Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that is characterized by disturbances in perception and disorganization in thinking and behavior. Those who are diagnosed with Schizophrenia experience symptoms such as hearing voices and paranoid or unusual thoughts. It has NOTHING to do with a split or multiple personality, which is commonly thought. Some behavioral characteristics at the early stage are: difficulty concentrating, trouble with sleeping (sleeping at odd hours reversal of day/night), difficulty relaxing, fearful, unrealistic worries, decrease in school performance, decrease in personal hygiene and grooming, difficulty relating to others, social isolation or withdrawal, suicidal ideas, etc (Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, 2012).

 

 

Here is an example of a 4-minute audio clip of auditory hallucinations that provide a small understanding of what it might be like having schizophrenia.

Just as a warning, this video clip is disturbing as it is a impersonation of what someone with schizophrenia may hear.