Schizophrenia: Get the Facts What is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a never ending, disabling disorder of the brain. People with this disorder often hear voices that no-one else can hear, and sometimes believe that the world, or certain people in the world are conspiring to hurt or destroy them. These beliefs often cause people with schizophrenia to be withdrawn, and have an extremely difficult time in forming meaningful relationships. Schizophrenia can also result in high anxiety, as sufferers attempt to survive in a world in which they believe is out to get them. Since the disorder makes it difficult to hold a steady job or care for one's self properly, many people with the disorder have to rely on family and society to bear the burden. Schizophrenics may also not make much sense when they communicate, and will sit for long time periods not saying or doing anything. Some of the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, that in men usually begin in their late teen years or early 20's , and 20's or 30's for women, are: delusions unstructured thoughts seeing things not really there weird movement problems withdrawal from social interaction memory loss trouble speaking or communicating losing interest in everyday activities problems with attention not being able to care for themselves, i.e. not bathing or brushing their hair