How Can I Find Support For Schizophrenia?

Due to the potential severity of its symptoms, coping with schizophrenia on one’s own can be difficult. These symptoms, which may include delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thoughts, may make it challenging to function in daily life. As such, finding support for schizophrenia can be essential. Research suggests that social support often impacts the willingness to seek treatment in those with schizophrenia and is usually recommended throughout the course of treatment. A few ways individuals with schizophrenia can find support include reaching out to a therapist, joining a support group, leaning on family members and friends, and practicing self-care.

Are you experiencing schizophrenia symptoms?

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What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Individuals with schizophrenia may experience several symptoms that can impact their thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and perceptions of reality. These symptoms are usually separated into two categories: negative and positive. 

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Negative symptoms can manifest as the absence of what may be considered “normal” behaviors, often relating to interest, motivation, and expression. These symptoms may include the following:

• Anhedonia: The inability to enjoy activities or feel pleasure, referred to as “anhedonia,” may impact individuals living with schizophrenia. Anhedonia may result in feelings of emptiness, numbness, or boredom with daily life. 
• Avolition: Avolition can manifest as a lack of motivation to complete tasks or care about certain activities, even if they are important or necessary. This may result in an individual not completing tasks that may be essential for their survival.
• Social withdrawal: Individuals living with schizophrenia may isolate themselves from others and avoid opportunities to socialize. This withdrawal may be partially due to difficulty empathizing with others or seeing things from their perspective. 
• Emotional disorders: Schizophrenia may affect how an individual experiences or expresses their emotions. For example, those with schizophrenia may experience alogia, which can cause someone to speak less often or with fewer words. Schizophrenia may also cause flat affect, which may result in an inability to express emotions with tone of voice and facial expressions. 

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Positive schizophrenia symptoms often affect an individual’s thought patterns and behaviors. They are sometimes referred to as psychotic symptoms and can include those listed below:

• Hallucinations: While auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, may be some of the most common, individuals with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations that affect any one of their senses. These hallucinations usually seem very real, and individuals living with schizophrenia may respond to them as though they are a part of reality. 
• Delusions: Individuals with schizophrenia may hold beliefs that are illogical or untrue, which can be commonly referred to as delusions. These delusions may vary. For example, a person may believe that they are receiving direct messages through their radio or TV from a regular broadcast. 
• Disordered thoughts and speech: Schizophrenia may result in disordered thought patterns, which could affect an individual’s ability to communicate. It may be difficult to maintain a specific train of thought or stick to a single subject. In some cases, an individual with disordered speech may stop sentences abruptly or make up words in an attempt to express their thoughts. 

How can I find schizophrenia support? 

The first step to finding support for schizophrenia is often to seek the help of a mental health or medical professional. These individuals may be able to provide a diagnosis and ensure a person isn’t experiencing another mental health disorder or medical condition. A mental health or medical professional may also recommend a treatment plan to reduce symptoms or alleviate stress. However, there may be supplementary methods to find support or reduce the impact of schizophrenia symptoms as well. 

Join a support group

Schizophrenia support groups may offer a way to connect with other individuals experiencing this disorder. These groups may hold meetings in a variety of formats, such as in person, through video chats, via messenger groups, or through online forums. Support groups may be an effective way for individuals with schizophrenia to socialize and learn new coping techniques. It may also be beneficial to research family support groups, which can provide support to family members of an individual with schizophrenia. 

One way to find support groups may be through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI offers a tool to find local mental health support programs that may be helpful. This tool can provide the name of the group, where it is located, and the date, time, and format of the meeting. 

Establish a support system

While a support system often includes mental health or medical professionals, a personal support system may include friends, family members, and partners. These systems can be a source of support during difficult periods or when a person is experiencing a psychotic episode. In some cases, these individuals may help a person get to appointments, pick up medication, or contact medical professionals. 

If you have a loved one who is living with schizophrenia and you want to be a part of their support system, an effective first step may be to learn the signs of schizophrenia. Understanding the signs may help you recognize an episode early and get your loved one the professional assistance they deserve. In addition, knowing the symptoms of schizophrenia may help you cope with the difficulties that can be associated with caretaking.

Engage in self-care

In addition to seeking external support, engaging in self-care may help an individual manage the symptoms of schizophrenia. There are a variety of self-care strategies that may be beneficial to try.

• Stress management techniques: Relaxation and stress management techniques may lower stress levels and alleviate discomfort. One technique that may be helpful is mindfulness meditation. A 2019 study observed the effects of mindfulness meditation on severe schizophrenia patients. Researchers found that meditation demonstrated promising potential in the management of severe chronic schizophrenia. However, it can be important to note that the sample size for this study was small (five people), and further research into the subject may be necessary. 
• Exercise: Engaging in physical activity may reduce the effects of schizophrenia symptoms and support an individual’s overall health. In one scientific article, researchers reviewed studies and data relating to the efficacy of exercise programs in the treatment of schizophrenia. Their review found that structured exercise programs can have significant benefits, such as an improvement in positive and negative symptoms, cognition, hippocampal plasticity, hippocampal volume, and quality of life.
• Avoid substance misuse: While updated evidence may be needed, individuals with schizophrenia may have higher rates of substance misuse, which could lead to increased psychotic symptoms and poorer treatment. As a result, it may be beneficial to recognize the signs of substance misuse and seek treatment if you believe you are experiencing a substance use disorder. In addition, it may be helpful to avoid the use of substances in general (such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, or illegal narcotics) as these may exacerbate schizophrenia symptoms. 

Are you experiencing schizophrenia symptoms?

Receive support in online therapy

Seek the help of a therapist 

While self-care may be beneficial, it may not offer the same benefits as receiving support from a mental health professional. Therapy can help individuals with schizophrenia cope and may treat certain negative and positive symptoms. Common therapies for schizophrenia may include the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is often utilized to identify thought patterns and behaviors that may be harmful or unwanted. A CBT provider may help an individual with schizophrenia determine whether a thought is delusional and learn ways to cope with these thought patterns. 
• Family therapy: Family therapy sessions may help friends, loved ones, and partners of those with schizophrenia discuss the disorder and learn effective support techniques. These sessions may include both the individuals living with schizophrenia and their loved ones, who may engage in a group discussion with the help of a licensed professional. 
• Art therapy: Art therapy, which typically involves the use of various artistic mediums, such as painting, drawing, or photography, may enable individuals to express themselves, alleviate negative symptoms, and provide opportunities to socialize. 

For some, accessing in-person therapy may be difficult. Some individuals may not have health insurance, which could limit the providers to which they have access. In other cases, it could be challenging to find a therapist in one’s local area. In addition, some people living with schizophrenia may not be comfortable with face-to-face therapy, preferring instead to see a provider through phone calls, video conferences, or online chat. In these situations, it may be beneficial to explore alternative options, such as online therapy. 

According to a 2018 study, online cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful for individuals living with symptoms of psychosis, including those living with schizophrenia. While additional research may be warranted, existing studies suggest that online and in-person therapy typically produce the same results. However, those currently experiencing a psychotic episode may need to seek care in person.

Takeaway

Support can be essential for those experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia. While individual experiences may differ, schizophrenia symptoms may include those classified as negative (such as avolition, anhedonia, social withdrawal, and emotional disorders) and positive (hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and speech). There may be a variety of ways to find support, including joining a support group, establishing a support system, engaging in self-care, and seeing a therapist in person or online.