You know your loved one better than anyone else. You’re the person who knows what they like and doesn’t like, what will make them feel better or worse, how to get through to them when they are in a bad mood. With all of this knowledge, you may find yourself feeling helpless when it comes to helping your loved one with schizophrenia. Just knowing that there is something you can do can be very empowering for you and your loved one. This blog post will give you some tips on how to help out someone who has schizophrenia without even realizing it!
Ask Questions And Lots Of Them
One of the most important things you can do as a loved one is asking questions. This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it’s something that is commonly neglected. People with schizophrenia often feel misunderstood and alone. By asking questions, you show your loved ones that you care about them and want to understand their condition.
Some questions you may want to ask include:
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- How is your day going?
- Do you feel like you’re having any hallucinations or delusions today?
- What did you do today?
- Do you feel like you can take care of yourself?
- Did anything interesting happen today?
- Are you feeling stressed out or overwhelmed?
It can also be helpful to keep a journal of your conversations with your loved one. This will help you remember the conversation and provide valuable information for your doctor.
Listen
The number one thing you can do to help someone with schizophrenia is to simply listen to them. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s something that a lot of people don’t do. They either avoid the topic altogether or try to talk their loved ones out of their delusions. Neither of these approaches works, so it’s important to listen and try to understand what the person is going through. This will make your loved one feel like you care and that you want to help them.
Here’s A Scenario:
Your loved one has been talking about the CIA coming after them for weeks now, accusing their family members of being spies. Instead of trying to change the subject or dismissing their claims, try to ask them more about what they’ve been seeing or hearing. What makes them think that their family is involved with the CIA? What have they done to try and protect themselves from the spies? By asking questions and listening to their answers, you’re not only showing that you care, but you’re also helping your loved ones to understand better what they’re experiencing.