- Hi everyone.
My name is Lauren and today,
I'm going to be talking a little bit more
about how best to support someone who's living
with schizophrenia, or Schizoaffective disorder.
So I think regardless
of who the person is, who you're trying to support
I think the best place to start is to educate yourself.
So this could take the form of going to the library to take
out some books on whatever their mental illnesses
schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder
or looking up resources on the
internet, or possibly even taking
a psycho-educational family support group.
I know that there's one offered
through the schizophrenia society of Alberta and near me,
but you can look up online as to what other groups
or classes that might be available in your area.
It's also really important to accept the illness
and its difficulties that come with it.
So this might include setting realistic goals
with your loved one.
It may also include just acknowledging
when they are unable to do stuff
or where there's limitations
on what they're able to do because of the illness.
So they may not be able to do things
that they once were able to do a good way to support someone
through this
and to help, to try to reduce or mitigate symptoms as best
as possible is to reduce the amount
of stress they're exposed to.
So it can often be helpful to create structured
and supportive environments for them.
Another really important tip is to stay in touch.
So good communication is really key
in terms of supporting someone
with schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder.
So by that, I mean to talk openly about the diagnosis
and about any struggles that you may be dealing
with and to not let it just be swept under the rug.
So for me,
I check in with my partner regularly about what's going
on with me, what I'm experiencing and that sort of thing.
And just making sure
that I'm being open about my diagnosis and vice versa coming
from him, what's helpful is being open about any concerns
that he may have or anything that he made need clarification
on around my diagnosis or around my illness.
And just making sure
that that line of communication is always really open.
It's also really helpful to get support voiced from him.
So he tells me often that he loves me
and supports me and cares for me regardless of my illness.
And that's really helpful.
Another tip is to be really patient.
So it's very common for people
with schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder to withdraw.
I know for myself
that's definitely something that
I do quite often when I'm struggling.
And so just being really patient and caring
and compassionate with the person can go a long way.
So withdrawing is also one
of my early warning signs personally
for when I'm struggling
or going through psychosis or about to go through psychosis.
I know it can be different for different people.
So it's really important if you're supporting someone
with schizophrenia, or Schizoaffective disorder to be aware
of and to know their early warning signs
or early symptoms that appear before they enter psychosis.
Also their early warning signs for thoughts
of suicide can be a really important to take note
of and just be aware
of, don't be afraid to talk about suicide either.
So it's really important to establish
a really trusting relationship
in order to be able to be persistent and checking
in with the person about how they're actually doing.
I know for me sometimes when people are checking
in with me, I don't always say how I'm actually doing.
Sometimes I'll say, Oh, I'm fine.
Or I'm doing okay.
So
as not to burden them or as not to concern them or anything
like that, but if you do have a trusting relationship
with the person, be persistent and asking
and just keep checking in with them as to how they're doing
or reflect some of the things that you're seeing.
So I noticed
that you're doing this, I'm a little concerned about that.
Can we talk about that, that sort of thing.
Another tip is to keep track
of their healthcare appointments
and to possibly go with them.
If they're comfortable
with that and attend the actual medical appointments
just to help them keep track
of what was said during the appointment.
I know for myself, I'm a little forgetful.
And so it's sometimes hard to keep track
of everything that the doctor says
to me during an appointment.
And so just having a second set
of ears can be really helpful.
So on that note, empowerment is also really important.
So make sure not to take over
and do things that they are capable of doing themselves.
And perhaps one
of the most important tips is to take care of yourself.
So it's often really easy to get swept
up in the needs of other people.
And oftentimes when you're caring
for someone with a mental illness, such as schizophrenia
or Schizoaffective disorder
it can be easy to internalize some
of the behaviors that they may be exhibiting
as being about you, but just know that it's really often not
about you and it's about the illness itself.
Another important way to take care
of yourself is to build your support network.
So this could look like joining a support group
or having a close knit group of friends who you talk
to quite regularly just to kind of be an additional form
of support for you.
And I just want to touch
on briefly some things that don't help.
So I know from personal experience, what doesn't help
with medication is constantly reminding them
or pestering them
about whether or not they've taken their medication.
So what can be helpful instead is to come
up with a mutually agreed upon system
in order to ensure medication adherence, and then to come up
with a way to support them in this building, this routine
you also can't force someone to undergo treatment.
So adults have the right to refuse treatment
if they don't want it
unless they're a harm to themselves or to others.
So it can be helpful when talking
to them about seeking treatment to establish
that they have the control over their own treatment plan
and their own methods of seeking treatment.
So oftentimes with schizophrenia
or Schizoaffective disorder, the individual can feel
like they don't have a lot of control and things.
And so just to reestablish that they do have control
over some aspects of it can really be helpful.
So the last point that I really
just want to drive home is to just approach the person
with schizophrenia, or Schizoaffective disorder
with a lot of patience and understanding
ensure that you're not forcing or coercing anything
and just do little gentle reminders
about things like self care and medication and those sorts
of things, and just kind of establish yourself
as really being on their team.
Thank you so much for watching this video.
If you found it helpful, please give me a thumbs up
and make sure to subscribe for future videos.
Thanks again, and have a great day.
Bye.