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Question: Living with - Schizophrenia

Answer: Most people with schizophrenia make a recovery, although many will experience the occasional return of symptoms (relapses).

Support and treatment can help you to manage your condition and the impact it has on your life.

Caring for your own health can also make treating your condition easier and help reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue. It can help you have a better quality of life and be more active and independent.

Self care includes:

- maintaining good physical and mental health
- preventing illness or accidents
- effectively dealing with minor ailments and long-term conditions

1. Spotting the signs of an acute schizophrenic episode
Learning to recognise the signs that you're becoming unwell can help you manage your illness. Signs can include losing your appetite, feeling anxious or stressed, or having disturbed sleep.

You may also notice some milder symptoms developing, such as:

- feeling suspicious or fearful
- worrying about people's motives
- hearing quiet voices now and again
- finding it difficult to concentrate

You may also want to ask someone you trust to tell you if they notice your behaviour changing.

Recognising the initial signs of an acute schizophrenic episode can be useful, as it may be prevented through the use of antipsychotic medicines and extra support.

If you have another acute episode of schizophrenia, your written care plan should be followed, particularly any advance statement or crisis plan.

Your care plan will include the likely signs of a developing relapse and the steps to take, including emergency contact numbers.

2. Taking your medicine
It's important to take your medicine as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Continuous medicine can help prevent relapses.

If you have questions or concerns about medicine you're taking or any side effects, talk to your GP or care co-ordinator.

It may also be useful to read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine about possible interactions with other drugs or supplements.

It's worth checking with your healthcare team if you plan to take any over-the-counter remedies, such as painkillers, or any nutritional supplements, as these can sometimes interfere with your medicine.

3. Healthy living

i) Keep healthy
As well as monitoring your mental health, your healthcare team and GP should monitor your physical health.

A healthy lifestyle, including having a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and taking regular exercise, is good for you and can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. You should also try to avoid too much stress and have a regular sleep pattern.

You should have a check-up with a GP at least once a year to monitor your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. This will include recording your weight, checking your blood pressure, and having any appropriate blood tests.

ii) Stop smoking
Rates of smoking in people with schizophrenia are 3 times higher than in the general population. If you're a smoker, you're at a higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Stopping smoking has clear physical health benefits, but it's also been shown to improve the mental health of people with schizophrenia.

Find out how stopping smoking can improve your mental health.

Research has shown you're up to 4 times more likely to quit smoking if you use NHS support as well as stop smoking medicines, such as patches, gum or inhalators.

Ask your GP about this or go to the NHS Smokefree website to find out more.

If you take antipsychotic medicines and want to stop smoking, it's very important to talk to your GP or psychiatrist before you stop.

The dosage of your prescription drugs may need to be monitored and the amount you have to take could be reduced.

4. Avoiding drugs and alcohol
While alcohol and drugs may provide short-term relief from your symptoms, they're likely to make your symptoms worse in the long run.

Alcohol can cause depression and psychosis, while illegal drugs may make your schizophrenia worse. Drugs and alcohol can also react badly with antipsychotic medicines.

If you're currently using drugs or alcohol and finding it hard to stop, ask your care co-ordinator or GP for help.

5. Employment and financial support
Avoid too much stress, including work-related stress. If you're employed, you may be able to work shorter hours or in a more flexible way.

Under the Equality Act 2010, all employers must make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, including people diagnosed with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses.

Several organisations provide support, training and advice for people with schizophrenia who wish to continue working.

Your community mental health team is a good first point of contact to find out what services and support are available for you.

Mental health charities such as Mind or Rethink Mental Illness are also excellent sources of information on training and employment.

If you're unable to work as a result of your mental illness, you're entitled to financial support, such as Incapacity Benefit.

6. Talk to others
Many people find it helpful to meet other people with the same experiences for mutual support and to share ideas. It's also an important reminder that you're not alone.

Charities and support groups allow individuals and families to share experiences and coping strategies, campaign for better services, and provide support.

Useful charities, support groups and associations include:

- Hearing Voices Network
- Mind
- Rethink Mental Illness
- SANE

There are also other places that offer support to people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

i) Day centres
Even if you do not have a job or are unable to work, it's still important to go out and do everyday things and give a structure to your week.

Many people regularly go to a day hospital, day centre or community mental health centre. These offer a range of activities that allow you to get active again and spend some time in the company of other people.

ii) Work projects
These provide training to help you develop your work skills and support you back into work. They often have contacts with local employers.

iii) Supported accommodation
This could be a bedsit or flat where there's someone around who is trained to support you and help you deal with day-to-day problems.

iv) Peer support
You may be offered the chance to meet regularly with a trained peer support worker who has recovered from psychosis or schizophrenia themselves.

(Source: The National Health Service (NHS), 12 May 2021)

Source Link: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/schizophrenia/living-with/