Positive symptoms

These are unusual experiences. Many people have them from time to time and they need not be a problem. In schizophrenia, they tend to be much more intense, troublesome, pre-occupying and distressing.

Hallucinations

A hallucination happens when you hear, smell, feel or see something – but it isn’t caused by anything (or anybody) around you. The commonest one is hearing voices.

Delusions

A delusion happens when you believe something – and are completely sure of it – while other people think you have misunderstood what is happening. It’s as though you see things in a completely different way from everyone else.

Negative symptoms

• You start to lose your normal thoughts, feelings and motivations.
• You lose interest in life. Your energy, emotions and ‘get-up-and-go’ just drain away.
• It’s hard to feel excited or enthusiastic about anything.
• You can’t concentrate.
• You don’t bother to get up or go out of the house.
• You stop washing or tidying, or keeping your clothes clean.
• You feel uncomfortable with people.

People can find it hard to understand that negative symptoms are really symptoms – not just laziness.