Schizophrenia is a disorder that can significantly affect physical and mental well-being. The condition can influence how one thinks, feels, and behaves, making it difficult for one to carry out day-to-day tasks. If left untreated, the disorder can affect an individual’s personal, professional, and social relationships. So, it is important to learn about and recognize the early signs of schizophrenia and seek timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment for the disorder.

Lack of emotional expression
Also known as “flat affect”, lack of emotional and facial expression is a sign often associated with schizophrenia. Here, one may not have appropriate emotional expressions for the circumstances. For instance, one can continue to have an expressionless face even when they feel happy. This can often lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding. To address this symptom, one can consider opting for social skills training or cognitive behavioral therapy. Here, one works with a therapist to improve communication and keep up with their daily routine.

Hallucinations
One of the most common signs of schizophrenia is hallucinations, which involve hearing and seeing things that do not exist in reality. For someone dealing with the disorder, these hallucinations can appear completely normal and feel like a realistic experience. This can make it difficult for one to differentiate hallucinations from reality.

Disorganized thoughts and speech
Another common sign of schizophrenia is disorganized speech and thoughts. Here, one may have trouble concentrating and maintaining their train of thought, leading to speech problems. For example, one may offer a completely unrelated answer to a question, make up words, or repeat certain words and phrases.

Lack of motivation
Lack of motivation, also known as avolition, is one of the subtle signs of schizophrenia. Here, one may notice a reduced willingness to complete tasks. While at first, this can seem harmless, those with schizophrenia can experience difficulties keeping a job and taking care of their own health. So, if one exhibits this sign, they may withdraw from social contact and activities. Further, declining or a complete lack of enthusiasm are possible signs.

In addition to the abovementioned signs of schizophrenia, one may experience a lack of impulse control and excessive sleepiness when dealing with the disorder.