Challenges and Solutions
There a lot of challenges when it comes to having Schizophrenia. Not just having the disorder itself, but the accompanying problems than can enhance the unbearability of having schizophrenia. Some of the challenges of having schizophrenia is because it is often difficult for someone to know what is real and unreal, their thinking is all over the place, managing emotions is difficult, being able to relate to other people is hard and just function in day to day life can be exhausting. (NAMI. (n.d.).
Some other challenges that can arise because of how challenging schizophrenia can be to someone are: suicidal thoughts and attempts, other mental disorders, depression, substance abuse, inability to do anything related to school or work, financial problems or homelessness, socially isolating oneself, other health and medical problems, the stigma surrounding the disorder and uncommonly aggressive behavior (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, January 7).
Some solutions to these challenges is a mixture of therapy and medication. The therapy that is used the most to help manage schizophrenia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT, this type of therapy helps someone have a better quality of life who may suffer from schizophrenia. It also helps with feeling less distressed over psychotic experiences, feeling less depressed or anxious, alcohol and drug use, dealing with suicidal thoughts and overcoming feelings of hopelessness (RANZCP. (n.d.).
The medication that people who struggle with schizophrenia are antipsychotics which are there to help treat hallucinations and delusions, they may also help with anxiety, agitation, mood, thinking and socializing ( RANZCP. (n.d.) However, depending on the person a psychiatrist may also prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety, mood stabilizers, or sleeping tablets ( RANZCP. (n.d.) The best way for medication to help is to take it as prescribed meaning take it how many times a day that is on the label and the amount showed. If medication is not working for someone, it is in their best interest to talk to their doctor or psychiatrist to change the medications.
Challenges/Issues For The Family
Having family as a support system is extremely important for the benefit and to have a better quality of life for those with mental disorders, disabilities, and just for having a support system. However that depends on the relationship that the person has with their family.
It is especially for the 75% of people with schizophrenia who are in regular contact with their family members (Psychiatric Times. (n.d.) However, family members can face a lot of challenges and issues.
Some of those challenges and issues they face are care burden, fear and embarrassment about the disorder which includes the symptoms, lack of social support and the stigma surrounding the disorder (Brady, N., McCain, G. (November 29, 2004) The care burden may come from the family needing to take care of someone and the physical, emotional, financial, and social toll that the caregiver may face because they may need to take care of someone who cannot take care of themselves.
They may also lack a support system for themselves and feel alone and isolated about needing to take care of someone else which if they don't have a support system of their own it can cause problems. There is a lot of stigma still associated about schizophrenia which in turn if people know, the family can get harassed and bullied which can really hurt someone and the family.
Schizophrenia in School Settings and Mainstreaming for Children
Schizophrenia in a school setting is extremely difficult if unnoticed. People with schizophrenia may suffer in school because the symptoms they are experiencing like having a hard time focusing, their thoughts are scattered and they have low motivation, they can also have their hallucinations and delusions become a problem as well if someone experiences that.
Ways for this to be combatted is to seat a student with schizophrenia away from other students who may be loud or distracting. When this happens, it can lower their stress and lower their symptoms they may be experiencing. Some other ways is giving them flexible deadlines and extra time to complete their work, having a school counselor on-site, provide other environments like a library or a quiet room, having one on one learning time, and having a school nurse help with giving medication and teachers letting students go to take medication (Schiffman, J., Hoover, S., Roemer, C., Redman, S., and Bostic, J. (2018).
It is also important to reduce stigma in schools by using correct terms and being aware of stigmatizing words. Instead of them saying that student is being bipolar they should say that student looks upset. Kids are impressionable and they will now have that word stigmatized for them and know it incorrectly and hurtfully. (Schiffman, J., Hoover, S., Roemer, C., Redman, S., and Bostic, J. (2018) Another great way to reduce stigma is by giving knowledge on mental health and psychosis, having the awareness and knowledge will give other students an idea on the ins and out of mental health, what to look out for, and give other students opportunities to speak up about other students their concerns or concerns about their own mental health (Schiffman, J., Hoover, S., Roemer, C., Redman, S., and Bostic, J. (2018).
Societal Awareness
As Schizophrenia is being more publicly announced and more awareness is being brought to mental disorders like Schizophrenia, there is still stigma and harm from uneducated people. Especially on the social media platforms like TikTok, the comments on schizophrenia speakers videos are extremely harmful. Some will say that "god will save them", that "there is someone watching them", that "it is a demon possessing them and not schizophrenia", Schizophrenia is made up and fake, that "they have psychic abilities and not schizophrenia." Comments like this are incredibly harmful and more people need to be aware that comments like these may seem harmful to them but it is incredibly stressful and harmful to these creators who are trying to bring awareness on their disorders.
Ways to be more aware and not be harmful, is to look up schizophrenia or any mental disorder before commenting. A quick google search can really help someone understand what the disorder is about and what can be harmful. A good website that really shows what not to say to someone with schizophrenia is https://parade.com/1195578/judykoutsky/things-not-say-someone-schizophrenia/
Ways to be an ally is to talk about mental health, educate others, be conscious of the language one is using, encourage equality of physical and mental illnesses, show compassion, empower people with mental illnesses and be honest to people and the media when they are being stigmatizing (NAMI. (n.d.)
References
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, January 7). Schizophrenia. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443.
Schizophrenia. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizophrenia.
Treatment of schizophrenia. RANZCP. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/mental-illnesses-disorders/schizophrenia/treatment.
Issues in family services for persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatric Times. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/issues-family-services-persons-schizophrenia.
Brady, N., McCain, G. (November 29, 2004) "Living with Schizophrenia: A Family Perspective" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 10 No. 1.
Schiffman, J., Hoover, S., Roemer, C., Redman, S., and Bostic, J. (2018). Supporting Students
Experiencing Early Psychosis in Middle School and High School. Alexandria, VA: National
Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.
9 ways to Fight Mental Health Stigma. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/october-2017/9-ways-to-fight-mental-health-stigma.
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