How Does Schizophrenia Feel?

Schizophrenia symptoms, like those of any mental health condition, vary as much as the individuals affected by it, but there are some commonalities among all patients.

Typically, schizophrenia begins resembling much worse versions of more common conditions such as paranoia and anxiety. A person with schizophrenia is someone who experiences feelings without a rational basis. They worry about invented or exaggerated problems or become paranoid about things wanting to harm them. At this stage, a schizophrenic's perception of the world isn't entirely accurate (for example, they do hallucinate), their minds invent concerns. They approach the world through a schizophrenic lens: like a place where everyone is out to get them, and disaster is around every corner. This paranoia defines early-stage schizophrenia (indeed, schizophrenia is sometimes referred to as paranoid schizophrenia). As one who had schizophrenia puts it:

"I became suspicious and felt like I was being watched by everyone - relatives, friends, and even strangers. I thought security cameras mounted on local buildings were recording my every move. I thought strangers knew who I was and whispered about me as I walked."

Diagnosing early-stage schizophrenia is challenging because symptoms often resemble those of other mood disorders. But of course, things get worse.

What Schizophrenia Feels Like

What characterizes schizophrenia is experiencing hallucinations: perceptions that seem real but are created by the mind. A hallucination appears identical to all other genuine sensory experiences. Still, many schizophrenics will correct their hallucinations by reflecting upon them. Encountering an 8-foot-tall bat or a talking tree contradicts what we know about the world, and many schizophrenics can say, "This is a hallucination," and move on.

The most common type of hallucination is auditory: hearing voices. Schizophrenia patient woman, put it this way:

"One day I was driving home from work, and I started hearing voices in my head. It wasn't just one voice - it was a multitude, in a low tone. I couldn't make out what they were saying. It sounded like a radio with a lot of static between stations. As time passed, the voices became clearer."

These voices will vary greatly among schizophrenics. Sometimes the voices may seem positive - they can be funny or even supportive. More often, these voices are auditory manifestations of underlying paranoia or anxiety. As one who had patience puts it, "[The voices] cut me down, belittle me, and seem to have goals of beating me."