Managing Schizophrenia: What I Find the Most Helpful from My Support People

I'm often asked by loved ones of those living with schizophrenia (or really any mental illness) what they can do to effectively help support their loved one. In this video, I share what I find the most helpful from my support people. I also share some of our audience's responses to what they find to be the most helpful from their support people as well. Thank you to everyone who shared!
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#schizophrenia #schizoaffective #schizoaffectivedisorder #mentalhealth #mentalillness

[@LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY Schizophrenia Peer Support Community: www.schizophreniapeersupport.com

[@J-_-S]

hello, my brother has schizofrenia and voices in his head talks 24/7 from wake up to going sleep, hes not eating much, once a day, all hes doing is lying in bed and thats it. Dont know how deep is your schizoprenia, do you expierence non stop voices talking?

[@begentlebutdontallowshit2549]

To whoever is reading this keep going, you're doing fine! No matter how slow your progress, each new week is filled with tiny steps forward. Be proud of yourself, you got this!

[@papaya6265]

♡

[@HueTheFew]

Thank you ❤

[@abdalwahedsaidi3103]

What help me as schizophrene are 5 advises : healthy food, make sport, take medecine, well sleep and pray the one God ... Good Luck ❤😊

[@LuisRodriguez-hy2du]

I think medication, self love, understand oneself, knowing what triggers your mental breakdowns, and seeing help from friends and family can help you lower your illness.

[@vashtiosborne3383]

I don't have any human support. I have my 2 rescue kittens who seem to know when to cuddle and when to leave me alone. My husband decided he was tired of dealing with my schizophrenia and started a phone relationship with his Facebook gf. I have to live in his father's house with him bc 6 have nobody and nowhere to go. These cars have literally saved my life bc I feel like without them I might not be here

[@tidespath2240]

Oh but what our support animals have too put up with sometimes

[@leonard_spunky]

Slap that fool!!

[@123karent]

God bless you

[@EVOLr]

Since most of the people in my life wait until I call them up. It's extremely rare for any of the people I know to just call me out of the blue just to say hi. So I've learned over the years to keep my expectations low when it comes to me having a best friend. I know it sounds kind of sad but it works for me right now. I guess my best friend is GOD and my other best friends are my nurse practitioner and my counselors and my buddies at my gym, and my leaders at church. It seems to be working for me, because it just is for now.

[@mmimicus]

I absolutely love your videos! I‘ve been misdiagnosed with schizophrenia for three years. It turned out I have CPTSD with severe dissociative, almost psychotic symptoms. I‘m still on two antipsychotics which really helps. My mum has schizoaffective disorder. I‘m going to study medicine again this fall (I had to stop due to my mental issues) and I‘m excited to learn more about these conditions!

[@Jellybeans107]

well done, hope medical school is going well 👍

[@Sunsun281]

I just realized that schizophrenics have better friends and support than people without illness.

[@libbyhyett6625]

You've helped me normalise my diagnosis of schizophrenia and make ongoing healthy choices. My gp and psychiatrist say I'm the sort of patient they want!! You've also helped me 'come out' to friends and family. I am proud of how well I manage my condition.

[@LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

Thank you for your support!

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Wish you the best

[@hayleyprice8345]

My husband use to come with me to appointments but now all he does is focused on himself so I'm left to my own devices and find my help

[@av6010]

I think it would also be helpful (if you haven't already) to discuss so "what not to do" type things. For instance: when family members tell me to simply tell my hallucinations to "shut up and go away" or tell me things like that they don't think I have an illness, but are instead being haunted. Or when I'm trying to reality check and they give lead that hallucinations could be real even though they don't see or hear them (sort of leading back the haunting theory or that I have hyper-senses).

[@Youareaflower]

I love your videos. I have been having a tough time dealing with my mental state and I dont have many people to talk to about it. I have support from some of my family members and I have a few friends but I don't want to go to them about it because I'm afraid they won't understand. It really sucks.

[@markjeffries7150]

One of my biggest supports recently passed away from complications of a liver transplant.

[@movado1138]

Thank you for your videos. I recently became close friends with someone who is going through this. Your videos are really helping me understand and find ways to be more supportive.

