What are the first signs that someone has, or is beginning to get, schizophrenia?

Signs: This is a good question, and hard to answer. Behavioral changes will occur sometimes dramatically, often more gradually. Social withdrawal is common, eccentric or odd behaviors, sleep disturbances are others. Certainly having hallucinations or internal preoccupation is seen

Prodromal State: The first stage of schizoprhenia is the prodromal phase. Prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia may include social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities, spending time alone-doing very little, lack of communication, digressive speech, early disorganization of thoughts & unusual perceptual experiences.