Living with Schizophrenia - Tips for Sufferers and Their Loved Ones

Living with schizophrenia is not just difficult for the person with the condition, but can also be difficult for family members and friends as well.

Although schizophrenia can be a complicated and contradictory disorder, there are some things to keep in mind that can make living with and managing schizophrenia easier for everyone involved.

Schizophrenia in a Loved One

To begin with, if a family member or friend has the disorder, it is important to remember that they are not responsible for causing it, and that you cannot cure it for them. It is also important to keep in mind that despite your best intentions, the person's symptoms might actually get worse from time to time, and that this is not your fault.

It is generally as difficult for the person living with schizophrenia to accept the disorder as it is for the people around them. Therefore, acceptance and patience are ideal, although they might not always be possible. Learning about the disorder is helpful, and trying to separate the person from the disorder might help as far as patience and acceptance goes.

It is also important to remember that reasoning with a delusion will not make it go away. The person living with schizophrenia might on some level understand that the thing that they are feeling is a delusion, or they might not. It's an internal struggle, unfortunately, and not one that reason or logic can necessarily help.

It is important to remember that, to the person experiencing the delusion, the events, voices, or hallucinations are very real - probably as real to them as you are. Therefore, remaining calm during an outburst is important. Do not try to do anything to agitate the situation. However, if the individual threatens to harm you, or harm themselves, then it is important to call for help.

Schizophrenia can also be accompanied by depression, and knowing the warning signs for suicide is important, especially when it comes to living with schizophrenia in a loved one.

Keep in mind that you should not threaten the individual, shout, criticize, or bait, but instead try to comply with any reasonable requests. If the requests are reasonable, then you are not encouraging the delusion.

Schizophrenia in Oneself

If you are the one living with schizophrenia, then you have probably already realized that your needs are different from those of most people. You might need more support, for instance. It is important to find this support from friends, family members, doctors, or social workers.

You might find that you have trouble with things such as focusing and keeping attention, remembering appointments, having motivation to complete activities, and overcoming rejection. You might also have trouble feeling optimistic, interpreting facial expressions or social cues, and engaging in conversation in ways that people expect.

Symptoms may come and go, and you might find that you have long periods in which you feel fine, only to experience a setback. You might not be able to see the signs of the illness yourself, so it's important to rely on your social support system to help you in these times.

It is important to understand how your illness works, too, and what treatments can be used. Do not be afraid to ask your doctors questions and to request explanations when necessary. This will help you with coping and living with schizophrenia.

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