[@illusrin]

Sending love to you all ❤️ I'm not schizoaffective but I've never understood why people with these disorders are villainized. Psychosis and delusions can be incredibly scary and isolating. I had a bad trip that awoke me to how some of those things can feel... we should have more sympathy for the people who experience them.

[@EVOLr]

The saddest part of being schizophrenic is that, as much as you tell yourself it’s not your’s, it is. Even if you think schizophrenia is man made, it’s not. It’s as real as seeing, a real live Ghost 👻 in person. I know that scares the heck out of me, let alone everyone else for that matter, I’m sure. I just can’t help feeling sorry for all those poor people who were given LSD without knowing it was LSD. A lot of them never recover. How this syndrome (schizophrenia)continues to take hold of some people like a big depression ball of virus 🦠 is beyond me. All I do, is continue to say prayers 🙏 for all the sick and suffering who have schizophrenia every where. And yes I believe that it’s one of the scariest and most debilitating illnesses to be on top of. I pray 🙏 for new,solid and humane developments in the mental heath domain that will show more progressive ways to arrest and combat such illnesses . This I pray 🙏 in Jesus name Amen.

[@delll372]

when my bf has has a schizoprenia episode, i gave him A or B question. for example, do you want to go to sleep early or do you want to watch a movie together? we ended up cuddling and watching totoro that day.

[@Saturday8pm]

Talking in confidence often is a superb catharsis. 👍

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

I do NOT know what you did for a "living" before you began these videos I believe you have found your "calling" whether or not you EVER make a dime off of it (directly) or not. You are a TEACHER/ADVOCATE and that is your passion. Bless you & yours

[@laurieberry162]

I started counting calories. I am obese. I know that I can become healthier. You don’t look anorexic or skinny. If I were you, I would be careful not to lose any more weight. I say you are slender. You look like you do yoga or jogging. My back is bad and physically therapy helps. I took a long walk today and my mind is working better. Thank you for your advice. You are a helpful person.

[@rachelgarcia6964]

I would love to be able to be supportive to my sister who is dealing with delusions and paranoia. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize she is sick. :(

[@unjay1967]

Thanx Lauren, your videos are such a great resource for understanding schizophrenia and empathising with people living with it. Especially because what you present is from lived experience, not clinical studies or psych theory. Please keep doing these videos!

[@hayleyprice8345]

My mind was on fast forward and the support told me to get busy and make a cuppa and then I was able to get through

[@fraurosenthal2958]

My family is very supportive toward me and I go live with them when I am very ill. However, I am single and live alone the majority of the time. I struggle with time managment and household chores. Does anyone have tips for navigationg these things while living alone?

[@80islandia]

I struggle with time management and household tasks too. The book How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis is a great resource. It gives some practical tips but mainly tries to break the self-talk link between “my house is not clean” and “I am a moral failure,” as removing guilt and shame helps to keep the on-ramp to gentle action open.

[@fraurosenthal2958]

@@80islandia Thank you very much =)

[@vagabond9180]

I find making a habit of something takes away the need for willpower. I can sort of, kind of push myself to do something around the house and sometimes I do, but I don't need to push myself to take out the trash or tidy my soda bottles since that's a habit. I just do it when it needs to be done, and I am far from perfect at this but this is the single most helpful aspect of chores I know.

[@lashinaharris6081]

Just stay focused and positive dont let your mind go idle ever

[@jamescastro2550]

Thank You!!!! May you find peace and comfort in your battle. We can and will conquer this!!!!!!

[@maraschwarz8872]

Thank you for helping all of us ❤️🍀🍀

[@whitneysawyer483]

Thank-you for this wonderful information :)

[@kavitadeva]

Hi Lauren, your presence is so clear and soothing. Thank you for making these Videos.

[@tcort]

Thanks!

[@winslow8779]

Really really appreciate this as a support person. Thank you for this video. I am not sure this is something you're able to touch on, or perhaps a guest expert (love how many great resources you've pointed me toward!) but I'd be interested to learn more about how to talk to someone who is currently experiencing psychosis or mania, and how to respond to their delusions in a healthy way. I struggle to know how to balance communicating rationale and support. I'm so impressed by this channel and community. Thank you for it.

