Negative stigma surrounding mental disorders has been present in society for decades. As the world moves toward becoming more accepting, despite our various differences, that stigma is slowly dissolving. One mental disorder that has received much negative attention in the past is schizophrenia, a disorder that influences a person’s perception of reality. Schizophrenic individuals might find themselves hallucinating or having deluded thoughts and this may impact the ability to think logically.

There is some debate as to what exactly causes this condition, but it is most popularly believed that schizophrenia is a result of the environment (i.e., trauma), genetics, and brain chemistry. This condition can be disabling if it is left untreated or caught in its later stages. Here are three early warning signs to look out for when determining schizophrenia:

1. Depression and social withdrawal
The symptoms of schizophrenia fall under three categories: behavioral, cognitive, and emotional. Depression and social withdrawal are both behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with schizophrenia. A person with depression and schizophrenia is more inclined to refrain from social interaction and eventually becomes secluded from the rest of society. During seclusion, patients may begin to hallucinate or have deluded thoughts due to withdrawal. It is important to visit a mental health professional as soon as you experience hallucinations.

2. Hostility or suspiciousness
Hostility is better explained by feeling easily irritated or annoyed by even routine questions. In a recent study, it was determined that a person aware of a personal mental disorder would become more hostile if the disorder was being discussed. In essence, an awareness of schizophrenia would make a patient more hostile and prone to outbursts. Imagine taking part in a murder mystery game where anyone could be the murderer. You might find yourself becoming suspicious of everyone in the game. This feeling is one of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia brought on by distorted thinking linked to the mental disorder. A schizophrenic individual might become mistrusting, paranoid, and suspicious of even close family and friends.

3. Lack of emotion or inappropriate emotional outbursts
Schizophrenic individuals are often prone to inappropriate actions such as laughing at sad or scary events or situations, or crying at happy ones. Conversely, schizophrenic individuals may find themselves showing little to no emotion even in the most emotional of situations. The extent to which this mood change occurs is purely based on the type of schizophrenia and the person’s personality. This obviously greatly differs between patients.

If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, it is never too late to begin treatment. Leaving this condition untreated can be especially disabling and greatly reduce quality of life. One medication often prescribed by doctors for treatment is Invega Sustenna (or Paliperidone Palmitate), an antipsychotic drug used in the treatment of various mental disorders, including dementia-related psychosis, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Sustenna works by assisting in the restoration of the proper neurotransmitters within the brain. It specifically attempts to rebalance the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain to drastically improve mood, thinking, and behavior. This medication is given in monthly increments; however, you may begin to see results in as little as a few weeks. Be sure to finish treatment as most patients tend to stop after seeing results.