• Hallucination: Hearing or seeing or feeling something that isn’t there
• Delusions: A constant feeling of being watched
• Disordered thinking and speech: Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing
• Strange body positioning
• Feeling indifferent to very important situations
• Deterioration of academic or work performance
• A change in personal hygiene and appearance
• A change in personality
• Increasing withdrawal from social situations
• Inability to sleep or concentrate
• Inappropriate or bizarre behavior
• Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult
• Irrational, angry or fearful response to loved ones

The negative symptoms of illness such as withdrawal from society, social gatherings, loses interest – in any activity, interacting and Emotional flatness.

Don’t let your struggle become your identity

For a family, nothing is more disturbing than being blamed for poisoning their child and seeing him suffer from mental illness

Ravi is a 46-year-old married male from Punjab. He is a software engineer by profession, currently unemployed. He was brought to the hospital by his wife because of things which she felt were not usual with Ravi’s behaviour. It was observed that Ravi stopped eating food at home because he felt that his father was mixing something in his food, he was seen talking to himself, his mood would be irritable and aggressive most of the time, he would also indulge in verbal and physical altercations with his family members. His wife told that at times he was found wandering away from home.

With these complaints, he was admitted to the hospital with high support needs, as for Ravi everything was true and his father was actually mixing poison in his food. Ravi had a family history of mental illness in his mother.

Based on the history and assessment diagnosis of Schizophrenia was made by the clinical team. In schizophrenia, a person loses touch with reality and believes in things which are not true and real. He was given antipsychotic medicines which helped in the reduction of the symptoms. Gradually patient becomes cooperative towards the staff. His therapist educated him and his family about schizophrenia. Insight orientation therapy was also carried out where an understanding of the behaviours during the illness was discussed and reflected upon. In further treatment, Cognitive behaviour therapy for Schizophrenia was also given to challenge the unrealistic ideas and thoughts in his pattern of thinking. Towards the last phase of the treatment, rehabilitation was focused upon, where social skills training was initiated and for occupational rehabilitation, he was trained at his sister’s teaching institute. During the pre-discharge phase of treatment, Ravi was sent on short home visits for a smooth transition into the community. Ravi was in the rehabilitation for three months where he gained complete recovery and showed no signs and symptoms of suspiciousness. He comes to the hospital for regular once a week follow-ups and is maintained well for 1.5 years.