[@LikeUwhereThere]

I love & so appreciate this subject and the many amazing suggestions! I have such a guilt of not knowing how to help loved ones thru struggles gently and in a way that fulfills their needs. This is a treasure. Thank u!

[@lorrainefuchs5263]

Excellent❤ bringing wisdom, knowledge,understanding ❤I needed to see this thank you for being transparent 💕

[@meganhenry5795]

Lauren, I love your videos! You're an absolute gem. Your presence is so soothing and the way you speak is so fluid. Thank you so much for making these videos and your vulnerability is so damn refreshing. To anyone reading this: struggles never last. You'll get through this! You are loved. ❤️

[@edwardbaker5373]

So you’re basically saying. You have to have someone that loves you and that you trust to help with everything. I’m just entering into a relationship with someone who has schizophrenia. She made me aware of pretty quickly. I’ve known her for 20 years. But this is our first time being romantic and together more than friends. Your videos have been a big help for me and what I’m in for with her. Thank you

[@nicolemcintyre8098]

Thank you.

[@EnriqueReyesJrREALTOR]

Your words & experiences are very helpful. Thank you for your honesty. I just simply try to provide a quality if life.

[@fnutboy]

Wow, what power you have. I am just like you and I thank you.

[@wheelchairgeek]

Thank you ❤

[@ANKI7033]

My paranoia scz husband would hate me and make me leave the bed, room , house when he is having unmedicated psychotic episodes 😥

[@whatrtheodds]

That's tough.

[@jacobfredericks896]

I feel grateful I am in a pretty good situation right now with the support I have my family is helpful and I have a pretty good team of workers and doctors I live in a good support area ❤️

[@dennisperkins4784]

I talk with my shrink once a week helpful most times live with dog n I'm grateful for that someone to talk with anyway lol

[@jacquelineleitch7050]

Great advice

[@lashinaharris6081]

Skizophrenia came to me from lack of positive attention and care and love

[@deloresjackson3384]

My support system is my best friend and my mental health treatment team.

[@drmonakulpati9171]

To offer support, the caregiver needs support too. Untreated prolonged psychosis can be exhaustive and draining hearing the violent conversations about delusions and auditory hallucinations. Is there any way to break through anosognosia?

[@LOU1NY]

When I’m feeling the blues, I just “VISUALIZE” about good & positive things…It usually works.

[@marcyonsgard544]

Hello, I am so grateful 🙏 💖 for your videos. Can you do a possibly shorter video for my Daughter Heather? She's 48 yrs old and living with schizophrenia and is also DD. She was very interested in listening to you describe your experiences, but it was a bit difficult for her to keep up. Heather is about 7 to 8yrs old as far as her DD challenges go. She has auditory and visual hallucinations. Heather is very sweet and loves talking to people. It's extremely helpful for her to listen to someone, such as yourself talk about your experiences and maybe let her know she can manage this. Heather is on meds and doing well, but the voices are difficult for her. She puts a headset on and listens to her music. Thank you and you are doing something very helpful for many of us. 💖

[@sararao8429]

Nice advise

[@robertstone8056]

Good video lauren 😊

[@acrylicinfant1497]

I' was diagnosed with schizophrenia a few years ago, my family , turned on me , I have no friends, I'm having trouble finding a therapist, my wife, even though she helps me in other areas ,doesn't want to hear about it anymore , what can a person do when there is no support , what should I do when I'm having a really bad day and there is simply no one who cares?

[@Lovecatholicfaith]

Give all misery to Jesus. Pray the Rosary. Jesus love you

[@develocode7773]

God is always with you. Your condition is the result of your mind disconnecting from your heart, when your having a bad day remember to go back in your heart where God resides. It will heal you.

