Treatment Measures for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that impacts a person’s thought patterns, feelings, and behavior. It can make someone lose their touch with reality and start to think, see, and feel things that don’t really exist. This results in them becoming perpetually paranoid. Some common symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, distorted thinking, and movement disorders.
The treatments for schizophrenia are lifelong as they don’t cure the illness but can only help reduce the symptoms. For successful results to be observed, the treatment needs to be coupled with constant support as well. This means that apart from medication, it is essential for the patient and their support system to attend therapy sessions and understand the various aspects of dealing with the condition.
- Medication
Medication plays an essential role in managing the symptoms of the condition just like other treatment options. There are two types of medications that can be used, i.e., anti-tremor and antipsychotic. Taking them is vital for reducing symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. - Stress management
Stress can be a trigger for anxiety, depression, and psychotic episodes; making it very important to effectively manage stress and practice staying calm. To manage stress, the individual can limit their work-load to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.
Another important component of schizophrenia treatment includes psychosocial treatment and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy that develops the individual’s coping abilities and strategies. Psychosocial therapy, on the other hand, helps the individual by improving their mental stability that acts as compensation for barriers that were caused by the nature of the illness.
In-person support groups help an individual tremendously in dealing with the condition and even understanding it better. These groups allow an individual to meet other people who go through the same struggles every day and hear their coping mechanisms and success stories. It helps an individual feel less lonely and accept their condition without guilt and embarrassment. As people with schizophrenia tend to isolate themselves, support groups can help them come out of this zone and become more social.
While schizophrenia cannot be fully treated; with family support, self-awareness, various treatments, and medication, a substantial part of the symptoms can be controlled to help the individual lead a quality life.
