Schizophrenia

Recovery from schizophrenia is a journey of healing and change. It will help you live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Recovery doesn't always mean you are symptom-free. It begins with treatment and usually is a lifelong process. In the recovery process, you learn to cope with your symptoms and challenges, find and meet your goals, and develop the support you need.

There are 10 principles of recovery (What is a PDF document?) that can guide you as you work toward your goals and learn new things to help yourself. They help you gain self-confidence and respect for yourself. They make it clear that you make your own decisions with the help of your doctor, counselor, and family. And they encourage you to be as independent as possible while living with schizophrenia.

Many people with schizophrenia are finding that the sooner they start recovery with their health care team, family, and friends, the sooner they are able to return to satisfying life activities. These people can all help you with the support, education, and learning that take place in recovery.

Support

You have schizophrenia, but like other people, you have wishes and goals for your life. You most likely want healthy relationships with your partner, family, and friends. You may want a job that gives you a sense of self-worth.

Your family and community can support you and help you meet your goals.

• Your family can help you get the right treatment, deal with your symptoms, and get along in your community. Family therapy is an important part of this.
• Social support and support groups give you the chance to talk with people who are going through the same things you are.
• Case management and assertive community treatment can help you deal with the many different parts of treatment and recovery. If you feel overwhelmed, ask your doctor or therapist about these programs.
• Your local or state health department may have programs to help you. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides contact information for support organizations nationwide. For more information, go to www.nami.org.

Education and training

Education and training can help you deal with others and be part of your community.

• Learn about schizophrenia. This can improve the quality of your life and the lives of those who care about you.
• Get job training to help you find a job that interests you and that you can be successful in. This can help with finances and self-esteem. Work can be an important part of your recovery.
• Get social skills training. This helps you develop life skills such as learning to communicate, managing frustration, and coping with others. Training may include cognitive enhancement therapy, which may help you improve how well you understand and deal with other people.
• Be aware of people's negative attitudes (stigma) toward schizophrenia. Do what you can to educate people about schizophrenia and recovery. Your health care team, family, and friends may be able to help you.

Relapse

If your symptoms come back, it's called a relapse. Anyone with schizophrenia can have a relapse, but it happens much more often when you don't take your medicine.¹

If you are having trouble taking your medicine or feel you don't need to, talk to your doctor or another trusted person. Your doctor may be able to change the medicine or how much you take. A partner or spouse may help you find ways to remember to take the medicine. Read about help remembering to take your medicine.

You can help prevent a relapse by taking your medicine, going to your counseling sessions, being active in your own recovery, and not drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.

Read more about relapse, including the signs of relapse, how avoid a relapse, and how to make an action plan in case of relapse.

A healthy lifestyle

The symptoms of schizophrenia can make it easy to forget some of the basics of good health. But it's important to try to have a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some things to do:

• Don't abuse drugs or alcohol. Having a substance abuse problem makes treating schizophrenia harder. If you have a substance abuse problem, you need to treat both problems to help your recovery.
• Exercise and be active. Exercise and activity can keep you fit, and people who are fit usually have less anxiety, depression, and stress than people who aren't fit.⁹ Exercise and activity also make other diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes, less likely.⁹
• Relieve stress. Reducing stress may mean fewer relapses. For more information, see the topic Stress Management.
• Get enough sleep. This is very important. Sleep can help your mood and make you feel less stressed.
• Eat a balanced diet. This helps your body deal with tension and stress. Whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and protein are part of a balanced diet.
• Stop smoking, if you smoke. Smoking increases the risk for other diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. For information on how to stop smoking, see the topic Quitting Smoking.