About The Schizophrenic

Apart from professional medical care, the first line of support for a schizophrenic person is the family. If you are a family member related to a schizophrenic, you and other relatives can be angels of mercy and healing.
      A healthy family environment forms the most important therapeutic team in the treatment of schizophrenia. Through your efforts, concerns and wisdom, you can help in rehabilitation and the prevention of relapses. The following questions can assist you in observing the warning signals of mental illness. These signals can occur in various combinations and different severities. But, make no mistake about it, schizophrenia is a very debilitating disease that effects not only the sufferer, but all other family members to one degree or another.

I have found that the sooner the family recognizes that a problem is occurring, the more effective treatment will be. Accept the concept that you will need to adopt the policy of developing effective strategies, excellent monitoring and recording procedures, and an overall effective plan for treatment. Decide who will be the most important human resources in the treatment of this disorder. Establish a chain of command, with different people taking charge of different functions and responsibilities. There will probably be a principal caretaker, usually a parent who will try to organize people and activities. It is very easy to lose sight of what's happening to a person suffering from schizophrenia. Executive functions must be established early and eventually transferred over to the afflicted family member. Keep good records and monitor all treatment procedures. Work in tandem with psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, caseworkers, rehab specialists and vocational counselors. Learn all that you can about this illness and you will not be caught by surprise.

By all means, do not apply too much pressure to the afflicted person. Be gentle in your encouragement for your loved one to slowly resume social, academic and occupational activities. Proceed at their pace! Schizophrenia abruptly interferes with a young person's acquisition of important social, intellectual, occupational and interpersonal development. He or she will have to relearn or learn anew those skills that were so drastically and tragically interrupted.