As we reported recently, scientists have made a huge breakthrough that could give schizophrenia sufferers hope. And that’s a big deal, as most people aren’t aware of what they go through on a day to day basis.

Scientists from the United Kingdom and China were able to compare the brains of people with schizophrenia and without it using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, and it showed that brains actually work to repair themselves — a tremendous discovery that could lead to new treatments targeting the core issues of schizophrenia, or perhaps even lead to a cure itself.

Considering what schizophrenics go through, that’s big. But what is schizophrenia? Basically, it’s a disorder that makes it impossible to distinguish between that which is real and that which isn’t. It also affects one’s ability to manage emotions and relate to others.

When you have schizophrenia, you start seeing and hearing things that don’t exist, and this can be terrifying to people who don’t what it is. These voices they hear may speak in strange and confusing ways, and in some cases they believe others are trying to harm them, which is why many schizophrenics can turn into dangerous people if untreated. They often think they are being watched, and it makes normal life almost impossible for them, often causing them to withdraw from the outside world or act in erratic ways.

Fortunately, there are treatment options, and many people who have schizophrenia are able to manage their symptoms with support, medication and therapy.

However, it remains a very scary illness to have, and it is related to a loss of cognitive function in the brain, so this recent discovery gives tremendous hope to sufferers.