The dating scene can be difficult for anyone these days, but can you imagine dating someone with a mental disorder such as schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia and relationships
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts, speech, and behavior.
The causes of schizophrenia may be a result of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental factors include: the age of a person’s parents; being raised in a city; cannabis use during adolescence; certain infections; and poor nutrition during pregnancy.
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Signs you’re dating a schizophrenic
More common in men, someone with schizophrenia may show different signs or symptoms from another person with schizophrenia. These signs may give you an idea of if your partner might be schizophrenic:
- Changes in sleep habits and intellectual interests
- Depression
- Making irrational statements
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- Social withdrawal of change in social activity
- Trouble conveying emotion
How does schizophrenia affect relationships?
Being in a relationship with a schizophrenic may mean a few things.
First, as the partner or significant other of a person with schizophrenia, you may not be the main priority in your relationship. The person that treats them, such as a therapist, will most likely be the individual they seek out for advice on managing the disorder.
Another thing to consider is that your private business will not necessarily be private as your partner will most likely feel the need to
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share with the therapist the details of what is happening in your relationship.
Then, on the other hand, some decisions in the relationship may be run by you for backup to receive your feedback – a sanity check of sorts.
While dating, find activities that may not necessarily require lots of concentration, which may be a result of the medication as well.
Medication can also play a part in making your partner more tired, resulting in either earlier bedtimes at night or sleeping in longer in the day. This might even affect the intimacy level in your relationship, so this is something to take into consideration.
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The severity of some of these points will differ with each person with schizophrenia, so the most important thing to consider is how you can handle the extent of these things in a relationship.
For instance, your partner may be needier than others that you dated, but maybe you prefer someone who relies on you so much to the point where they may be looked at as needy.
Another example is friendships that your partner may lack. In a situation like this, are you prepared to take on the role of being your partner’s main friend and the only person they will most likely turn to?
Dating or having a partner with schizophrenia may have its challenges but what relationship doesn’t? As with any relationship, communication upfront and knowing what you’re getting into will help you in your decision to date someone with schizophrenia.
