Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia affects everyone around the person who has the illness. It can be hard to watch a family member or friend develop symptoms and perhaps act in very different ways.

Family and friends may feel helpless, but they play an important role in the life and treatment of people who have schizophrenia.

As a family member or close friend, you may help support or take care of your loved one. After severe symptoms (called a psychotic episode), your loved one may come to you for help. You can encourage this person to stay in treatment, to take his or her medicines, and to take an active role in his or her recovery. This may help prevent a relapse. You also can help your loved one deal with symptoms and learn skills to help him or her get along better in the community.

What family and friends can do

Show your love, and learn as much as you can about the illness. Understand that the behavior you may see is part of the illness, not the person you love. Understand that symptoms that make no sense to you are real to your loved one. Don't argue with, give up on, or make fun of him or her. Help your loved one feel safe and in control.

• Learn about schizophrenia. Understand what happens in schizophrenia and how you and your loved one can cope with the it.⁷ This may make it easier for you and your loved to work together on treatment.²
• Work together as a family. Get family therapy, and know what may or may not be helpful. Don't press your loved one to make changes too quickly.¹ You and your family may benefit from therapy even if your loved one does not want to participate.
• Help during hallucinations and paranoia. Call the person quietly by name, or ask the person to tell you what he or she is going through. Be calm and soothing, and don't argue with the person or tell him or her that the voices are not real. Call for help if you think the situation could become dangerous.
• Deal with negative symptoms. Be clear in any suggestions you make, and praise positive actions.
• Encourage the person to take medicines. Talk about how the medicines help symptoms. You also can help by watching for side effects.
• Be aware of your own and other people's negative attitudes (stigma) toward the illness and your loved one. Do what you can to fight stigma and teach people about schizophrenia.

You can also help the person with good health habits. Encourage the person to:

• Limit alcohol and not use drugs. Having a substance abuse problem makes treating schizophrenia harder. Both problems need to be treated.
• Quit smoking, if the person smokes. Many people with schizophrenia smoke cigarettes. This may be because it may help with some of the symptoms.¹ For information on how to stop smoking, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
• Be active. People who are fit usually have less anxiety, depression, and stress than people who aren't fit.⁹
• Deal with 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 mood and stress levels.
• Eat healthy foods. This helps the body deal with tension and stress. Whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and protein are part of a balanced diet.

Sometimes people who have schizophrenia are too sick to seek treatment on their own. If the symptoms are severe, you may have to force the person to get treatment. Talk with your health care providers and/or local law enforcement officials about the laws and procedures in your area for getting treatment in this situation. If you have this information before you need it, it will reduce your fears and concerns and make it easier for you.

Emergency help

Some people who have schizophrenia may become aggressive or violent at times.⁷ Call 911 or other emergency help if you notice:

• Warning signs of suicide, such as talking about death or heavy use of drugs or alcohol.
• Warning signs of violence towards others, such as talking about harming someone or becoming aggressive.

Helping yourself

Supporting or caring for someone who has schizophrenia is not easy. Finding your own support can help you deal with the illness and the sense of loss you may feel.

• Take care of yourself. Do things you enjoy, such as seeing family or going to movies.
• Don't feel you need to do everything possible to help a loved one who has schizophrenia. Remember that you need to respect the wishes and choices of your loved one, unless those wishes and choices are dangerous. Everyone learns from a wrong choice or mistake. Recovery may be faster if your loved believes that family members trust him or her with decision making.
• Don't do it alone. Ask others to help you, or join a support group. The more support you have, the more help you can give.
• Get help from a local organization. Your city or state may have programs to help you. Ask at your local or state health department. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides contact information for support organizations nationwide. For more information, go to www.nami.org.

These caregiver tips also can help you.