Problem:
Respond to my classmate's discussion post.
This was a very eye opening and somewhat difficult experience for me. While trying to answer the questions, I found it very difficult to focus. Even though the questions themselves were simple, I had to repeat them to myself several times and it took much longer to arrive at the answers. I attempted to deal with the voices by concentrating harder and mentally restating the instructions but the distraction was still extremely overwhelming.
I was unable to fully block out the voces, especially with the tasks that required more thought. For example, spelling the word "world" backwards was very difficult. The more mental effort a question required, the harder it became to ignore the interruptions. Completing the mini-mental status exam was more challenging than the math problems for me. It felt frustrating and exhausting. The math portion was easier for me to manage and I was better able to tune out the voices during that section and completed 26 problems in 60 seconds.
Physically, I noticed slight tension and what felt like the beginning of a headache after finishing both sections. I also experienced anxiousness while trying to complete the tasks.
This experience helped me better understand how overwhelming daily life may be for individuals who suffer from schizophrenia. Simple cognitive tasks can become exhausting when someone is faced with constantly battling intrusive voices. It showed me that the difficulty focusing or responding appropriately is not a reflection of intelligence or effort but rather the result of mental overload. Knowing that some individuals face this type of struggled heightened my empathy and understanding of the disorder. Need Assignment Help?