How to Support a Loved One with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe, long-term mental health condition that impacts the way individuals think, feel, and behave, the relationships they have with others, and the way they see the world. 

Often, schizophrenia is poorly understood, and it can be difficult to diagnose and manage without intensive treatment and support. Symptoms may include hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and a loss of interest in everyday activities and spending time with others. 

The nature of the symptoms of schizophrenia warrants ample support from loved ones during the treatment process. If you have a loved one with schizophrenia, this guide is packed with useful information to help you support your friend or family member in the most effective ways. 

Breaking Down Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is an uncommon mental illness that affects around 0.45% of adults globally, according to the World Health Organization. It is characterized by difficulties in differentiating between reality and your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Schizophrenia is a serious condition that requires careful management and ongoing support from friends and relatives. 

Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia may include:

• A lack of commitment to self-care and personal hygiene
• Becoming isolated and wanting to avoid people
• Confused thoughts and ideas
• Delusions
• Feeling a disconnect between what you think and what is real
• Hallucinations
• Loss of interest in everyday activities
• Unclear speech

Common misconceptions

People often describe schizophrenia as having a split personality, but this is a misconception. People who have this condition don’t have different personalities. Schizophrenia causes difficulties in telling the difference between thoughts, feelings, ideas, and reality. It’s also uncommon for people with this illness to display violence or aggressive behavior. 

Types

Experts no longer use specific types to classify schizophrenia. Updated guidelines focus on the variety and severity of symptoms to help medical professionals diagnose schizophrenia. To confirm a diagnosis, an individual must display at least two of these symptoms for a month or longer: delusions, hallucinations, jumbled or muddled speech, confused behavior, and negative emotional symptoms. 

There are different stages of schizophrenia, including prodromal, active, and residual. During the prodromal stage, symptoms start to appear and usually include a loss of interest in activities and becoming confused and withdrawn. During the active stage, symptoms are heightened and typically include those linked to psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations. The residual phase occurs when symptoms start to subside. During this stage, it’s common to feel restless and listless.

Treatment options

Treatment options for schizophrenia include:

• Learning life skills and coping strategies
• Medication management
• Professional residential mental health treatment
• Talk therapies, including CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy)

Treatment for schizophrenia typically involves a combination of therapies, offering a comprehensive approach to address various symptoms and support individuals in managing the condition effectively.

A strong, cohesive support system is also crucial. Friends and family members can make a significant difference by learning about the illness and understanding how it impacts the individual’s thoughts and behaviors. This knowledge fosters empathy and enables loved ones to provide more meaningful support.

Benefits of Residential Mental Health Treatment

Residential mental health treatment involves staying at a specialized mental health facility for a protracted period. There are several benefits of residential mental health treatment for individuals who experience schizophrenia, including:

• A safe, structured environment
• Personalized, client-focused care
• Access to expert care, help, support, and advice 24 hours a day
• Specialist care and treatment delivered by experienced, compassionate medical teams
• Information, support, and advice for loved ones
• Ongoing support and therapies that are designed to benefit clients after residential treatment

Components of residential treatment programs

Residential treatment programs are tailored to the individual but typically include the following elements:

• Daily living skills
• Group support
• Medication management
• Personalized therapy

Supporting Your Loved One

Schizophrenia doesn’t just affect the individual who experiences the symptoms. It also impacts the people around them. As a close friend or relative, it’s natural to want to do your best to support somebody you love, but it can be difficult to know how to do this effectively. To support a loved one with schizophrenia, prioritize these key strategies:

1. Maintain regular communication: Keep in touch, check in frequently, and encourage open conversation if your loved one wants to talk. Try to make sure your loved one knows you’re there to listen. 
2. Be informed and involved: Learning about the condition is incredibly beneficial when supporting somebody with schizophrenia. Be open to learning, speak to the individual about their symptoms, and get involved in their care by conversing with the care team and understanding the treatment options.
3. Provide emotional support: Emotional support is critical for people with schizophrenia. Offer reassurance, let your loved one know you’re there to help, and provide encouragement. 

Navigating Challenges

Mental health disorders are challenging for individuals as well as their friends and families. If you’re supporting a relative or friend, it’s helpful to be aware of potential difficulties in advance. These may include:

• Patience: Schizophrenia is a long-term illness. The treatment process takes time. Patience is essential when providing support for a loved one. 
• Managing conflicts: Conflicts can arise for many reasons during assessment and treatment. Schizophrenia affects behaviors and actions, which can put even the strongest relationships to the test. Try to manage conflicts effectively by communicating and seeking to understand.
• Understanding the symptoms: One of the main challenges for friends and relatives is coping with changes in behavior and mood. Understanding the symptoms, getting help from medical experts, and being compassionate can help you process these changes and learn to cope better. 

Residential Treatment for Schizophrenia Near You

Schizophrenia is a serious, long-term mental health disorder that requires expert care and ongoing support from relatives and friends.

If you have a loved one with schizophrenia, you can play an instrumental role in their treatment and the management of symptoms by providing practical help and emotional support. Offering reassurance and encouragement, getting involved in care decisions,  and learning about the condition and the symptoms it causes are all hugely beneficial. 

Residential mental health treatment provides benefits for individuals with schizophrenia as well as their families and friends.

Looking for Information About Residential Mental Health Treatment?

For more information about residential mental health treatment options near you, contact Jackson House. We are a leading provider of residential treatment programs for individuals with mental health issues in both Southern California and Oregon.