Reply #83: There is NO evidence that Joan was schizophrenic. [View All]

[happyslug]

Schizophrenia is centered around delusions and disjointed thinking, NOT hearing voices. Now hallucination are a sign of Schizophrenia but only if part of the delusions or disjointed thinking the person is operating under (The voices tell me to kill you because you are evil for you hate my dog). Hallucinations is NOT the primary indication of Schizophrenia and at best a minor problem in Schizophrenia, compared to the delusions and disjointed thinking. My point is if you want to attack her for hearing voices, make that attack, don't use Psychological terms for the WRONG CONDITION.

Furthermore Joan was to young to be Schizophrenic. Males tend to show the first signs of Schizophrenia in the early 20s (The age Joan was when she died) but females the age tend to be about 30. No reason is presently known why this difference is age, through recent MRI studies indicate it may be do to the fact when it comes to memory, men's brain show a definite use of one side of the brain over the other, while women tend to use both MUCH more equally.

For more on Schizophrenia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

For more on Hallucinations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination

As to insanity, that was NEVER proved nor alleged during her lifetime. The reason was simple, even today a person can suffer from Schizophrenia (Or other mental impairments) and still be perfectly sane. Wilson Churchill, for example, is considered a classic case of Bi-Polar condition (Formerly called Manic-Depression). He pulled some of his worse mistakes when he was depressed (His order for the British Navy to sink the French Fleet as it sat in port is the best example of such bad thinking).

The scary part is the connection between Schizophrenia and Genius, the connection has been noted for centuries, why there is a connection no one knows.