Schizophrenia:
How Should One Behave?

It may seem odd that one has to ask, "how should one behave towards a person with schizophrenia or allied disorder?" However, most people do not understand what it is that makes it difficult for people with the disorder to communicate. The general public feels embarrassed and sometimes frightened to hold a conversation with a person who has a mental illness. This page tries to give some pointers as to how to behave and is for families and for the general public.

Speak Slowly & Clearly

We have learned that we need to speak slowly and clearly to persons with schizophrenia - to make the sentences short so that they are not too complicated and to wait to make sure that what we are saying is reaching the person.

Why is this technique useful? A person with schizophrenia explains: "My concentration often floats in and out so that I only hear part of a sentence. Maybe I will miss two or three words. This will make it very difficult for me to understand. Recently I went on a family outing. There were other families there and I could hear everything that everyone was saying to everyone else. The sound and all the people moving about came in on me so much I began to get quite frightened. I was agitated and irritated at the same time. I felt I wanted to defend myself in some way. My dad took me to a quiet place where we sat and had a cup of tea. We didn't talk about it. We just sat and drank our tea and I began to feel less threatened."

Provide Structure & Instructions

People with schizophrenia need structure in their lives. Routines that are comforting and predictable are useful to someone whose medical condition often makes life very unpredictable. It is useful to help them set up a schedule and a few tasks to accomplish at certain times of the day or week.

Is it possible to achieve this? Some people with schizophrenia are very

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disabled or become so from time to time. It is not always possible for them to follow a schedule, although it is beneficial to try to maintain a definite routine. However, when your relative, client or friend attempts a task but isn't able to complete it or does it wrong it is not at all helpful to say things like: "Can't you get anything right?" or "Let me do it!" even when you are very frustrated. Break tasks into simple components to create the possibility of success and to encourage the feeling of being useful. Give only one instruction at a time.

Maintain Equilibrium

Sometimes you may feel you are walking on broken glass when your relative or someone you know is having a particularly difficult time. At that time you have to summon up all your energy so that you can maintain their trust while at the same time maintaining equilibrium at home. Here are some ideas towards that goal:

• Be friendly
• Be accepting
• Be encouraging
• Make time to listen
• Include them
• Treat them with respect

These behaviours should also be adopted by the general public.

Avoid the following:

• Being patronizing
• Being critical
• Pushing them into situations they are not comfortable with
• Being gloomy
• Arguing with them, or with others while they are present
• Giving them a lecture or talking too much
• Getting yourself into difficult situations with them

top | next - article continued
also in this section:
how can others help the schizophrenic?
maintaining your own health
schizophrenia: how should one behave?
helpful resources
where to get mental health help

home | schizophrenia defined | causes | treatment
patient support | prognosis | schizoaffective disorder

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