Living with schizophrenia, it is possible to meet people, to socialize and make friends, and to have a loving intimate relationship. The best way to find a path to a healthy relationship is to treat your illness. Schizophrenia is not a flaw or weakness; it is a real disease.
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition hallmarked by unpredictable emotions, hallucinations, and delusions. While dating someone with this disorder can sometimes be difficult, learning as much as you can about schizophrenia can help shape your relationship in a meaningful way.
“While self-care is important for everyone, when managing schizophrenia, taking care of yourself through sleep hygiene, regular exercise/movement, a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol/drugs makes a significant impact on your symptoms.
Left untreated, the condition can cause people to behave erratically, leaving their partners to become subject to verbal abuse, emotional neglect, and delusional accusations. No healthy relationship can sustain these behaviors. Both partners must communicate.
Personality disorders such as antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive types have been detected in one third to one half of schizophrenia patients (Nielsen, Hewitt & Habke, 1997; Solano & Chavez, 2000).
Never tell your loved one that their symptoms are “not true,” “not real,” “imaginary,” or all in their head. Aim to be nonjudgmental.
People with schizophrenia experience difficulties in remembering their past and envisioning their future. However, while alterations of event representation are well documented, little is known about how personal events are located and ordered in time.
Cluster A personality disorders and avoidant personality disorder seem most commonly to antedate schizophrenia. No common dimensions have so far been identified by factor analytic methods albeit a schizotypy taxon may be the strongest link candidate.
Ongoing treatment with antipsychotic or antidepressant drugs and regular psychotherapy can help get your loved one's symptoms under control and help both you and your partner begin building healthier coping mechanisms and learn to live with schizophrenia in a more positive way.
Even if your condition is well-treated, you may have trouble enjoying activities. It might be difficult for you to show your emotions, too. As a result, many people with schizophrenia find it hard to start relationships and keep them. Others avoid it all together.
Moderate to high quality evidence found the prevalence of insecure attachment styles is higher in people with schizophrenia than in people without a mental illness (76% vs. 38%), with fearful attachment style being the most prevalent in patients (38%) followed by avoidant (23%), then anxious (17%) attachment style.
Morbid jealousy can occur in a number of conditions such as chronic alcoholism, addiction to substances other than alcohol (i.e. cocaine, amphetamines.), organic brain disorders (i.e. Parkinson's, Huntington's), schizophrenia, neurosis, affective disturbances or personality disorders.
The Residual Phase of Schizophrenia
Doctors sometimes call this the “recovery” phase. In many ways, it mirrors the prodromal phase. The more intense symptoms, like hallucinations, start to fade. But you may still have some strange beliefs.
Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
In the past, it was accepted that schizophrenia can worsen as people age. However, research in recent years suggests that although some symptoms may get worse with age, others will remain stable, and some symptoms may actually improve with age.
For people living with schizophrenia stress has a special significance because excessive stress is often a cause of a relapse of the psychotic symptoms and so they must be very careful to manage and monitor the stress in their lives.
Be respectful, kind, and supportive, and call their doctor if needed. If they are acting out hallucinations, stay calm, call 911, and tell the dispatcher they have schizophrenia.
Many people with schizophrenia withdraw from the outside world, act out in confusion and fear, and are at an increased risk of attempting suicide, especially during psychotic episodes, periods of depression, and in the first six months after starting treatment.
Drug and alcohol use
If you already have schizophrenia, research shows that using recreational drugs may worsen your symptoms. Some studies suggest that people who use high-potency cannabis ('skunk') when in recovery are more likely to have a relapse too.
Not taking medication regularly or as prescribed is by far the most common cause of schizophrenia relapse. Persistent use of drugs or alcohol and criticism from caregivers are next on the list. "Many people with schizophrenia abuse some type of drug, most commonly marijuana," Frangou says.
People with schizophrenia often also experience persistent difficulties with their cognitive or thinking skills, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. At least one third of people with schizophrenia experiences complete remission of symptoms (1).