophrenia often face harmful misconceptions. Here are some common ones — and ways to counter the stigma.
How to Cope With the Stigma of Schizophrenia
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Published on April 7, 2025
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Although schizophrenia affects more than 3 million adults in the United States, many people — including those who live with it — are not clear on what the condition really is or what the symptoms look like. This leads to many misconceptions about schizophrenia.

These misconceptions can make living with schizophrenia even more challenging than it already is. Research has found that stigmatization can make it harder for people with the condition to recover from their symptoms and lead to a lower quality of life, due to struggles to be accepted by their community.

Whether you have schizophrenia yourself or a loved one does, learning to spread the truth behind some common misconceptions and finding ways to cope with the stigma can help.

Spread the Truth Behind Common Misconceptions About Schizophrenia

Despite modern advances in treatment and a greater openness for talking about mental health, people often misunderstand schizophrenia. Here’s what to know about the condition.

Truth: Schizophrenia Is Not the Same as Having a Split Personality

The number of episodes a person with schizophrenia experiences can vary, but there will be times when it’s better or worse. This is not the same as having a split personality. “Schizophrenia shows up when a person is having an episode. It can be episodic and relapsing-remitting,” explains Diane Solomon, PhD, a psychotherapist based in Portland, Oregon.

Perspectives
Kody Green
Kody Green
Living with schizophrenia
Author of 'Minds Over Meetings'
"I’ve gotten a lot of misconceptions over the years about schizophrenia. ... [Humor] helps me be able to still talk about these things but do it in a way that isn’t so traumatic."
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Truth: Schizophrenia Is Not the Result of a ‘Bad’ Childhood

Like other mental health conditions, schizophrenia is caused by a complex combination of brain chemistry, environment, and genetic factors that are not yet fully understood by researchers. It is not due solely to poor parenting or a traumatic life event. But it does tend to run in families and is estimated to be 60 to 80 percent hereditary.

Truth: People With Schizophrenia Are Not Violent or Dangerous

While some people with schizophrenia may feel agitated during an episode, research shows the majority do not become violent. But taking steps to identify and avoid risk factors for violent behaviors, such as avoiding substance use, can also help prevent aggression.

Truth: You Can Work When You Have Schizophrenia

Although some may think that people who have schizophrenia are unpredictable and unreliable, “With excellent treatment, people with schizophrenia can have a job, a life, all the things,” says Dr. Solomon. And you can even ask for certain accommodations to help you be successful on the job.

Truth: There’s No Cure for Schizophrenia, But It Can Be Treated

A prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to managing schizophrenia. “Just like diabetes or high blood pressure, if you identify schizophrenia early and you do everything you can, it’s going to be a lot less severe,” Solomon notes. “The sooner we get a diagnosis and start treatment, the better.”

In fact, according to the World Health Organization, at least one-third of people with schizophrenia are able to experience a complete remission from symptoms.

 Research shows that sticking with your treatment plan can help improve the likelihood of remission and improve your overall quality of life.

6 Ways to Cope With the Stigma Against Schizophrenia

Don’t let other people’s misconceptions about schizophrenia dictate how you approach the condition. Here’s how to take control of the narrative:

  1. Don’t equate yourself with your schizophrenia. Yes, you have schizophrenia, but it’s only part of you. You are also all of the things that make you who you are when you’re not having an episode.
  2. Don’t let the stigma keep you from seeking treatment. Schizophrenia is not a sign of personal weakness. Having the condition doesn’t mean you’re broken or less than. “It’s the really strong people who are strong enough to reach out for help,” says Solomon.
  3. Seek support from others with the condition. No one understands living with schizophrenia more than other people who have the condition. Ask your doctor about local support groups, or visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for resources such as NAMI Connection to help you connect with the schizophrenia community.
  4. Lean on your loved ones. If your loved ones are supportive and helpful, lean on them. If your family or friends don’t understand schizophrenia or aren’t supportive, try to find and surround yourself with people who are. “Lean on your family if you feel safe with your family,” says Solomon. “Otherwise, create your chosen family.”
  5. Read inspiring stories from others with schizophrenia. Solomon recommends reading The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks and The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang. These memoirs help bust stereotypes about living with schizophrenia.
  6. Become an advocate for schizophrenia. It can be tough to advocate for yourself when you’re having an episode or struggling to find the right treatment. But when you’re feeling well, if you’re comfortable with the thought, consider talking to others about your diagnosis and participating in an advocacy organization, such as the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance.

The Takeaway

  • Misconceptions about schizophrenia and the stigma surrounding the condition can take a toll, but people with schizophrenia are just as worthy and capable as anyone else of living a fulfilling life.
  • Addressing these misconceptions can help stop the spread of misinformation. For example, schizophrenia involves episodic symptoms, such as hallucinations, and is not a “split personality.” Nor is it associated with increased violence toward others.
  • Leaning on your loved ones can help you feel supported, and connecting with the schizophrenia community and sharing your experience can help you feel empowered.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Mental Health Disorder Statistics. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  2. Adil M et al. Stigmatization of Schizophrenic Individuals and Its Correlation to the Fear of Violent Offence. Should We Be Concerned? Annals of Medicine & Surgery. October 2022.
  3. Zhan N et al. The Genetic Basis of Onset Age in Schizophrenia: Evidence and Models. Frontiers in Genetics. June 26, 2023.
  4. Cho W et al. Biological Aspects of Aggression and Violence in Schizophrenia. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience. November 20, 2019.
  5. Schizophrenia. World Health Organization. January 10, 2022.
  6. Correll CU et al. Symptomatic, Functional and Quality of Life Measures of Remission in 194 Outpatients With Schizophrenia Followed Naturalistically in a 6-month, Non-Interventional Study of Aripiprazole Once-Monthly. Schizophrenia (Heidelberg). November 8, 2023.
Additional Sources
  • Mental Health: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness. Mayo Clinic. May 24, 2017.
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Angela-Harper-bio

Angela D. Harper, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adults.  

A distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Harper has worked as a psychiatrist throughout her career, serving a large number of patients in various settings, including a psychiatric hospital on the inpatient psychiatric and addiction units, a community mental health center, and a 350-bed nursing home and rehab facility. She has provided legal case consultation for a number of attorneys.

Harper graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a bachelor's degree and cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency in adult psychiatry. During residency, she won numerous awards, including the Laughlin Fellowship from the American College of Psychiatrists, the Ginsberg Fellowship from the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, and resident of the year and resident medical student teacher of the year. She was also the member-in-training trustee to the American Psychiatric Association board of trustees during her last two years of residency training.

Harper volunteered for a five-year term on her medical school's admission committee, has given numerous presentations, and has taught medical students and residents. She currently supervises a nurse practitioner. She is passionate about volunteering for the state medical board's medical disciplinary commission, on which she has served since 2015.

She and her husband are avid travelers and have been to over 55 countries and territories.

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Erica Patino

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Erica Patino is a freelance writer and editor, content strategist, and usability specialist who has worked for a variety of online health outlets, including Healthline, Sharecare, and Twill Care. She was previously a senior editor at Everyday Health. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Hear 2 Tell, a website that covers advances in hearing loss treatment. Patino lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and twin sons.
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