You can’t diagnose yourself with schizophrenia. It’s a complex mental health condition and only a qualified mental health professional can make a diagnosis. However, there are some signs and symptoms that might indicate you should seek help from a professional.

Here are some of the common symptoms of schizophrenia:

• Positive symptoms: These are experiences that distort reality, such as:
  • Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or smelling things that aren’t there. Hearing voices is a common hallucination in schizophrenia.
  • Delusions: False beliefs that you hold onto firmly, even when there’s evidence to the contrary. For example, you might believe that you’re being persecuted or that you have special powers.
• Negative symptoms: These are reductions in normal emotions and behaviors, such as:
  • Avolition: Lack of motivation or interest in activities.
  • Alogia: Poverty of speech, speaking very little or not at all.
  • Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure.
  • Affective flattening: Reduced emotional expression. You might appear emotionless or monotone.
• Disorganized symptoms: These are problems with thinking and speech, such as:
  • Disorganized speech: Jumping from topic to topic, rapid and incoherent speech.
  • Disorganized behavior: Difficulty planning and carrying out tasks, acting out in a strange way.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a mental health professional for an evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you manage your symptoms and live a fulfilling life.