World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2024: How can patients live a normal life with other people

Medications play an important role in managing schizophrenia whereas therapy is also considered crucial for learning to live with this disease. (Image: Canva)

World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2024: Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that is caused by a chemical imbalance and other changes in the brain. It often runs in families, but the environment may also contribute to this disease. It can strike both men and women. This health condition is rarely reported in childhood.

With good and ongoing treatment, it may be possible for people with schizophrenia to live a normal life. Treatment (medication, therapy, social and family support) is followed. This is a chronic disease without a cure therefore treatment must be ongoing. When this serious mental disorder (schizophrenia) is treated and managed over the long-term, most people are likely to live normal, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Residential treatment:

Symptoms of schizophrenia can be very troubling, disruptive leading to significant impairment in a person’s life, says Dr Najeeb Ur Rehman, HOD & senior consultant - neurology Marengo Asia hospitals, Faridabad. He says that in some cases patients may be hospitalised temporarily. Hence residential treatment is strongly recommended because residential care provides patients the opportunity to focus on and engage with treatment without worrying about home, family, work, and other responsibilities.

Inpatient care also helps patients recover fast, guide them through strategies and exercises that will help them manage their illness once back at home. Treatment provided in a residential facility provides patients all the tools they require to be successful once they leave, while also providing a safe environment in which to go through therapy.

Symptoms management through medication:

Medication is the most crucial part of treatment for schizophrenia. Symptoms are hard to manage without antipsychotic drugs, says Rehman. Hence, patients are advised to use two classes of antipsychotics-first generation and second generation. If these patients experience other mental illnesses, they benefit from anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants.

Important therapy:

Medications plays important role in managing schizophrenia whereas therapy is also considered crucial for learning to live with this disease, says Rehman. Behavioural therapies can help patients learn how to identify symptoms and signs of an episode, while also taking positive steps to modify negative thoughts and behaviours that are under a person’s control. Such kind of therapy also equips patients with action-oriented strategies and tools for managing stress, handling challenges in healthy ways. Alternative and creative therapies (music and art therapy, drama therapy, animal therapies, and even massage therapy for relaxation and stress) can be useful for exploring emotions and finding positive ways to handle them.

Social and family support:

Support coming from family, friends, therapists, and other people living with schizophrenia can play a vital role. Group therapy and support groups can be helpful by providing an outlet for sharing difficult emotions and experiences. Family support is also very helpful for the patients making efforts to live well with schizophrenia. Families can help patients out with love, comfort, and guidance. Families should also go through family psychoeducation to know about schizophrenia and how to support someone living with it.

Self-care:

As per Dr recommendations, Patients can manage stress with relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing or meditation). They should do regular exercise, eat nutritious foods and maintain a healthy weight, get enough sleep, maintain good overall physical health, avoid drugs and alcohol, get treatment for and manage any other mental illnesses like depression and ask for help when needed.