Positive symptoms do not refer to symptoms that are "good." They refer to symptoms such as thoughts, beliefs, and sensations that you may experience, but which are not real. You might experience sounds, voices, or images that other people say they don't experience. These are called hallucinations. Noises may seem louder than usual. So it might be hard for you to focus on a conversation or to understand what other people are saying. Colors may seem brighter than usual or you might see shadows. Delusions (believing things that others say are not true) are another type of positive symptom. You might feel afraid of being followed, harmed, or killed and not know why. These are all types of positive symptoms.
Negative symptoms may be described as lack of energy or motivation—you don't feel like doing the things you used to do when you were well. They are symptoms that may be hard to explain to other people. Some examples include:
Cognitive symptoms refer to problems with learning and concentration. It may be harder for you to concentrate on things like reading a book or watching TV. Also, you may find it hard to learn new information the first time—like getting directions to go someplace new. You may find it hard to focus on what someone else is saying. Or it may be hard for you to get your thoughts together to explain how you feel.
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