Coping Strategies

Day-to-day living can be a real challenge for the family and friends of a person with schizophrenia. Here are some tools to help you cope:

Spot Trouble Before It Starts

Try to remember any behavior you noticed the last time a crisis began. If you notice behavior like this, encourage your loved one to call the doctor right away. Sometimes medication can be adjusted in time to prevent a full-blown episode.

See a Family Therapist

Encourage your loved one and all key family members to attend group sessions with a therapist. Family therapy reduces stress — everyone's stress — by working through and resolving interpersonal problems and practical problems in a group setting. What's more, reducing family stress may help prevent relapse.

Share Responsibilities With Other People

Give yourself room to take care of yourself. Try not to feel like you have to do it all — you don't want to become exhausted, run down, or even resentful.

Develop a Daily Routine

If you live with a person who has schizophrenia, try to have meals at the same time each day, and schedule times for chores and other activities. Simple routines can have a stabilizing effect on people with this illness.

Encourage Your Loved One to Take Medication

The most obvious way to help your loved one manage schizophrenia is through medication. It takes a while for drugs to begin working. In the meantime, urge your loved one to stay on the medication. Stopping too soon or too abruptly can cause adverse effects.

Learn More About Schizophrenia

When you know what to expect from this illness, coping with it becomes easier. You'll be less likely to blame yourself for things that are not your fault, like your loved one's sadness or irritability. And finding out what works for other people may help you figure out what works best for you.