Caring for someone with schizophrenia

Caring for a loved one who has schizophrenia can be very challenging. It can be shocking and disheartening to see your loved one’s odd and unpredictable behavior. Caregivers – particularly parents – are very likely to have feelings of grief and guilt when they learn of the diagnosis. Common reactions include: “Why me?” “Where did I go wrong?” “Am I a bad parent?”

If you suspect that a loved one has schizophrenia, observe the changes in their behavior and give the doctor complete information. Speak to the doctor and get a thorough understanding of the diagnosis. If you need support to overcome your shock, grief or guilt, ask your doctor about a support group or counselor in your area. It will be easier for you to take care of the patient if you are correctly informed, and have received support for what you’re going through.

Doctors say that expressed emotion plays a huge role in the person's recovery. The person can, whether consciously or subconsciously, pick up emotional cues from the way the family is dealing with the illness. They are likely to recover sooner when then family provides support and care. If the family criticizes the person or blames him or her for the illness, the person may have to struggle harder for recovery, and a person who is recovering may suffer a relapse.

As a caregiver, it is important to remember that the person may not have an insight into the symptoms – they do not know or understand why their behavior is not normal. Their brain is sending them signals that make them believe that the hallucinations and delusions are real experiences. This makes the person resist treatment as they believe that there’s nothing wrong with them. They do not know that they are mentally ill. Some caregivers, out of concern for their loved one, may tell the person that the delusions are not true, and force them to seek help. This isolates the person from the caregivers and may increase the fear and paranoia caused by the delusions. You can help your loved one by:

Asking them about their experiences (hallucinations, delusions).
Acknowledging that the experience is true for them, and that it disturbs them (instead of denying their beliefs).
Encouraging and supporting the person to take decisions related to treatment.
Maintaining a record of the person’s symptoms and medication because the person is unable to recall or convey the relevant information, and doctors rely on the family to gather information.
Speaking to other family members about your concern, and discussing how you can support each other while the person undergoes treatment.
Speaking to a counselor or joining a local group to seek emotional support for your loved one, and for you. Schizophrenia can cause immense stress and grief to the caregivers too. Paying attention to your own needs will help you take better care of the person.
Watching the person for signs of relapse (your doctor can help you with a comprehensive list) so that you can get help before a psychotic episode occurs. Research has shown that a relapse can hamper the person's wellbeing, and can make recovery much harder, in addition to causing some adverse changes in the brain.

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Schizophrenia

White Swan Foundation