Next, if you are a family member or a caregiver of someone with Schizophrenia, here are some tips for you!
What to do:
Educate yourself about what Schizophrenia is really about - try to remove all misconceptions and learn to recognize the early warning signs of a psychotic episode
Create a conducive environment to reduce stress on him/her
Encourage him/her to be independent - set up a schedule or give him/her tasks to do and allow self-help. This allows him/her to build up his/her self-worth again.
Gently encourage them to stay in treatment and continue taking medications if they are already doing so
Speak slowly and clearly
Join them in their feelings rather than focusing on the fact that what they are experiencing is not a reality - give them a chance to be heard. This brings comfort to them and lets them know that they are not alone in what they are facing.
Look out for support groups for both yourself and your loved one - these groups need not provide medical treatment. It can just be somewhere to unwind and let out your feelings.
What not to do and things that are not helpful to your loved one:
Keep emphasizing that what they are experiencing is not true/real
Criticize them and look down on them
Being overly concerned for them - this can worsen the situation
