Tips to help your loved ones deal with Schizophrenia - Dr. Sulata Shenoy

Schizophrenia is one of the common mental disorders and it is a serious psychotic disorders, mostly chronic and takes a toll on not only the individuals, but also on the family members who are the primary caretakers. Earlier Schizophrenic patients used to be metalized and taken away from their home and put in centers with very little contact with the outside world. However this has changed, schizophrenics can be treated at home with proper guidelines given to the care takes. No doubt it is very stressful to have a schizophrenic at home, but sometimes it is important for the caretaker sand the family members how they can take care of the person in addition to help themselves. Unless one is emotionally strong enough, they cannot help the weaker patient. So first have compassion on the mentally ill person. He or she did not ask for that affliction on himself and it is a combination of neurological, biological, social, genetic, psychological factors that have bought this disorder on the person. Secondly educate about this illness, a lot of misconceptions are there that the person may be extremely violent, they may pose a threat for the other family members or neighbours, and may be a poor role model for other family members, it may be true but accept them as family members and see all this dysfunctional behavior and can be contained very well with present generation of medication, treatment and psychotherapy. So there is no need to fear having a mentally ill patient. One should look at these mentally ill patients with compassion and with cheerfulness. After educating yourself well about the disease, you do well to look at all the various resources because the patient will not seek the professional help, it is you who have to see where is the best professional help you can afford, in your community , in your family you can seek. One needs to have realistic expectations about the schizophrenics course of illness because it can wax and wane at regular intervals at hourly basis, yearly basis, monthly basis. Don’t forget to be part of the treatment. Talk to the doctor, the psychologist, the psychiatrist, the social worker to find out what you could do, when to take the medications, when to take, other lifestyle modifications, that is in exercise, in diet, in family support, so you will have a good acceptance and leading to a healthy and harmonious family at home.

[buttermuffin]

If they're schizophrenic then they most likely don't understand what's wrong or think that there is anything wrong. You have to make them see that they are ill. Don't confront them though, ask them questions to progress their logical thought processes. If you confront them they can rebel and act aggressively.

[lamichiganr]

In the USA the only way a PS can get help is if they are a threat to themselves and/or others. My in-laws tried so hard to get their son help and it wasn't until he slit his throat and lived that the medical profession was able to help.

25 years after diagnosis he is doing great. He is on Geodon with amphetamines and pills to help him sleep. He is DEVOTED and DEDICATED to being sane. He does power liftingweight lifting and cardio 3 x's per week and yoga 2 x's per week, because physical health helps with mental health issues.
He recently quit his food service job of 20 years to take care of me, I shattered my shoulder. But he is working on getting his Chauffeur's License to be a courier for a medical company.

There is HOPE and with the patient WANTING to be healthy their life can be fruitful and happy.
(My husband never wanted children, because of his condition. I have 4 sons from my first marriage and he thinks of them as his. He really does LOVE our little family with all his being.)

[wee-subwilson]

I have had the illness for 42 years. I have a sister, but all my other family members are dead. I live alone and don’t have anyone at home to help me. I just have to get on with it. People who have other people at home are lucky, whether or not they are schizophrenic.

[jamiebarahona]

Tips how to help Schizophrenic family member:
Compassion,
Educate yourself,
Accept them,
Look for resources,
Community support such as exercise activities,
Be part of the treatment team (with the doctors, psquiatrist

[angham]

Psalm 103:2-3 KJV

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases

[hello]

Leading to harmony at home is a most sought after thing one could expect, but it is so difficult to get it.😞

[pamc]

correct medications help control symptoms so that therapy can work. Both are essential

[pd]

Hey Dr. Sulata Shenoy, my wife only recently started to develop all these symptoms of schizophrenia. I've been restless at night and days, constantly taking care of her. I've been supporting her in every way I can. We've taken trips to the doctors here in Korea and they all say to send her to a psychiatric hospital. She's normal when she isn't having her hallucinations and is fine but they only start randomly or at least when I've noticed them start at night. She's a victim of abuse/sexual assault and she hates going to the doctors or to any kind of hospital because of how scared she is of them. As I'm currently far away from her and am in another country for now I can not take care of her in person. I can only support her with messages and calling her sister to come in to help. But I know that her sister won't always be there and to be honest it's really really stressful. I know you'd know how any person would feel about going to a psychiatric hospital. And I will not send her there because I feel that her condition will only worsen. Please let me know what I can do...

[lDevilliciouSl]

Well as a start how can we tell the person who has the symptoms that he may have Schizophrenia.. my brother has all the symptoms of it and we already talked to doctors and they confirmed it ..the thing is we cannot just go and tell him to sake doctors or even talk to psychiatrist because he just don’t believe in these things so if we tried to tell him he will think that we are accusing him of being crazy or something and he will shut us down because he have so much pride in him and never gonna trust us again .. the problem is in our culture unfortunately we still dont have enough knowledge about it and talking about seeing a psychiatrist cant be so openly and still considered as something to be ashamed of or have to be so top secret we really don’t know what can we do 😞

[atmylo]

my mother is a uneducated lady with schizophrenic bipolar disorder. my father committed suicide because of her illness . she used to throw tantrums on my father when he was alive. now she has turned it against me. she hates going to hospital and if i take her to hospital she'll hate me and curse me regularly. now i'm very much suicidal from all this trauma. she doesn't agree that she has a problem, she doesnt take medicines, she has frequent episodes. my brother doesnt know how to cope with this, and im handling every thing alone which is very hectic . im just a 26 year old guy who has started his career in my life. she curses me to die and she thinks what ever i give it to her poison. we have to fool her and take her to hospital if she stops taking her medications. creates fake impressions against neighbours and fights with them . ineed tips how to cope with this .. please somebody help.. i might ending killing myself.

[Jelltn]

I just figured out that my dad is schizophrenic, Im a minor and i dont know what to honestly do and how to deal with him, I'd see him talking to himself wich means he hears voices mostly i think the voices says negative words to him, he literally shouts every single day he also acts very aggressively he is 50 years old i just found out about it this year, i didnt know that he has been suffering through it these past years as i said i am an minor, I am also suffering with mental health.

[nadiaashraf]

My younger brother is Diagnosed with Shezophrenia from last 7 years, he is hardly 20 year old.We all are so absent when HW became aggressive how we can help him

[hello]

Unfortunately, there is not much on this topic, I hardly able to find some practical guidance for day to day life except very very standard help. So sad 😞

[sahilsahu]

What if they are not willing to seek help

[sahilsahu]

What if they don't want to improve their condition

[kitt]

My brother is suffering it from schizophrenia and also sometimes he stole the money and tell that some others person is control me so as sister I am suffering so much I don't know how to handle mam because I lost my dad and I am studying too and i don't have mom and dad so I need to take care of him and also he will beat me beat the wall and it is distributed and he stole the money which I have as saving 😢😢 and also he taking treatment means also I can't tolerate this stuffs mam please help me please 😭😭😭😭😭

[mazharalvi]

How can be handled when gets aggressive n abuse anger OMG my brother uncertain behaviour taking anti psychotic med

[carmenleaf]

I'm not sure what to do, my girlfriend keeps seeing stuff and she knows it is her self, but she is scared and wants to cry, how can I help her

[debrajbhattacharya]

My mother refuses to go to doctor for seeking help. Her scrizophenia makes her think doctor will harm her with meds. How can I convince her?

[kyalavender-williams]

Im here because i have all the symptoms and my counsellor agreed but didnt help and i need advice on how to bring it up to my doctor cause i go to but i cant cause i think theyll think im crazy and try to lock me away. Please i need real help.