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Caring for Your Loved One
Being there for someone living with schizophrenia involves a lot of important decisions and record keeping, but with the right tools you can make it easier to keep track.
Caregiver Responsibilities
The role of a caregiver for someone living with schizophrenia isn't only to intervene on bad days, it's about being there for your loved one every day. Some ways to be a great supporter can include:
Helping on a Recovery Journey
Managing any chronic condition is an ongoing process, and schizophrenia is no different. Schizophrenia recovery isn't a single outcome—there are ups and downs along the way—but it's important to be hopeful.
In addition to controlling symptoms with the help of medication and working with your loved one's treatment team, recovery also involves helping your loved one move toward their treatment goals, like getting a job or furthering their education.
Maye* is actively involved in her son Jason's recovery journey and his shift to a long-acting injection (LAI).
*Maye is a volunteer with the SHARE Network, a volunteer program dedicated to helping adults living with schizophrenia share their personal health stories.
Treatment Recovery Plan Workbook
Have a discussion with your loved one about their goals, and how you can work toward those goals together. You can download our Treatment Plan Workbook to help take notes during the conversation.
Delaying Episodes
An episode is when schizophrenia symptoms re-emerge or get worse. Although they can't be avoided entirely, there are things you can do to delay the time between episodes.
Help your loved one manage their stress levels
Make sure your loved one is staying on track with their medication and understands the importance of medication in their overall treatment journey
Try to build a sense of routine by involving your loved one in fun, day-to-day activities like meal preparation
Episode Warning Signs
Even when your loved one is seemingly doing well, be sure to keep an eye out for early warning signs of an episode. Your loved one might not be able to notice warning signs in their own behavior or thoughts, so it's important to know what to look for.
For specific information about the warning signs of an episode and how you can help