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Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain. It disturbs the way people
think, feel, and relate to others. During a lifetime, people with schizophrenia
may become actively ill once or twice, or have many more episodes.
When someone you love has schizophrenia
When someone in a family is ill, everyone is affected, not just the
person with the illness. As a family member or friend of a person with
schizophrenia, you may find the illness distressing, especially during
the active phase. The first episode can be particularly upsetting if
you do not know what is wrong or how to help. Acknowledging the illness
can be the first step toward feeling less isolated and freeing your
energy for caring for both your relative and yourself. It's important
to remember that schizophrenia is not caused by family pressure or parental
errors.
Most people with schizophrenia want treatment and can be persuaded
to accept it. Others may not recognize that they are ill. This makes
it difficult for them, if they refuse to accept the help they need,
and for their family members, who recognize the need for treatment.
How to relate to the family member with
schizophrenia
In the active phase of schizophrenia, people may feel their minds are
being bombarded from all directions by ideas, questions and commands.
They may feel too overwhelmed to sort out even minor problems.
Generally speaking, you should try to be as supportive and understanding
as possible, and to speak in a calm, clear and straightforward manner.
When necessary, you can help to reduce stress by relieving the ill person's
responsibilities.
People with schizophrenia may use words that sound like nonsense to
others. If they cannot be understood, you should try to communicate
your interest and concern in other ways. You can listen to music, paint,
watch television or sit quietly together. You will soon learn what works
best by noticing the person's responses to what you do together.
Never talk as if the ill person is not there. People with schizophrenia
are usually aware of what is going on around them, even if they appear
not to be listening.
Take care of yourself
Caught up in concern and caring for the person who is ill, family members
may not take proper care of themselves. They may give up their own activities
and become isolated from their friends and colleagues. This may go on
for some time before they realize they are emotionally and physically
drained. The stress can lead to sleeping problems, exhaustion and constant
irritability.
- Keep your own support network.
Avoid becoming isolated.
- Recognize signs of stress in yourself.
- Know what situations within your family are most stressful in coping
with schizophrenia.
- Keep up your interests outside the family.
- Consider having your own professional support.
- Take a little time each day just for you.
Being ready for a relapse or crisis
Although some people have only one episode of schizophrenia, schizophrenia
is usually a condition that includes relapses. Families often avoid
talking to their relative about relapses or crises. The best way to
handle a crisis, or possibly avoid one, is to know what to do before
it happens.
Be aware of stresses that trigger relapses so these can be reduced
or avoided. Seek treatment as soon as symptoms return. Some hospitals
and outpatient clinics offer family education programs to help relatives
learn coping and communication strategies. When your relative or partner
is well, write out a plan of what to do if he or she should become ill:
- Could you visit the physician together to discuss the condition
and how to deal with a possible crisis?
- If your family member becomes ill, do you have advance permission
to contact his or her doctor?
- Do you have consent to take your family member to hospital? If so,
which hospital?
- If the person becomes unable to decide on treatment, does he or
she agree that you can make that decision?
Recovery
Some people recover from their first active phase of schizophrenia
and stay well; others are not so fortunate.
As a person with schizophrenia improves, hospital staff, especially
social workers, may talk to family members about living arrangements.
Some people return home, some go to group homes and still others find
rooms and apartments of their own. Each family must make its own decision.
It is common to try one living plan and then another. It is often helpful
to discuss what kind of accommodation is available and what could be
most helpful to the ill person at different stages of recovery.
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