How to Support a Loved One with Schizophrenia
For those who have friends or family members living with schizophrenia, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to being there to support them through it. That’s why it’s best to try and understand what it actually is (including the misconceptions and potential symptoms), what a diagnosis means, and the specific ways in which you can emotionally and practically support someone living with schizophrenia.
At its core, schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that influences the way someone experiences the world. For the individual, a diagnosis typically means that they are experiencing a chronic and severe brain disorder that impacts their thoughts, feelings and behaviours through symptoms of psychosis, which can cause them to lose touch with reality.
When symptoms of schizophrenia are severe and experienced alongside conditions like depression or bipolar, this can be known as a schizoaffective disorder.
While the above is a broad definition, and while there is still a lot to learn, we do know that there are quite a few misconceptions about the condition and these are important to know when it comes to figuring out how to support someone with schizophrenia.
4 Common Misconceptions About Schizophrenia
Let’s take a look at some of the common misconceptions about schizophrenia; from perceived rarity, to symptoms and treatment.
#1 Isn’t Schizophrenia Extremely Rare?
While many might associate schizophrenia as an extremely rare condition, it’s estimated that about 1 in 100 people in Australia will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime.
Through the Survey of High Impact Psychosis, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare noted that in 2010, 64,000 Australians (aged 18-64) had experienced a psychotic illness and sought public specialised mental health services. Out of 1,825 people who were ‘screen-positive’ for psychosis, 63% of them met relevant criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
So, while it’s still not as common as other conditions, it probably does affect more people than you may have thought.
#2 Do People with Schizophrenia Have Multiple Personalities?
Schizophrenia is widely believed to cause multiple personalities, and that idea stems from the Latin meaning of the word being ‘split mind’. This refers more to having a mind that is split from reality, rather than being a mind that is split into parts.
#3 Are All People with Schizophrenia Violent?
While it’s common for people to assume that those living with schizophrenia are naturally violent, this is actually not the case. There are many people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia that live peacefully and are not violent. According to a study conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology, only a small percentage of violence was attributable to major mental disorders, including schizophrenia, even though there were elevated violence risk levels for people with these disorders.
#4 That Schizophrenia is Untreatable
While this is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a direct cure, it is actually a highly treatable and manageable condition. That’s not to say that there are no cases where treatment is not effective, but it’s important that people living with schizophrenia are consistent in managing their condition, and are committed to improving their quality of life where needed. Schizophrenia is typically managed through a combination of antipsychotic medication that may be prescribed, alongside therapy and the support of family or loved ones.
3 Ways to Support Someone with Schizophrenia
While we’re on the topic of supporting someone with schizophrenia, family or loved ones play an important role. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the ways in which you can help.
#1 Being Consistent and Non-Judgmental
It’s important to show up, behave and speak consistently while supporting someone with schizophrenia. This includes being able to validate their emotional experience without actually agreeing with or confirming anything that is categorically untrue. This is something that may come naturally once you’re feeling more educated on the symptoms, and once you’re comfortable with the idea that hallucinations and delusions are their reality.
#2 Encouraging Professional Treatment
This requires some more flexing of your interpersonal skills. It’s important not to jump straight to encouraging professional treatment. In some cases, people living with schizophrenia may not believe that they are unwell, so it can be difficult to encourage help. Once you’ve built up a strong level of trust, there are some approaches you can try when it comes to communication, but you should always try to be patient, listen actively and show empathy.
You don’t always need to be encouraging medical help either. Where relevant, working, along with social and community participation, are crucial in ensuring a good quality of life. In cases where schizophrenia has resulted in long-term, functional limitations in everyday life, it can be considered a psychosocial disability, which can open the door to a range of services (like capacity building) through the NDIS.
#3 Creating Safe and Stable Spaces
There are many ways you can support someone with schizophrenia through creating safe and stable spaces. From helping with putting together structured routines and sticking to them, to reducing any sensory stimulation to lower anxiety or stress levels, and, as a result of these, finding ways to prevent the escalation of symptoms.
Once you’ve been able to achieve this together, you create a safe and stable place or environment that encourages comfort and relaxation. Paired with the other two steps discussed above, you’re well on your way to effectively supporting someone living with schizophrenia.
For some, supporting a loved one with schizophrenia may come easier than to others. However, every individual case of schizophrenia is different, despite a diagnosis representing some shared and common symptoms.
If you’re supporting someone living with schizophrenia and you’re looking for options, get in touch with our team at Ark Support Coordination. From conducting psychosocial functional capacity assessments for those seeking to update their level of support from the NDIS, through to offering capacity building and other supports directly, we’re here to help