Families Facing Schizophrenia

Hope – Surviving and Thriving

It's important for family members to know that early detection, intervention and good treatment can lead to recovery for the person with schizophrenia.

Also, the prospects for both surviving and thriving increase dramatically when families become involved and provide loving support.

Learn about the Disease

Families, like anyone else who has only encountered schizophrenia through the media, can come to the illness filled with fearful stereotypes and misinformation.

The most important thing families need to understand about schizophrenia is that it is a brain disease and that those who suffer with it are not at fault. They also need to know that early intervention and good treatment can lead to recovery.

Families need education: they need to learn as much about the disease as they can. The more accurate information families have, the better equipped they are to handle their loved one's illness and to help each other.

Also, there are some terrific books about schizophrenia and some of the challenges in treating the illness. We have two reading lists to share with you: the Cadigans' own recommended readings, and a reading list from schizophrenia expert Dr. John Csernansky. Please also check out these Other Recommended Resources.

One other thing we recommend: The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a free 12-week course called "Family to Family" that is taught by families. Its curriculum includes up to date information on the severe mental illnesses, research, evidence-based treatments, medications and strategies for care.

Making Realistic Plans

Families who do the best are families who create realistic plans about how to live with their loved one's schizophrenia.

The whole family (including the person who is ill) needs to come up with strategies for dealing with practical issues like financial issues, housing and help with common life skills.

Coping: Taking Care of Ourselves

Coping with our loved one's illness means using what we've learned about our loved one's disease to understand realistic parameters for the support we can offer.

Regardless of the severity of our loved one's disease, we need to care for ourselves so that we can continue to live our own lives without burning out. Often, over the course of the illness the care we need changes and evolves.

Some families find group or individual therapy helps them deal with the practical impact of the illness and processing their feelings.  Some find ways to turn over specific elements of the support responsibilities to a care provider or another family member.  Most carve out regular blocks of personal time to escape, meditate or have fun with friends.

Advocacy

Many turn to activism as a constructive way to channel feelings, frustrations and even hope.

Over the past few decades the biggest advances in fighting stigma, changing public policy and accelerating brain research have been born of family advocacy.