Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that impacts how one’s brain works and functions. It interferes with memories, thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and senses. People with schizophrenia can struggle in many different areas of their lives.
If left untreated, it can affect relationships, work, school, and daily functioning. It can also lead to an increase in accidents, injuries, and other illnesses. Being aware of the signs of schizophrenia can help you determine if you have this condition and when to seek professional help for managing it.
What Are the Signs of Schizophrenia?
The initial signs of schizophrenia can be challenging to recognize because they can develop while someone is a teenager. Many people mistake these signs as typical adolescent behavior and the changes young men and women experience during puberty.
Generally, schizophrenia will affect young men when they are between 15 and 25 years old. With young women, the typical age range is between 25 and 35 years old. Yet, this mental health disorder can occur outside of these age ranges, with new cases having been reported for people in their forties or older.
The schizophrenia signs fall into three different categories:
- Psychotic
- Negative
- Cognitive
The signs can and do vary from one person to the next.
Psychotic Signs of Schizophrenia
Psychotic signs occur when the person experiences psychosis and loses all sense of reality. They have a difficult time determining what is and is not real, and their thought processes are often disrupted. Psychotic signs can include:
- Thought disorder: People exhibiting this sign will have difficulties organizing their thoughts and speaking. They may jump from one subject to another, make up words, or make illogical or unusual responses.
- Delusions: When someone experiences delusions, they have strong beliefs about something that is not real or can seem irrational. They might believe they are being watched or that they are being communicated to secretly through their social media pages.
- Hallucinations: Hallucinations affect how someone hears, tastes, smells, feels, or sees things around them, such as seeing and hearing things others cannot or being able to taste colors.
Negative Schizophrenia Signs
Negative schizophrenia signs include various symptoms that negatively impact one’s life like:
- Loss of motivation
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Isolation from family and friends
- No interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Not showing emotions or exhibiting improper ones
- Not following through on commitments
Cognitive Signs of Schizophrenia
Cognitive signs can include:
- Difficulties concentrating, focusing
- Memory problems
- Difficulties speaking
- Finding it hard to make decisions
- Short-term memory problems
- Inability to pay attention
Prior to psychotic symptoms, it is not uncommon for a person to display changes in their socialization, thinking, and moods. In addition, it is easy to mistake all three of these signs of schizophrenia for substance use disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions. Therefore, a proper diagnosis is needed to determine if the individual does indeed have schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia Signs in Men
The schizophrenia signs in men to be aware of are:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Paranoia
- Catatonic behaviors
- Cognitive difficulties
- Disorganized thinking
- Disorganized speech
- Isolation and social withdrawal
Since schizophrenia can occur during the teen years, many parents mistake these signs in young men for typical adolescent behavior, drug or alcohol use, or other mental health issues.
Signs in Women
Schizophrenia affects women differently than it does in men. The signs may not appear until a woman is in her 20s or 30s. In some cases, it does not even occur until they are in their 40s or older. Other differences between women and men with schizophrenia include:
- Women tend to experience the affective symptoms, such as mood swings, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity, more than men.
- Their hallucinations are usually more related to auditory ones than sensory ones.
- Women are more likely to become hostile and dominating over others during episodes.
- Women often have more sexual delusions when they have schizophrenia.
- Women tend to be more unaware of their signs and symptoms.
- Women usually display no emotional responses or have a lack of empathy for other’s feelings.
- Women can find it more difficult to form coherent speech and communicate with others.
- Schizophrenia episodes are often shorter in women.
- Women have a lower rate of occurrence compared to men.
- Estrogen is believed to be a key factor as to why the condition does not affect women until later in life.
- Women have few cognitive signs aside from speech and communication issues.
- Women can maintain social aspects and function socially better than men with schizophrenia.
- Women are more likely to engage in self-harm and have suicidal thoughts but are less likely to follow through.
However, some women will also display other signs and symptoms similar to men. Women are also more likely to be misdiagnosed because their signs and symptoms are also found with other mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
Contact Montare Tucson to Treat Schizophrenia in a Comfortable Setting
If you are exhibiting schizophrenia signs and are concerned, Montare Tucson is here to help. Our caring team can help properly diagnose whether you have schizophrenia or another mental health disorder. We offer comprehensive, evidence-based and holistic therapeutic modalities tailored to your needs in a safe and supportive environment.
Contact us today to discover how you can effectively manage schizophrenia and lead a productive and rewarding life with improved mental health.
Published: 12/10/2024
