It can be hard to know what to do for your loved one who is living with schizophrenia. From coping with their diagnosis to preventing worst-case scenarios, the tips below can help you help them.
how can i help my loved one
with schizophrenia?
Adjusting to life with schizophrenia:
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Work to understand the illness and its symptoms – reading this website is a great place to start!
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Be realistic about how your family life may change following diagnosis, but try to stick to regular routines
if you can -
Have patience if your loved one isn’t ready to acknowledge the illness just yet
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Stay positive and encourage your loved one to go after realistic goals
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Be honest and direct about your concerns, but also listen to theirs
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Take note of what frustrates or worries you and/or other members of your family, but tackle only one
problem at a time -
Find a local self-help group to support your own journey, or talk to someone you can trust about your feelings
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Take care of yourself, emotionally and physically, and make time for things you enjoy
Managing specific symptoms and/or side effects of medications:
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Hallucinations or delusions:
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Let them know that you understand that what they see/hear/believe is real for them but that these
things are not real for you; don’t debate who is right -
Avoid being flippant, sarcastic or humorous when talking about their idea of reality
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Distract them if you can
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Ask what will make them feel safe and try to make that happen
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A lack of emotions:
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Ask how they are feeling – it may surprise you to hear they do have emotions, even if they aren’t
showing them
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Social isolation or withdrawal:
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Schedule activities they usually like, with people and in places that make them feel comfortable
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Trouble concentrating:
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Speak in short, clear sentences
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Give one piece of information at a time and allow time for it to sink in
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Communicate at times when they seem most interested
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Excessive sleep:
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Encourage more daily activities that would keep them engaged
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Weight gain:
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Involve them in simple daily activities to get them out of the house, like running errands
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Encourage regular physical activity like walking, jogging or swimming – they might be more inclined if you or another family member joins in
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Stock the house with healthy snacks and get rid of junk food
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Avoiding symptom relapses and crisis situations:
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Watch out for common triggers, such as stress, alcohol and drug use, or missed medication
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Set routines and stick to them to reduce stress
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Focus on one problem at a time and work together to solve it
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Keep activities and group events short
Working to prevent suicide:
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Be aware of common warning signs and risk factors for suicide in schizophrenia:
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A previous attempt
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Talking or writing about suicide
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Hearing voices that encourage dangerous actions
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Frequent relapses
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Depression or strong feelings of hopelessness
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A preoccupation with death
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A history of substance abuse
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Remove any weapons from your home
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Encourage open communication with your loved one
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Contact a doctor immediately if your loved one threatens suicide or makes an attempt
Fighting stigma about schizophrenia:
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Focus on your loved one as a person – they are more than their schizophrenia
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Be a role model when it comes to accepting their diagnosis and what it means for their day-to-day life
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Remind your loved one and anyone else in their circle that not all problems are related to their illness
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Educate yourself and others as much as possible – stigma is rooted in ignorance
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Get involved in advocacy groups aimed at changing attitudes towards schizophrenia and the people
who have it -
Encourage your loved one to be open about their condition and to tell their story