[@Jykar]

I really admire Lauren. Brave woman. Something so familiar and so differend of course because we are individuals. I have 30 years exprience about schizophrenia but diagnosed I think 2018 schizoaffective. I have over 10 games about mentalhealth problems. Closest for me is Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Dark and so beautiful game about schizophrenia. I myself take the fighting as a metafora about the struggling with the dicease. The dark joyrney is only cut by the most beuatiful scene in gaming history. Gaming is my escape place. I don't have capability do something as Lauren does as is this briliant videoblog. My dream is to express schizophrenia form of game. I have seen a game about mental health problems which was done by single young woman so it's possible. Played it through too of course. There are couple of good movies (A beatiful Mind for example) and also books. Games cover every form of arts and brings them together. Keep up doing great work, Lauren.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

I hope you sent a personal message of those who shared with you but did NOT have their comments read. I believe you KNOW & understand how IMPORTANT it is that they too feel they are "heard" and "understood" and that their comment was actually READ. Paranoia will destroy ya

[@alexandermatthewsmusic]

I like it when they dont say i have snakes in my head like someone i know it happened as well probly!

[@oriantalist]

You have a beautiful smile.

[@michaelbuttress5794]

All about being empathetic. Yes. And in my case, prayer. Some tend to forget the presence of a higher being.

[@N.D.A75]

Im in University, and its been constant stress ever since i started. I got completely burned out this semester, but... overall i just feel it seemingly impossible to get myself together, sit down to focus and read (hobbies), study and journal. Anyone got... some kind of tips or motivation for how to get this done effectively? lol. I do keep my fitness routine up and stuff. I guess it would be easier for me to read and study, if i left my apartment, so i'll try to go to the library or something, but i've thought about that for awhile now. Thank you God bless.

[@RaysDad]

I especially like the viewer comments.

[@lashinaharris6081]

It would be helpful if my love ones would be there for me all the time

[@enibullaj3991]

Hi, I have read Dr. Terry Wahls research and Protocol on the diet effect in autoimmune conditions. Her research results are really promising!

[@elee6606]

They best way is to support the afflicted to do what's best for them and not necessary what they want. Don't reinforce what they want to do but rather what they need done.

[@Catlily5]

Did you pay attention to the video?

[@debashisdutta5063]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@andreagray-zo1dk]

❤❤❤

[@AnneWest]

Recently my daughter (22) has been exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia (I believe). I am not completely sure this is what she is suffering from because she is convinced that the voices she hears and the things she sees are real and that there is nothing wrong with her. We have encouraged her to seek therapy etc. but she is afraid if she tells them what she is experiencing they'll throw her in the hospital and label her a psycho. We are desperate to get her help but she (so far) doesn't want to get it. (And she lives 2000 miles away which makes things more challenging). Do you have any advice or personal experience with this?

[@aisharicci6400]

Same as 2 close aunties of mine. We just don't know what to do.

[@michaelblankenau6598]

Is she by herself ? Perhaps you could establish contact with one of the people she associates with to gather more information . And maybe that person could advocate for your daughter to seek help . Clearly a difficult situation when separated by such a large distance .

[@AnneWest]

Thank you @@michaelblankenau6598 she now has a psychiatrist and a therapist and meds which seem to be helping.

[@lyndamodeste7902]

You said you've tried all sorts of different things, but have you tried Jesus.❤

[@milenag4049]

My sister tried Jesus, doesn't work, still schisophrenic.

[@millermiller44491]

My brother has schizophrenic disorder. He struggles from time to time even on medication and he says that during episodes it helps him a lot and brings him relief to spend time in prayer and talking to Jesus. ❤

[@user-ot4nd4kb2t]

My daughter has stopped Taking her meds again so we're back on the rollercoaster and I'm tired and don't know what else to do

[@jameslee5191]

I've found that high dose fish oil, two to five grams, seems to mitigate the condition and side effects she gets from the meds she's taking.

[@jameslee5191]

*my wife.......

[@LuisRodriguez-hy2du]

Did you even watched the video, she never said anything about having side effects from the meds.

[@kallie3000]

​@@LuisRodriguez-hy2duShe asked "What helps" so this comment is totally appropriate.

[@janetw7828]

I remember you interviewing a dr regarding keto/carnivore diet. Have you given that a try?

