Living With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia may make it hard to lead a stable life. You may feel that symptoms are getting in the way of doing the things you want. But there are ways to get back on track. Talk to your doctor about treatment options to help keep your symptoms under control.

Below are some ways people with schizophrenia have found to be helpful in managing the illness. These steps do not replace your medicine, but they can help it to work better—and help you feel better.

Stay informed
Learning about schizophrenia is one of the most important things you can do to manage the illness. You can stay informed by visiting Web sites like this one and using the many tools and educational resources available to you. Learning about schizophrenia can also help you partner more successfully with the healthcare professionals who help manage your care.

Take your schizophrenia medicine the way your doctor tells you. This can help you stay well.

Ask a friend or family member to help you stay on track with your medicine.

Consider therapy
Many doctors recommend combining medicine with talk therapy (counseling). Therapy can:

• Help you understand symptoms
• Help you learn how to manage your symptoms
• Help you deal with stress
• Allow you to talk about long-term plans
• Help you improve family or marital/romantic relationships
• Help you deal with other people’s misunderstandings about schizophrenia

Remember the importance of getting a good night’s sleep
Getting enough sleep can help keep your mood stable. And missing sleep can have a negative effect on your thinking processes. Studies show that lack of sleep can lead to faulty decision-making, more risk-taking, and difficulty staying focused.

You may have sleep problems—sleeping not enough or too much—as a part of your illness.

Here are some other things that may cause sleep problems:

• Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Try to avoid them so you can sleep better
• Not getting enough exercise
• Some medications might cause drowsiness

Disturbances in your sleep can mean something else is wrong. If they continue, talk to your doctor.

Get help for addiction
Addiction to drugs or alcohol is, in itself, a serious mental illness that may require treatment. Addiction can also make schizophrenia symptoms seem worse. It can interfere with how your medicine works in your body. And it can make it more difficult for you to follow your treatment plan. If you are dealing with addiction in addition to your schizophrenia, reach out to your doctor for help.

Get immediate help in emergencies
People with schizophrenia and their loved ones should know that there are times when medical attention may be needed right away. You may need to call 911 or go to the emergency room. These are some signs that emergency help is needed:

• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
• Acting in ways that might hurt you
• Not eating
• Not being able to care for yourself
• Acting violently toward people, pets, or property

Have a crisis plan
It’s important to have a plan that guides family and friends on what to do if you have an emergency related to your illness. A plan could include:

• Doctors and pharmacy (names and phone numbers)
• Medication names and dosages, progress diaries, etc.
• Responsibilities for children, pets, and bill paying
• Notification of employer
• Insurance information (plans and coverage, approved providers, etc.)

Take time to enjoy life
Feeling good is something we all need. Find time for things you enjoy. Make it a goal to do more things that make you happy and give you a sense of peace.

Be aware of suicide risk
If you are having thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, please call your doctor immediately and seek help in dealing with these feelings. If you cannot reach your doctor call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Reach out to people who can help you follow your treatment plan

• When you have questions, concerns, or problems with treatment, it’s important to ask for help. Reach out to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other professionals. They can help you.
• See your doctor for regular appointments. If you sometimes forget appointments or if travel is a problem, ask a loved one for help
• Refill your prescription before you run out

NEXT: Questions and Answers About Schizophrenia