What to do if a loved one has schizophrenia
What should be the sequence of your actions, if someone – that of the closest people to you has schizophrenia? See an experienced doctor. Remember that the time limit are important and in many ways determine the success of therapy. Most often, treatment of schizophrenia should be started in a hospital, it should include an accurate diagnosis, since there are many options for the manifestation of schizophrenia. It is desirable that the environment around the patient with schizophrenia be calm (one or two local wards), so that the doctor providing assistance is familiar with modern methods of psychotherapy. It is unacceptable to leave a schizophrenic patient to himself, to exclude the activity that was interesting to him. The activity of a patient with schizophrenia should be encouraged by qualified personnel who know not only medicine, but also psychology. In some cases, it is important to strengthen the strength of a patient with schizophrenia by choosing adequate nutrition, adequate physiotherapy exercises, massage, physiotherapy and balneotherapy. Around a schizophrenic patient should be not only experienced doctors, but also specially trained psychologists and social workers.
How to deal with a schizophrenic patient
It is known that the course of schizophrenia is chronic, i.e. stretched out in time. Despite the ongoing treatment (even with modern drugs), mental and behavioral disorders in schizophrenia have been observed for a long time. The correct attitude towards the patient from his close environment has a significant impact on the result of therapy. Below is a list of some of the techniques available to everyone that make it easier to carry out restorative treatment.
Take your time. The recovery process can be lengthy.
- Keep calm. It’s okay to be overly enthusiastic, but try to moderate it. Disagreement is also common. Try to take this calmly too.
- Express yourself in a simpler way. Say what you want to say clearly, calmly and confidently.
- Set limits. Everyone should know the rules. A few simple rules will help you put everything in its place.
- Follow your doctor’s orders. It is necessary to take medications as he prescribed, and only those that he prescribed.
- No drugs or alcoholic beverages for a schizophrenic patient ! They aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
- Pay attention to any changes in how you feel. If possible, write down and report them to the consulting physician.
- Solve problems step by step. Make changes gradually. Work on one thing.
- Let’s rest for each other. Everyone needs a break. You are tired of something – it happens. It’s also okay to say no sometimes.
- Don’t think about what you cannot change. Something needs to be left as it is. However, do not ignore the manifestations of cruelty.
- Do all your business as usual. Restore your normal household chores. Keep in touch with your family and friends.
- Temporarily lower your expectations. Use your own impressions, comparing the results of treatment (rehabilitation) of the current month with the previous one.