Symptoms Of Schizophrenia

The first signs of schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or even

shocking, changes in behavior. Coping with the symptoms of schizophrenia

can be especially difficult for family members who remember how involved

or vivacious a person was before they became ill. The sudden onset of

severe psychotic symptoms is referred to as an "acute" phase of

schizophrenia. "Psychosis," a common condition in schizophrenia,

is a state of mental impairment marked by hallucinations, which are

disturbances of sensory perception, and/or delusions, which are false

yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to

separate real from unreal experiences. Less obvious symptoms, such as

social isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior,

may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic symptoms.



Some people have only one such psychotic episode; others have many

episodes during a lifetime, but lead relatively normal lives during the

interim periods. However, the individual with "chronic" schizophrenia, or a

continuous or recurring pattern of illness, often does not fully

recover normal functioning and typically requires long-term treatment,

generally including medication, to control the symptoms.



Normal Versus Abnormal

At times, normal individuals may feel, think, or act in ways that

resemble schizophrenia. Normal people may sometimes be unable to

"think straight." They may become extremely anxious, for example,

when speaking in front of groups and may feel confused, be unable to pull

their thoughts together, and forget what they had intended to say.

This is not schizophrenia. At the same time, people with schizophrenia

do not always act abnormally. Indeed, some people with the illness

can appear completely normal and be perfectly responsible, even while

they experience hallucinations or delusions. An individual's

behavior may change over time, becoming bizarre if medication is stopped

and returning closer to normal when receiving appropriate treatment.



Below is a list of symptoms that are common in Schizophrenia:



Distorted Perceptions of Reality



Hallucinations and Illusions



Delusions



Substance Abuse



Disordered Thinking



Emotional Expression

Hearing things that other people cannot hear, such as noises

or the voices of people whispering or talking

Having the feeling that someone is going out of the way to

give you a hard time or trying to hurt you

Having visions or seeing things that other people cannot see

Feeling that people are talking about you or taking special notice of you

Receiving special messages from the TV, radio or newspaper

Feeling of having special powers to do things that other people cannot do

Having strange sensations in your body or on your skin

Smelling or tasting things that other people cannot smell or taste

Having severe difficulty at times concentrating and expressing

oneself verbally

Acting in ways others see as unusual or bizarre

Withdrawal from normal social, family, and professional relations