By June Roberts, Staff Writer
A caregiver often become the
nucleus for support for a person living with schizophrenia
especially during the most difficult times that are caused by the
symptoms of the disease.. You not only give your loved one vital
feedback, but you encourage, motivate, and act as the touchstone to
reality for your loved one, offering them a glimpse of a calmer,
more stable world. However, one of the most important things a
caregiver must recognize about their role is that they can’t do it
alone. When a person is undergoing a psychotic episode or is in the
midst of recovering from one, they will need regular supervision and
monitoring by the appropriate healthcare professionals who are
experienced in treating the disease.. Schizophrenia needs a to be
treated with a three-way relationship between the one living with
the condition, the caregiver, and the medical professionals, all of
whom have the same goal, and that is to reduce the symptoms, lessen
their chances for a relapse, and to help them get back into a
regular routine.
Some of the specific ways in which a
caregiver can help with the management of the illness is by being
and remaining informed about the disease and its treatment. It can
be very difficult to be supportive and understanding when you don't
have enough information about the disorder. You can start be talking
to mental health professionals through requesting a meeting with the
key people who are assisting your loved one, and make sure to have a
list of questions with you. Write down any information that they
give you, and if you don't understand what is being said, be sure
and say so. It may be a good idea to bring a cassette recorder with
you in order to tape everything being said, but be sure to ask if
this would be appropriate. Become actively involved in the treatment
of your loved one by working with his or her mental health
professionals in making decisions about treatment and goals to work
towards; let your loved one know that you’re interested and
available to discuss how treatment is going; and help your loved one
to access resources and services like government benefits, which
will help them maintain some sense of independence.
Another good resource to turn to is the mental health help lines
listed in the front of your local telephone book. They can direct
you to organizations or support groups in your area that may provide
you with essential information. Once you’ve learned as much as you
can about the disease, you can begin to help your loved one in many
ways, including: helping them to keep track of appointments; helping
them to get to and from appointments; helping to make sure your
loved one doesn't run out of medication; helping to ensure that your
loved one is taking the medication as directed by the doctor.
One of the most difficult tasks you will
have is making sure that the recommended medication regimen is being
followed.. It’s easy to stick to treatment when someone is
experiencing times of crisis or stress, especially when he or she is
receiving a lot of professional oversight. Yet when the crisis is
over and life returns to a regular routine, your loved one may
sometimes lose the motivation that’s needed to stick to their
treatment. Sometimes they may believe that taking an antipsychotic
medication for a short period of time has “fixed” the problem, and,
on very rare occasions this is may be true, but this is usually not
the case. If your loved one is talking about possibly reducing or
stopping their medication, encourage them to speak to their doctor
who will then assess their need for continued medication. Remember
that the treatment of schizophrenia is an ongoing process that
doesn't just end once a psychotic episode has abated. Staying on
medications even after a psychotic episode will actually help to
prevent another episode. Carefully monitor your loved one for any
possible side effects to the medication, and promptly report them to
their doctor. You are a part of the healthcare team and should
always contact the mental health professionals if you have any
questions regarding the treatment, or are experiencing any
difficulties while giving care.
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