Supporting A Loved One With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a biological illness that affects the brain. In the book Schizophrenia, Ming Tsuang, Stephen Faraone, and Stephen Glatt write that those affected by schizophrenia have altered emotions, perceptions, behaviours and thoughts. For many people with schizophrenia, it can disrupt their family and social relationships.

Schizophrenia is a mental health affliction that receives little sympathy because, as Edwin Fuller Torrey mentions in his book, Surviving Schizophrenia, “It is difficult to put oneself in the place of the sufferer. The whole disease process is mysterious, foreign and frightening to most people.” Still, the disorder is a major public health concern and many parents, siblings, relatives and friends may encounter this disorder in a loved one.

The most important thing a parent, sibling, relative, or friend can do is to educate themselves in order to be able to sympathize with their loved one. As Torrey mentions, “Understanding schizophrenia…helps demystify the disease.” For parents and siblings in particular, learning about schizophrenia can help alleviate feelings of confusion and frustration when dealing with their loved one on a daily basis.

Apart from learning about schizophrenia, Mueser and Gingerich share that parents and siblings can support their loved one with schizophrenia by encouraging their loved one to participate in comprehensive treatment, praising noticeable progress in treatment, discouraging the use of alcohol and drugs since they can make symptoms worse, encouraging independence, encouraging the pursuit of personal goals, providing a low-stress environment and maintaining a positive relationship.

To help their child cope with schizophrenia, parents should not do everything for their child and should promote independence by teaching them skills like budgeting, cooking and cleaning. Stress contributes to relapses, so parents should be aware of how they communicate to reduce and eliminate nagging and criticism towards their child. Parents should also help their child develop a wellness action recovery plan to avoid a crisis. This should include the phone numbers of their child’s therapist and psychiatrist, a local crisis line number (like Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868) and the number of the Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS): 1-833-456-4566.

Both parents and siblings should understand that they could still have a rewarding relationship with their loved one who has schizophrenia. They may instigate conversations that don’t discuss the illness and enjoy simple activities together like watching TV, listening to music and playing cards.

Parents should also maintain good relationships with each other and their children as well by constantly providing love and support. Parents and siblings should also stay connected with their friends to avoid isolation, they should keep healthy with nutritious diets and exercise and they should get support when needed from professional counselling and support groups.

Lastly, it’s important for parents and siblings that have a loved one with schizophrenia to participate in self-care. You need to take care of your own needs by pursuing hobbies and interests that you enjoy to relieve stress. Don’t be so overly involved in your child or sibling’s care that you neglect your own ambitions and interests.

Written by: Maria Montemayor

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