Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness. People with this disorder live in a make-believe world based on their distorted perception of reality. This makes it hard for them to differentiate between what’s real or unreal.

Warning signs and symptoms

• Hallucination.

People with schizophrenia believe that they hear, see, smell, or feel things that no one else does. There are different types of hallucinations in schizophrenia:

• Auditory. Schizophrenic people hear voices in their heads. They may be enraged or in a hurry and demand that they complete tasks. It can sound like a single voice or a group of voices.
• Hallucination.People with schizophrenia believe that they hear, see, smell, or feel things that no one else does. There are different types of hallucinations in schizophrenia:
  • Auditory. Schizophrenic people hear voices in their heads. They may be enraged or in a hurry and demand that they complete tasks. It can sound like a single voice or a group of voices.

Delusions

The afflicted persons may believe someone is attempting to control their mind or that someone is after them. They may believe they’re someone else, such as a famous actor or the president, or that they possess superhuman abilities.

• Jumbled thoughts and speech.

People suffering from schizophrenia may find it difficult to organize their thoughts. When you talk to them, they might not be able to follow along.

• Inability to concentrate and movement disorder

Some people with schizophrenia appear jittery. At times, they’ll repeat the same movements over and over. They can, however, remain perfectly still for hours at a time, a condition described by experts as catatonic.

Some Common Misconceptions about Schizophrenia

 Are they violent?

People with schizophrenia, contrary to popular belief, are rarely violent.

If one of your parents has it, will you have it as well?

• If one of your parents has schizophrenia, you’re not likely to develop it as well. Genes do play a part. However, just because one of your parents has a mental illness doesn’t mean you will.

Although you may have a slightly higher risk, scientists don’t believe that genes are the sole cause.

Schizophrenia isn’t caused by bad parenting.

Schizophrenia is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and it is not caused directly by poor parenting.

Certain viruses, a lack of nutrition before birth, and other factors all play a role in turning on the genes.