Being diagnosed with schizophrenia isn’t the easiest to deal with, especially with all of life’s stresses. A schizophrenia patient may struggle to deal with other people, think clearly, manage emotions, or even function normally, but a diagnosis like this one doesn’t mean that life is over.
A person with schizophrenia can still recover and live a full life. With early diagnosis and treatment, recovery is possible and it can help prevent further complications while encouraging an improved outlook, great relationships, and an overall rewarding life!
Schizophrenia is often misunderstood and although there is currently no cure, it’s still manageable with medication, supportive therapies, and self-help. The majority of people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia do get better over time, as long as these strategies are put into place.
The first step is getting a correct diagnosis. It’s best to see a psychiatrist if any of the symptoms do arise and are questionable. From there a schizophrenic patient can follow these 6 steps to recovery.
1. Get Involved With Treatment And Self-Help
After being diagnosed, seeking treatment from an experienced mental health professional betters the chances of getting well. Medication alone is not enough so it’s important to be educated about the illness. Whether it’s you or someone you love, communicate with doctors and therapists, build a strong support system, and stick to a proper treatment plan.
By employing self-help strategies, a patient can notice a big change in his or her life. Examples of this include a change in diet, seeking social support, and even engaging in stress-relieving activities like meditation and yoga. These types of lifestyle changes will improve self-esteem while also affecting the frequency and severity of symptoms in a positive way.
It’s also important to self-advocate when in the presence of medical professionals. Being vocal about needs, feelings, and concerns is a part of the process.
2. Become Physically Active!
Believe it or not, regular exercise does have an effect on schizophrenia symptoms. Becoming involved in physical activity is something that can help relieve stress, improve sleep patterns, and promote focus.
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Types of activities include dance, swimming, cycling, and walking. These activities can calm a person’s nerves as they focus on the movements, the feeling of the movements, and the feeling of being in the space with others.
3. Seek Out Stress-Management Techniques!
The everyday stresses of life are real and they can trigger psychotic episodes in schizophrenia patients. It’s important to take steps to reduce stress levels.
Don’t be afraid to say no or to walk away from high-stress situations. Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help.
4. Engage In In-Person Communication
Finding a human connection in any way can also help to calm the nervous system. Stress triggers psychosis and can worsen symptoms so finding someone to talk to, someone who is consistent, understanding, and reliable, can help keep symptoms under control.
Having the support of others also helps. This type of support can help change the stigma and outlook on schizophrenia. Supportive loved ones who are involved and concerned with treatment and care impact the lives of schizophrenia patients.
5. Take Care Of Yourself
Simple lifestyle changes can also ease symptoms and episodes. Getting enough sleep, even more than what is considered standard, is especially important when taking certain medications. Difficulty sleeping is a common symptom, but regular exercise and limiting caffeine intake do help.
Substance abuse complicates the treatment of schizophrenia so it’s also important to avoid self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
Finally, eating habits play a big role. Making a change in eating habits can affect blood sugar levels. By minimizing refined carbs and sugars, and increasing omega-3 fatty acids intake, a schizophrenia patient can better avoid energy crashes and improve mood and focus.
6. Understanding Your Medication
Medication is not a cure for schizophrenia, but it does treat some of the symptoms. The two main groups of medications used for treatment include the traditional “typical” antipsychotic medications and the newer “atypical” antipsychotic medications.
These medications can help to reduce symptoms like paranoia, delusions, disordered thinking, and hallucinations. Other symptoms like lack of motivation and social withdrawal are not likely to be affected by medication.
It’s important to note that these medications can have some unpleasant side effects like lack of energy, uncontrollable movements, drowsiness, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction.
As always, quality of life should be considered. If you or someone you know is experiencing complications with prescribed medication, self-prescribed medication, or substance abuse, it's important to seek help and talk to a medical professional.
Jasmine Danielle is the Associate Editor of BlackDoctor.org. She received her BFA in Dance Education & Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has since done work as a certified fitness & wellness educator, blogger, dancer, and designer.
