Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder affecting about 1% of people worldwide, per the World Health Organization. It disrupts thinking, emotions, and behavior, often starting in late teens to early 30s. Only a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose it through clinical interviews, history, and ruling out other conditions (e.g., via DSM-5 criteria requiring symptoms for 6+ months).

Key Symptoms (Not Exhaustive):

• Positive Symptoms (added experiences):
  • Hallucinations: Hearing voices (most common), seeing things, or sensing unreal stimuli.
  • Delusions: Fixed false beliefs, like paranoia (being watched) or grandeur (special powers).
• Negative Symptoms (lost functions):
  • Flat emotions, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, poor speech (alogia).
• Cognitive Symptoms:
  • Disorganized thinking (incoherent speech), trouble focusing, memory issues.
• Behavioral Signs:
  • Erratic actions, catatonia (unresponsiveness), or poor hygiene.

Early signs (prodrome) may include isolation, odd beliefs, or declining function. Risk factors: genetics (10x higher if family history), brain chemistry imbalances, substance abuse (e.g., cannabis in youth), or trauma.

Red Flags Requiring Professional Help:

• Sudden personality changes.
• Hearing commands to harm self/others.
• Inability to distinguish reality.

Do not self-diagnose. Encourage gentle support: "I've noticed changes; let's see a doctor." Seek immediate help for suicide risk (call 988 in US) or psychosis. Treatment (antipsychotics, therapy like CBT, support) improves outcomes 80% stabilize with early intervention, per NIMH.

If concerned, contact a mental health professional or hotline. Schizophrenia is manageable, not a character flaw.