How to Live With Someone Suffering From Schizophrenia

Mental illness can be debilitating not only to the suferrer but also their loved ones and those who care for them

Michelle Aarons

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Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Few things in life that are harder than living with someone with schizophrenia. This chronic mental disorder — which affects a little under one percent of the population — isn’t just a debilitating condition that affects a person’s ability to manage their emotions properly, think clearly, make sound and rational decisions, and considerably lower their quality of life as a result.

Depending on its severity, it’s likely to have a significant impact on those around them too.

In fact, it’s a colossal undertaking to deal with a person with schizophrenia daily, especially if the individual suffering from this terrible illness is a loved one. You’ll find yourself constantly struggling with your own emotions and feel more than a little helpless amidst these trying circumstances. However, you must understand the symptoms it presents isn’t a death sentence. And with love, support, and the right treatment, recovery isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

I am not a stranger to the ill effects of mental illness. My grandfather suffered from schizophrenia, which had its onset even before I was born. I lived with my grandparents until my teenage years, so I know firsthand how difficult it is to ensure proper treatment. I also experienced my grandfather’s cycles of rage and lull. He never seemed to be the same person day in and day out.

[T]he mentally ill person’s refusal to accept treatment typically results from a brain dysfunction that is beyond his control …

In his book, I Am Not Sick: I Do Not Need Help, psychologist Xavier Amador Ph.D. writes about the importance of listening, empathy, agreement, and partnership (LEAP) in dealing with loved ones who have mental illness.

“From their perspective, we are adversaries and detractors — definitely not allies,” writes Dr. Amador, who is an internationally sought-after speaker, clinical psychologist, professor at Columbia University Teachers College in New York City.

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Michelle Aarons

Copywriter and digital marketer since 2005; I have ghostwritten on Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Next Web, and more. Friend, lover, mother, and cat momma.