Schizophrenic? Yes, You Can Be Independent and Have Quality of Life

Approximately 1 in 300 women, men, and children around the world has a serious mental illness known as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia — often misunderstood and maligned — causes those who have it to suffer from delusions and hallucinations. It’s also associated with disorganized behaviors and thinking.

If you grew up with a diagnosis of schizophrenia — or if you received one recently — you might have consciously or unconsciously bought into the idea that it’s not possible to have an independent, satisfying life. Fortunately, that’s just a myth. As with any mental illness, you can manage your disease.

Joseph Kwentus, MD, is an expert psychiatrist and founder of Precise Research Centers in Flowood, Mississippi. He and our team conduct clinical trials for schizophrenia medications — at no cost to patients — so you can get the therapies and care you need to improve your independence and quality of life.

How can you move past the schizophrenia myths and take charge of your disease and life? Following are some suggestions.

Make yourself the priority

When you have schizophrenia, it’s extra important to take good care of yourself. Getting the proper nutrition and healthy amounts of exercise into your life can increase your well-being. 

Learn self-care techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing, to manage stress. Stress can sometimes bring on an attack of your disease, so paying attention to how you’re feeling — and taking the stabilizing breaks you need — can really pay off.

Optimize your health

Proper nutrition consists of eating as many whole foods as possible, so every cell in your body can function optimally. Concentrate on:

• Fresh and cooked vegetables
• Lean, pastured proteins such as poultry, seafood, and meats
• Low-glycemic fruits, such as berries and citrus
• Healthy oils, including olive oil and avocados

Also, eliminate substances and habits that cause inflammation and stress and could trigger an attack. Foods and habits to kick include:

• Sugar
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Recreational drugs

Smoking tobacco is strongly associated with increased risk for and severity of schizophrenia. If you need help withdrawing from alcohol, recreational drugs, or smoking, let us know and we’ll refer you to effective cessation programs.

Find an exercise regimen that you enjoy so you keep your body active, fit and strong. Exercise is also a great way to manage stress and reduce your reliance on destructive “self-medication” methods, such as alcohol and drug abuse.

Ask for and accept support

There’s no shame in having a mental illness, nor should you feel any shame about asking your family and friends to help you manage it. Let them know what your life’s goals are, what your treatment plan is, and what support and help they can provide in attaining those goals.

The more you learn about schizophrenia, the more you can pass on that information to your loved ones so they can better support you. Myths about schizophrenia may also affect the way they respond to your disease, so provide them with the facts.

You might also find it helpful to join a support group for others who also struggle with schizophrenia. You can find support groups both online and in person.

As well, you may qualify for social services that help you find a job to increase your independence and housing that you can afford. If you can’t drive, they may also be able to help you access reliable transportation. 

Stick to your treatment plan

Once you have a treatment plan — which should include medications as well as supportive therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — share it with your loved ones. Ask for their help in sticking to the plan until the steps become an ingrained habit.

Talk therapies are an extremely important component of schizophrenia treatment. 

Although medications can control symptoms, CBT and other therapies help train your brain to focus on the positive, rather than the negative. They also help you learn how to better interact with important people in your life — from work colleagues to family members and friends.

Are you struggling with schizophrenia and frustrated by a lack of independence or enjoyment in your life? 

Contact us at 601-685-3457, book an appointment online, or send a message to our team to see if you're a candidate for a clinical trial on the latest medications for schizophrenia.

Once you’re accepted into one of our clinical trials, you receive all medications and supportive therapies for free.