Despite all the efforts to explain how symptoms of schizophrenia and how it affects an individual, there is no bigger challenge for the patients of schizophrenia but to learn how to live with it on an everyday basis. Learning how to manage the symptoms alone is already difficult, add to that some minor but relevant challenges that make this task seem impossible.
There are five challenges that truly stand out in an effort to realize your treatment plan, which act as hurdle to your success. If you can overcome them, it should be easy to see effective results.
Maintaining a Daily Routine
There are several layers to this when one refers to maintaining a daily routine in relation to dealing with schizophrenia. First off, you need to properly maintain the treatment plan as recommended for by your physician to ensure that you can alleviate symptoms or improve overall condition. If a certain kind of lifestyle is recommended to manage your condition well, then you have to learn to stick with that.
This is not as easy as it seems though knowing how schizophrenia affects one’s cognitive function and de-limit their ability to sustain a daily routine. In addition, it is important to keep one occupied to eliminate depression or anxiety that goes when they are continually confronted with their mental illness.
Staying Active
This therefore leads you to the next important challenge when dealing with schizophrenia – the ability to stay active. When one is diagnosed with schizophrenia, it is easy for one to go on a downward spiral, especially emotionally speaking. The negative symptoms can overwhelm a patient until they lose motivation and lack the energy needed to keep themselves busy and active all the time.
Staying active is therefore an important tip to keep in mind to combat the symptoms of schizophrenia. This will help to keep them in a physically good condition, while also promoting positive attitude.
Practicing Independence
Most people have this misconception that people diagnosed with schizophrenia cannot survive on their own. Instilling the need to stay independent is an important ability for patients to combat the symptoms of their condition. Although it is important for a patient to live in a protective environment that will keep them secure and safe. However, it would be helpful to encourage them to explore outside of their comfort zone and regain self confidence.
Financial Support
In relation to the item above, the ability to produce your own income is a crucial challenge for patients of schizophrenia. This gives you the ability to gain control over your life and lead the life the way you wanted it to be. This is also a good way to promote restoration of the patient’s ability to perform basic functions and follow a set routine.
Social Support
This is probably the most crucial challenge that patients had to face. Without enough social support from friends or families, then coping with their condition and its symptoms alone is hard enough. The relationships you have with the people around you helps to increase your motivation and gain confidence about yourself knowing that you are not alone in your battle with schizophrenia.