Set boundaries: Your loved one suffering from schizophrenia needs structure and consistency. When you set boundaries, be clear and direct. Make sure they are understood by everyone involved. While it's important to have rules and a routine, don't monitor their every move.
Keep a journal for mental health — writing offers an outlet and can be an excellent coping skill for schizophrenia; you'll be able to release your thoughts and reflect on your experiences. Workout or do yoga several times a week. Seek therapy to help you learn more effective ways to manage stress.
Never tell your loved one that their symptoms are “not true,” “not real,” “imaginary,” or all in their head. Aim to be nonjudgmental.
You need to be honest with your loved one, even if it means that they may not want to hear what you have to say. Sometimes empowering your loved one may mean that you have to set boundaries, take a step back, or involve mental health professionals.
Drug abuse
If people have previously had episodes of psychosis or schizophrenia, using drugs can cause a relapse or stop symptoms from getting better. Research has shown that teenagers and young adults who use cannabis regularly are more likely to develop schizophrenia in later adulthood.
It's not known what causes schizophrenia, but researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environment contributes to development of the disorder.
Not taking medication regularly or as prescribed is by far the most common cause of schizophrenia relapse. Persistent use of drugs or alcohol and criticism from caregivers are next on the list. "Many people with schizophrenia abuse some type of drug, most commonly marijuana," Frangou says.
Schizophrenia requires lifelong treatment, even when symptoms have subsided. Treatment with medications and psychosocial therapy can help manage the condition. In some cases, hospitalization may be needed. A psychiatrist experienced in treating schizophrenia usually guides treatment.
Focus on feelings, not experiences
You might feel unsure what to say or do when someone sees or believes something you don't – but it's important to remember that their experiences feel real to them. It can help if you focus on how they are feeling, rather than talking about what is real or true.
Sometimes when a person with schizophrenia is unwell they may turn against people they are normally close to. Encourage them to participate in one-to-one activities, for example card games, chess, jigsaw puzzles, walking. Don't leave them alone after a hospital visit.
People with schizophrenia experience difficulties in remembering their past and envisioning their future. However, while alterations of event representation are well documented, little is known about how personal events are located and ordered in time.
Negative symptoms refer to what is abnormally lacking or absent in the person with a psychotic disorder. Examples include impaired emotional expression, decreased speech output, reduced desire to have social contact or to engage in daily activities, and decreased experience of pleasure.
In the past, it was accepted that schizophrenia can worsen as people age. However, research in recent years suggests that although some symptoms may get worse with age, others will remain stable, and some symptoms may actually improve with age.
The truth is that while schizophrenia is influenced by genetics, it isn't directly inherited.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
Most people with schizophrenia are never violent and indeed do not display any dangerous behaviour. However a small number do become violent when they are suffering from the acute symptoms of psychosis because of the influence of the hallucinations and delusions on their thinking.
Unhealthy boundaries involve a disregard for your own and others' values, wants, needs, and limits. They can also lead to potentially abusive dating/romantic relationships and increase the chances of other types of abusive relationships as well.