Schizophrenia is characterized by a break in reality, also known as psychosis, which impacts the way a person thinks and acts. Someone who has a psychotic break will no longer act like himself. Friends and family members will probably observe problems early on such as social withdrawal, suspicious feelings and odd behavior. However, as the psychosis progresses, behaviors can become extreme. Treatments for schizophrenia include medication and therapy.
Delusions and Hallucinations
Someone who's experiencing delusions and hallucinations is dealing with a break in reality. For example, a person having delusions might believe that voices are speaking to him through television commercials or radio programs. In the case of hallucinations, a person suffering from psychosis hears voices directing him to do things. These two serious symptoms of psychosis require immediate treatment.
Disorganized Speech and Behavior
A person who suffers from schizophrenia may have a break in reality which causes her to have disorganized speech and behavior. She might be incoherent, making up words, jumping from topic to topic and repeating rhyming words that don't make sense. She might switch the subject of the conversation every few seconds. It is difficult to engage in a conversation with someone who is exhibiting these symptoms.
Disorganized behavior is another symptom of schizophrenia and psychosis. According to HELPGUIDE.org, it is characterized by bizarre behavior, poor daily functioning, inappropriate emotions and a lack of impulse control. For instance, a person might wear the same outfit to work several days in a row, laugh when someone tells her a sad story, or spend all her money on a new sports car.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms are also signs that someone is suffering from schizophrenia. Negative symptoms include a lack of emotion and goals, staying in bizarre postures for long periods of time, not moving for long periods of time and difficulty having a conversation. A friend or family member might find the person in bed, rigid and unable to move. The person might refuse to talk, make eye contact and eat. When negative symptoms start to occur, the person might seem robotic to loved ones.
