Ways to Assist a Person With Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that causes a person to see, think and behave in a manner that is contrary to the norm.
A person who is suffering from this illness may experience hallucination and illusions.
Presently, there is no cure for this disorder, but medication is helpful in keeping its symptoms under control.
When you are living with, or interacting with someone on a daily basic, who is faced with this sickness, several things can be done that will be helpful to both of you.
Help with their Medication First, support that person by encouraging them to take their medication and secondly, help them to remember to take their medication on time.
A few ways that you can do this are: if possible, have some or all your meals together and remind them to take it during that time.
Additionally, you can encourage them to use an alarm watch that will remind them that it is time to take it.
Have a Daily Routine Follow the same routine daily and if you have to make a change during the day, tell them about it well before the time.
A regular routine will help to keep them focus and it will bring a sense of control over the situation.
Be Simple and Brief Whenever you are giving instructions of talking with someone with this illness, always try to be as simple and brief as possible, but do not "talk down" to that person.
By being clear and to the point, they will get your point a bit quicker.
Spend Time by Yourself At least once a month, spend some time away from taking care of your loved one and when you do, do something else that you enjoy doing.
Do not go to a support group or a conference that the topic is about this illness, go window-shopping, go to the beach or maybe go to the theatre.
On the other hand, if none of those are something that you would enjoy, do whatever is more to your liking.
Ask for Help When taking care of your loved one is threatening to overwhelm you, ask for help, however, do not wait until you get to that point to call for it.
Get a list of people who are willing to help, and allow them to help, even when it is for a task that you may think is simple.
A person who is suffering from this illness may experience hallucination and illusions.
Presently, there is no cure for this disorder, but medication is helpful in keeping its symptoms under control.
When you are living with, or interacting with someone on a daily basic, who is faced with this sickness, several things can be done that will be helpful to both of you.
Help with their Medication First, support that person by encouraging them to take their medication and secondly, help them to remember to take their medication on time.
A few ways that you can do this are: if possible, have some or all your meals together and remind them to take it during that time.
Additionally, you can encourage them to use an alarm watch that will remind them that it is time to take it.
Have a Daily Routine Follow the same routine daily and if you have to make a change during the day, tell them about it well before the time.
A regular routine will help to keep them focus and it will bring a sense of control over the situation.
Be Simple and Brief Whenever you are giving instructions of talking with someone with this illness, always try to be as simple and brief as possible, but do not "talk down" to that person.
By being clear and to the point, they will get your point a bit quicker.
Spend Time by Yourself At least once a month, spend some time away from taking care of your loved one and when you do, do something else that you enjoy doing.
Do not go to a support group or a conference that the topic is about this illness, go window-shopping, go to the beach or maybe go to the theatre.
On the other hand, if none of those are something that you would enjoy, do whatever is more to your liking.
Ask for Help When taking care of your loved one is threatening to overwhelm you, ask for help, however, do not wait until you get to that point to call for it.
Get a list of people who are willing to help, and allow them to help, even when it is for a task that you may think is simple.
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