[@buniiprincess]

Haiiii :3

[@keol56]

🥰❤❤

[@OdjoAdja]

if I may share my 'weird thoughts' perhaps the schizophrenia is a kind of brain chemical alteration that causing some of the sufferers opened their consciousness to other realms not always hallucination.. it's similar with the phenomena of 'indigo child', ptsd survivor, the psychic such as clairvoyant or clairaudience even sense kinetic from 'other side'.. most my 'schizophrenia event' happened during my sleep with astral voyage, out of body experience etc.., in case my 'psycho experience' am I hallucinating about my dream if that so how can there's a mark in my body when woke up after experiencing 'lucid dreaming'.. that's why I believe that those who experiencing alien abduction with the proven not a kind of normal marks such as implants etc then it really happened.. consuming the psychedelic or entheogen substance can also create same effect as those who suffering schizophrenia but it just temporary.. this phenomena is sign of the 'beauty of our brain' that should be a kind of study about the alteration of brain chemicals that can manifest the phenomena..may be our hormonal activity can become a 'steroid' to trigger the phenomena.. please just enjoy the 'brain chemical alteration' phenomena nothing to do with hallucination that came from the intelect which for sure what they experiencing..😊

[@itsallcomingback6140]

At what month of your pregnancy did you take antipsychotic ? Does the medication affected your child?

[@ooopaulo]

Any advice on how to encourage someone to get diagnosed when they believe their delusions are real and are paranoid of therapists?

[@spiritualsoulsinfinite]

The only way to help these people is people like u , maybe that's why God created intelligent people to experience this , so that there will be a good solution to those who experience mental Issues

[@nobodyimportant7804]

What if a person has no support people at all?

[@Fightnight92]

Nice dress! I like the dress you're wearing.

[@TheSweepman24-nc8dg]

Do our faces get scary after

[@seba1435]

For me it was sleep

[@jsmesconzo938]

You look fine

[@cheryllutz6768]

when you hear voices is it a male voice and is it always the same voice?

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

What IF you don't appreciate his gentle reminders or you start to believe he is NAGGING you? Is that a sign? Because, and "gentle" reminder is resisted can lead to frustration, no?

[@domingoserna1538]

He also talks to l himself becoming more more aggressive you can him destroying things in the room

[@albussnape2]

Know first-hand the burden and toll serious mental illness takes on the family and support people. There is a trend on this channel to keep focusing on what others can or should or shouldn’t do to support someone with serious mental illness. Would you consider working in time/episodes addressing what seriously mentally ill folks can do to better support their loved ones? For example, taking responsibility to accept that they have a serious illness, to not stop taking meds (which is a common problem), to address the toll on children and partner/family/friends? An element of narcissism is coming across. Is there an equal element of responsibility and of empathy for significant others? I’ve witnessed the absence of those elements causing great suffering and even destruction of the most important relationships.

[@pattyholt9773]

What shot do they give a person that’s going though a psychotic episode ?

[@seba1435]

Haloperidol

[@baciliorochajr_schizophrenia]

Lets be honest, sleep is the only thing that helps

[@domingoserna1538]

Hi so my wife has a nephew who is a schizophrenic allso on drugs he got a big big big big bucket of water put it on my carpet and it leak leak ed so he cuts up my carpet oak hardwood floors under the carpet he looks at me and laugh s

[@000euMJ]

Does she live in the US?

[@dmtdreamz7706]

Are you Shpongled?

[@dianeaishamonday9125]

🌹🩵🌹🩵🌹🩵

[@Burevestnik9M730]

It would be helpful to know who was your hair stylist for this look?

[@Milana_Kay]

Are you going to try keto?

[@MaryMargaretteWhite-ek5tn]

H.. e....l....p.🤪🤯😵‍💫

[@sararao8429]

I noticed u added to your design of your co. Image, So it doesn't look like a ...

[@Burevestnik9M730]

This is the look I admire. Do not change this look, please.

[@sun-chan845]

try the Lord Jesus, who knows? It won't hurt!

[@kalidouba7706]

Can you ask a licensed person to finish up what you started ?

[@darcyandrews8182]

Ugh.. missed your calling as a model.. just saying.

[@kalidouba7706]

Is it possible, if you would actually not post on KZbin, but actually have a real website, a diploma, and do it for money… If you have a house you could set it up as an office for therapy, also do not exclude doing something else, because being with mental patients can be overwhelming.

[@jsmesconzo938]

Just wanted to know what happened s to you