Schizophrenia: 4 Things Making Recovery Harder For You

A life with schizophrenia is definitely not one to envy. Sure, I am well acquainted with the nooks and crannies of that world: the sense of abandonment, personal resentment, stigma, and all.

The longer the road back to health seems, getting fully restored is still a strong possibility – even stronger with your commitment.

Unfortunately, many patients are bogged down, unable to make progress in their recovery, and eventually suffering a relapse. Why?

Let's examine some of the most notorious barriers to full schizophrenia recovery together.

In Schizophrenia: 4 Things Making Recovery Harder For You, we will navigate our way around these setbacks and accelerate your journey to recovery.

The patient and his immediate community often lack quality information

Schizophrenia is no regular flu but its rarity implies that many people – including the patient, family, and community – are not adequately informed about the delicateness of this condition.

The early symptoms of schizophrenia, like hostility, social withdrawal, and exaggerated response to negative feedback, are often readily mistaken for someone wanting some quality me-time.

Such negligence – more modestly presented as an oversight – means that the patient doesn’t get the prompt restorative care they critically need.

More than this, the patient and his community are often not sufficiently enlightened on the game-changing treatment now available.

I have been sadly overwhelmed with scenarios where patients and their families write off the efficacy of treatment procedures and prepare to live with the mental condition for life.

Consequently, they redirect their efforts towards containing the disease indoors instead of healing it totally.

If you notice unusual developments in yourself or a loved one, don’t be too “positive” to dismiss them.

It doesn’t hurt to reach out to the nearest mental health treatment center to lodge your observance or ask for clarifications.

The good news is overcaution isn’t illegal yet.

Many patients don’t get a timely diagnosis

There are few places where the saying “a stitch in time saves nine” applies as accurately as in the early diagnosis of schizophrenia.

With every day that passes after onset, the patient’s susceptibility to further brain volume loss rises.

Prompt diagnosis can help in quickly introducing preventive intervention, reducing further chances of cognitive deterioration.

While a delay in diagnosis can result from medical practitioners and family oversight, cases are abundant where the patient (and his community) is acutely aware of the glaring symptoms of deterioration but deliberately try to keep it in-house.

This is often because of the “social odor” – as typified in stigma – that their loved one has a mental disorder.

It is not unusual to find patients deliberately resisting diagnosis because of the fear of getting their condition medically confirmed.

In other cases, the patients and their families are too embarrassed to make external consultations or seek help for fear of the words getting out.

But should you really prioritize other people’s perspectives of you – however demeaning – over your health or your loved ones? Definitely not. Come out and ask for help.

You would be amazed at the sufficiency of facilities available for treatment and support.

Poor management of comorbidities

Due to the emotional isolation and withdrawal that schizophrenia triggers, it is not uncommon to see patients resort to alcohol and substance abuse.

Findings have shown that at least 33% of schizophrenic patients use alcohol while 50% generally use substances. No doubt, this is troubling.

There is no argument that alcohol and substance abuse disrupts your treatment outcome and your overall life quality.

Patients struggling with the said comorbidities are found to have a higher susceptibility to relapse, hospitalization, inclination to violence, treatment disruptions, and even suicide.

Do not let drugs or alcohol hold you back. There is a beautiful world out there waiting to welcome you back.

What more, it would be unfair to your loved ones eagerly banking on your restoration to delay your recovery any further with substance abuse.

Make an effort to stay sober and consciously commit to recovery.

Inability to manage relapse

Your world is crashing, there is a sense of being a failure, and the guilt of letting your loved ones down…yes, these are all emotional cohorts of a schizophrenic relapse.

Many patients, and even their families, struggle to manage the emotional fallout of a relapse.

They struggle to accept the reality that all the hard-earned progress has had a setback.

The frustration and resentment directed at the patient often bring feelings of helplessness, and the patient losing the emotional capital to reinvest in committing to a treatment plan. But this shouldn’t be so.

Recovering from schizophrenia has never been a straight road. There are bends, detours, and even bumps in the road. Never victimize someone suffering a relapse.

Yes, it is frustrating, but remember if the patient really had an option, choosing a relapse would not be it.

Falls and trips are expected in schizophrenia recovery, but pick yourself up and continue the journey to wholeness.