How To Deal With A Schizophrenic?
More than 500,000 people are affected by schizophrenia in France. This mental illness affects one person in a hundred worldwide. It is very hard on the sufferer as well as on his or her loved ones. Does someone in your family or your circle of friends suffer from this illness? Here are the behaviors to adopt to better accompany him/her. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of our tips for talking with a person with schizophrenia.
Know the disease
To facilitate your relationships, you need to understand schizophrenia. In fact, it is a mental illness characterized by distortions of thought, emotion, and behavior. As it also impacts perception and sense of self, the patient often hears voices and hallucinates. Sometimes he or she is delusional and has unshakable and false beliefs.
As a result, the schizophrenic person is unable to react appropriately to certain circumstances. They become isolated in their world, and any stressor can be disastrous for them. Therefore, in order to improve the daily life of your loved one, you must show empathy.
In order for the family and friends to better understand the disease, its symptoms, and its causes, health professionals often take “psycho-educational” measures. This therapeutic management of the patient is often initiated by the physician during the first contact with the family and friends. Otherwise, do not hesitate to ask for information from health centers, hospitals, associations, and caregivers.
Communicate
Communication plays an important role in supporting a person with schizophrenia. Try to let the patient know that you fully understand his or her suffering. When you open up to them, they will have no trouble expressing their illness and feelings. Moreover, it will be easier to help him in his daily life: to make a dissociation between the true and the false, between the real and the imaginary, and between his thoughts and reality.
To achieve this, it is advisable to establish certain rules of life every day. Do not hesitate to encourage his participation in daily activities and leisure activities. In addition to helping the patient adjust to his or her lifestyle, this method will also facilitate family life. Over time, the patient may even regain some independence.
Create a stable environment
Be aware that stress is a trigger for schizophrenia. Any situation that could cause stress should be avoided. Be sure to remain calm, avoid tension, and not create conflict in the presence of the person with schizophrenia. Always be tactful. In addition, heated conversations are not appropriate for him either. In contrast, speak to him calmly and address him calmly. It is also important to know that the attitudes to adopt depend on the stage of the patient’s schizophrenia.
When the patient is in a severe state of anxiety and agitation, it is important to provide a stable atmosphere. Some people with schizophrenia do not appreciate criticism and excessive demands, such as insisting on a meal in a restaurant. They appreciate it more when things are organized. So, make it clear up front that the patient cannot take certain risks: the use of cannabis, alcohol, cigarettes, and bad behavior throughout the treatment.
Anticipate relapse
Learn to understand the patient’s behavior and try to detect possible relapses. This will allow you to alert the doctor in charge to adjust treatment. Since living with a person with schizophrenia requires mental courage, consider finding support from those around you and from the medical profession.
The patient may experience agitation, anxiety, and hallucinations during a crisis. In this situation, avoid further frightening the person. Choose a corner to be alone with him/her, and reassure him/her with a soft but normal voice. Make sure that the patient does not feel threatened by excessive physical closeness or a blockage of their exit. Finally, ask what is wrong while showing empathy.
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