Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how someone understands reality, with symptoms like seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, having strong beliefs that don’t match up with reality, and disorganized thoughts. But living a meaningful, connected life is possible with the right treatment and support.
Learn
Schizophrenia is often misunderstood, but understanding the condition and available treatments is a key step toward building compassion and awareness.
Signs and Symptoms
Here are common signs of schizophrenia that may require support and treatment. The earlier you receive a diagnosis and start treatment, the sooner you can work toward living a meaningful life while managing symptoms.
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Positive Symptoms
These are unusual thoughts or behaviors that aren’t typical for others, such as hallucinations (like hearing voices), delusions (like believing you have special powers or that others are plotting against you), and disorganized speech (switching topics quickly or speaking in confusing ways).
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Negative Symptoms
These include a decrease or loss of normal function, like lack of motivation (difficulty starting or finishing tasks), social withdrawal (reduced desire for interaction), and blunted emotions (limited facial expressions or speech tone).
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Cognitive Symptoms
These impact thinking and focus, like memory issues (trouble recalling recent events), poor concentration (difficulty staying focused), and disorganized thoughts (feeling scattered or unable to think clearly).
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Mood Symptoms
Some people may also experience mood changes, such as depression, anxiety, or irritability.
Act
If left untreated, schizophrenia often worsens over time. However, with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy, medication, and a healthy lifestyle, many people can effectively manage symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
TALK ABOUT IT
Too many people struggle with symptoms of schizophrenia in silence, often due to fear of judgment or appearing weak. But reaching out for help is actually a sign of strength and a crucial step toward feeling better. Schizophrenia is a treatable medical condition, so there’s no reason to feel embarrassed. Lean on your support network and be honest about how you’re feeling (trust us, it helps).
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Physical and mental health are closely connected, so it’s essential to pay attention to both. Lack of sleep or poor nutrition can trigger or worsen symptoms, and drug or alcohol use can make things even harder to manage. It’s okay to take a step back and focus on yourself while you’re also seeking help and working toward feeling better.
Get support
Mental health professionals are trained to support people who are struggling with any mental health challenge. If you need immediate help, please use one of the first two resources below to talk to a trained counselor 24/7.
When contacting a resource below, any information you provide will be collected and used by that resource, subject to its end user terms and conditions and privacy policy. Please contact the applicable resource if you would like more information.
| Resource | Type | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Crisis Text Line | Text Line | Text ACTION to 741-741 |
| Lifeline | Call Line | 988 |
| Trans Lifeline | Call Line | 877-565-8860 |
| The Trevor Project | Website | Visit website |
| ADAA Therapist Search | Website | Visit website |
| BetterHelp | Website | Visit website |
| Talkspace | Website | Visit website |
