How to Handle Schizophrenia

As someone who was diagnosed with schizophrenia some time ago, I have learned a few useful ways to stop this disease, which harms both the body and mind. There are ways beyond just medicine and therapy for schizophrenia. The basics of any mental disorder are far from simple, but let's see how they can be understood so they can be defeated.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Avoid a mental collapse. Stop the disease before it comes: avoid drugs and alcohol; take your medicine; and spot changes in your condition.

2. Identify the specific kind of schizophrenia that you are diagnosed with it. Ask a doctor your condition-better yet, ask him/her to write it down-and do your own homework on the disease. Other variations of schizophrenia include schizoaffective disorder.

3. Take medication as described.

4. Understand that schizophrenia is not easily cured. It can take months or years for someone suffering to regain their mind from the chaos. I always hoped it would just disappear, but it didn't. However, I have found that the majority of the condition disappeared when I stopped using drugs and took my medication; I now experience 5-10 percent of what I once did.

5. Know when to share your feelings. Obviously, people who suffer from schizophrenia are more apt to commit suicide, relapse on drugs, experience depression, lose jobs, and many other negative things. The important thing for one to do is share these feelings and problems on a regular basis. Keeping it in is, in almost every case, dangerous.

6. Find happiness. You may not have thousands of dollars in the bank, therefore consider signing up for social security. My reasoning for applying for disability was the fact I had bee through hell and didn't want to go back. I refused to take any jobs that would jeopardize my recovery. Find a low stress career though, because getting out in the world is still possible. Finding happiness isn't just a career, but also building a network of supportive friends and family. Seek out those who can help and offer advice. Schizophrenia is a disease that can grow in isolation.

Tips & Warnings

• Find others with your condition. Ask them questions. This can help in your recovery.
• Often the causes of schizophrenia can be found in those who suffered extended depressions and drug addiction.
• I would advise you to keep the details of your condition private except to family. It is no one else's business you have a condition, unless they can somehow help.