What to do if a loved one has schizophrenia?

What to do if a loved one has schizophrenia?

Here are some tips:

1. Educate yourself.
2. Listen.
3. Use empathy, not arguments.
4. Don’t take it personally.
5. Take care of yourself, too.
6. Maintain your social network.
7. Encourage your loved one to keep up with their treatment and recovery plan.
8. Take action if you think you or your loved one is in danger.

How do you help someone realize they are schizophrenic?

How to Encourage Them to Get Help

1. Don’t use a threatening or confrontational tone.
2. Close and trusted family members or friends should lead the conversation.
3. Don’t include people your loved one doesn’t trust or feel close to, which can cause more anxiety, fear, or confusion.

How do you comfort someone with a schizophrenic episode?

What to do instead:

1. Be gentle and calm.
2. Make them comfortable to share what is going on in their life.
3. Focus on what is troubling them.
4. Empathize with their situation “It must be SO scary to see those UPS trucks everywhere monitoring you!”
5. Focus on their feelings in what they say, not the actual facts of their story.

How can I Help my Friend with schizophrenia?

If your friend or relative with schizophrenia won’t get treatment, there are steps you can take to help. First, listen to their concerns in an open-minded, supportive way. Then talk about how treatment will help. Explain that they have an illness and it’s treatable.

When does a loved one with schizophrenia refuse treatment?

Developing an easy to follow treatment plan and helping your loved one with schizophrenia stick to it works only when they are willing to participate. If they have been diagnosed and are working with the appropriate healthcare professionals, an individual guide to their treatment is necessary.

Can a person with schizophrenia be in recovery?

A diagnosis of schizophrenia is not a life-sentence for your loved one. Recovery is possible, especially with your support. While dealing with a loved one’s schizophrenia can be challenging, these strategies can help you guide your loved one on the road to recovery without losing sight of your own hopes and dreams.

Can a loved one with schizophrenia be in a support group?

Don’t include people your loved one doesn’t trust or feel close to, which can cause more anxiety, fear, or confusion. It’s really stressful to have someone you’re close to deal with a mental illness such as schizophrenia. “Support groups for patients and families are not only helpful, they are essential,” Bermak says.