Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder characterized by the combined presence of certain symptoms, such as psychosis, or the experience of being out of touch with reality, and lack of interest in the outside world. There are outward signs of schizophrenia that someone who is developing the disorder tends to display in aggregate. I'm Brandon, and I have schizophrenia, so I can tell you a bit about them, with examples from my own experience and research. If you are concerned about someone, watch for schizophrenia signs like these:
- Physical signs: Someone's personal appearance may deteriorate.
- Expressive signs: Someone may express himself differently than you are used to.
- Ongoing behavioral signs: Someone may display a loss interest in many aspects of life.
Physical signs of schizophrenia
- Someone developing schizophrenia may neglect hygiene and personal appearance. As the disease advances, they may lose weight and forget to shower. I remember that for many months I would go to work with clothes wrinkled and hair a mess. I had no idea that these were signs of schizophrenia at the time; it just felt normal.
Expressive signs of schizophrenia
- Someone may speak very little or not at all. For a long time, I felt I had nothing to say that would interest anyone else, and so stayed pretty quiet.
- May come across as very "flat", expressing little to no emotion in his/her gaze, body language, or inflection when speaking. A friend of mine with a form of the disorder tends to show this sign of schizophrenia. I have been told before that I do too! :)
- Or, may express inappropriate responses, such as getting angry at innocent remarks or laughing at serious matters. Elyn Saks, in her remarkable schizophrenia memoir The Center Cannot Hold, recalls an interview for a prestigious academic scholarship which she enlivened with an off-color joke, to her own retrospective dismay.
- May speak incomprehensibly, skipping from subject to subject and using unrecognizable terms. To see someone who shows this sign of schizophrenia, watch Schizophrenia: Heather on YouTube.
Ongoing behavioral signs of schizophrenia
These are signs of schizophrenia that you may notice in someone close to you, over time. Although the following can also indicate depression, if they occur along with the physical and expressive signs described above, they may be signs of schizophrenia:
- May stop pursuing hobbies or activities. As a college freshman, in the months leading up to my psychotic break, friends would notice that I would study long hours to the exclusion of fun pursuits.
- May connect with friends much less often than usual, or not at all. When I was in a severe state as a student, I would see or talk to friends once a week, if that.
If someone close to you shows several of these signs of schizophrenia, please encourage them to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Schizophrenia can be treated and managed best when recognized early.
For more on what it feels like "on the inside" to have schizophrenia, please see this article on schizophrenia's symptoms.
Find help: Links to mental health services and directories
