Early Signs of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It often first appears in early adulthood, but it can also develop in childhood or late adulthood.

Early signs of schizophrenia may include:

• Developmental delays in childhood: A child with schizophrenia may have delays in motor development, speech or language development, and social development. For example, they may not learn to talk or walk as expected, and they may not show normal emotional responses.
• Struggling in school: A child or teenager with schizophrenia may start to withdraw from friends and family, avoid contact with other people, or refuse to go to school. They may also start to have problems with their grades.
• Suspiciousness of others: A person with schizophrenia may become suspicious of others, believing that people are trying to harm them or that they are being watched or followed.
• Poor personal hygiene: A person with schizophrenia may stop taking care of themselves, such as by not bathing or brushing their teeth. They may also start to wear dirty clothes or neglect their appearance.
• Social isolation and increased introversion: A person with schizophrenia may start to withdraw from social activities and spend more time alone. They may also become more introverted and less interested in interacting with others.
• Disorganized thinking and problems recognizing cause-and-effect: A person with schizophrenia may have difficulty thinking clearly and understanding cause-and-effect relationships. They may also have trouble paying attention and following instructions.
• Inappropriate social behavior: A person with schizophrenia may behave in ways that are inappropriate for the situation, such as by talking to themselves or laughing at inappropriate times.
• Slow, uncoordinated movements: A person with schizophrenia may move slowly and in a uncoordinated way. They may also have difficulty with balance and coordination.
• Flat gaze or lack of facial expression: A person with schizophrenia may have a flat or expressionless gaze. They may also have difficulty making eye contact with others.
• Significant mood swings: A person with schizophrenia may experience significant mood swings, from feeling very happy to feeling very sad or depressed.
• Delusions and hallucination: A person with schizophrenia may experience delusions, which are false beliefs that are not based in reality. They may also experience hallucination, which are seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there.
• Difficulty communicating and disorganized speech: A person with schizophrenia may have difficulty communicating with others. They may speak in a disorganized way, and they may have trouble following conversations.
• Drug or alcohol use: A person with schizophrenia may use drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms.
• Inability to maintain relationships: A person with schizophrenia may have difficulty maintaining relationships with family and friends.
• Changes in personality and behavior: A person with schizophrenia may experience changes in their personality and behavior. They may become more aggressive or withdrawn, or they may start to act in ways that are inconsistent with their usual personality.
• Lack of energy and decreased activity: A person with schizophrenia may have a lack of energy and decreased activity. They may also have trouble sleeping.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help right away.