Friends And Family
Helping a person with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be a bewildering and destructive force, not only to those who suffer from it, but also to their friends and relatives. The families of people with schizophrenia often struggle with a wide range of difficult emotions, including fear, guilt, anger, frustration and helplessness. Worried about the stigma of mental illness or confused and embarrassed by strange behaviors they don’t understand, family members may also try to hide their loved one’s illness from others.
Unfortunately, isolation and denial only compound the problems schizophrenia causes in the home. The families who deal most successfully with schizophrenia are those that come to accept the illness and its difficulties, are realistic in what they expect of the person with schizophrenia and themselves and maintain a sense of humor. Keeping a positive outlook is much easier when you have others you can turn to for support. Like your loved one with schizophrenia, you too need help, encouragement and understanding.
|
Top Tips for Helping a Family Member with Schizophrenia: |
|
|
Educate yourself |
Learning about schizophrenia and its treatment will allow you to make informed decisions about how best to manage the illness, work toward recovery and handle setbacks. |
|
Seek help right away |
Early intervention makes a difference in the course of schizophrenia, so don’t wait to get professional help. You family member will need assistance finding a good doctor and other effective treatments. |
|
Reduce stress |
Stress can cause schizophrenia symptoms to flare up, so it’s important to create a structured and supportive environment for your family member. Avoid putting pressure on your loved one or criticizing perceived shortcomings. |
|
Set realistic expectations |
It’s important to be realistic about the challenges and limitations of schizophrenia. Help your loved one set and achieve manageable goals, and be patient with the pace of recovery. |
|
Encourage independence |
Rather than doing everything for your family member, encourage self-care and self-confidence. Help your loved one develop or relearn skills that will allow for greater independence of functioning. |
Reprinted with permission ©Helpguide.org. All rights reserved.