Can A Person With Schizophrenia Live Independently?

Schizophrenia can be a debilitating mental illness that typically impairs a person’s functionality in a variety of ways. The condition can cause difficulties in relating to others socially, handling important tasks, and telling the difference between reality and imagination. Does this mean that people with this condition must live with caregivers or in residential treatment facilities — or can someone with schizophrenia live on their own?

Possibility of independent living: Can a person with schizophrenia live independently?

While severe and treatment-resistant cases may require inpatient care or supervised living, many people with schizophrenia live independently. With proper treatment, individuals with this disorder can often manage life in the community, pursue challenging careers, and experience rewarding social lives. This may be easier with robust support from loved ones and mental health professionals.

Schizophrenia, disability, and mental health challenges

Schizophrenia is typically considered a serious mental illness, meaning the condition can cause significant impairments in a person’s ability to function in day-to-day life. Global survey data suggests that schizophrenia ranks among the 15 leading causes of disability worldwide.

Many people with this condition experience challenges in supporting themselves financially, maintaining social relationships, and managing the responsibilities of daily life. Some may require long-term independent treatment to avoid incarceration or homelessness. There are many reasons why schizophrenia can be an obstacle to independence.

Schizophrenia symptoms: Can a person with schizophrenia live independently?

Part of the challenge of living independently with schizophrenia may come directly from the symptoms of this disorder. Individuals with schizophrenia may have hallucinations or delusions that they can’t easily distinguish from reality. This may interfere with a wide variety of ordinary activities and can sometimes cause the individual to perceive dangers that aren’t there or ignore genuine threats.

People with this condition can also be prone to disorganized thinking and behavior, meaning that their thoughts and activities may not follow ordinary logic. They may speak or act in ways that are difficult to understand. Even when not experiencing psychotic symptoms, many people with schizophrenia are affected by cognitive impairments, such as limited attentional focus, working memory, and problem-solving ability. They can also experience negative symptoms, such as a lack of motivation or volition, which may prevent them from taking action to solve problems.

Social repercussions for people with schizophrenia

People with schizophrenia often have difficulty relating well to others. Social cognition — the ability to accurately understand and navigate interpersonal relationships — is frequently impaired by this condition. This can lead affected individuals to misread other people’s intentions and motivations, potentially creating distance or conflict.

At the same time, people may respond with discomfort, suspicion, or fear when they encounter someone displaying symptoms of schizophrenia. This can lead to further isolation of those impacted, which may hamper their ability to manage their lives. Some individuals may become involved with the justice system when their disordered behavior violates laws or frightens other people. 

Stigma and mental illness

Prejudiced attitudes toward people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses can negatively impact their recovery and functioning. If they’re regarded as unreliable or dangerous by those around them, these individuals may have a harder time navigating life in their communities successfully.

Those with schizophrenia may also internalize negative views about people with mental illnesses. This is usually known in the psychological literature as self-stigma, which can be linked to a variety of poor outcomes, including worse social function, higher levels of anxiety and depression, and less motivation to seek treatment. Individuals with severe self-stigma may be more prone to believing they’re unable to do anything about their situation, which can make them less likely to take constructive action.

Prevalence of independent living among people with schizophrenia

Coping strategies for living independently with schizophrenia

Research on people with schizophrenia who achieve high levels of occupational functioning has identified several habits and techniques that seem to make independent living easier.

Take medication regularly for schizophrenia treatment

Schizophrenia treatment typically involves antipsychotic medication, which can decrease the incidence and severity of psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Evidence suggests that the more consistently patients follow their doctor-recommended courses of medication, the more likely they may be to maintain positive habits, steady employment, and positive social relationships.

One potentially useful approach is taking long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs). This approach generally means that instead of taking one or more pills every day, you simply need to show up for an appointment once every few weeks to receive an injection. Studies suggest that using LAIs may improve both clinical and functional outcomes of schizophrenia.

Use reminders

Forgetfulness, distraction, and other cognitive impairments can be common obstacles to independent living in schizophrenia. Maintaining a high level of function can be difficult if you don’t remember to take your medication or show up for work, but these kinds of mistakes tend to be more common for people with psychotic disorders. Tools for organization and productivity, such as calendars, alarms, sticky notes, and pill organizers, can make managing daily responsibilities easier. Many people with schizophrenia also say they find digital tools helpful, from electronic medication reminders to music apps to drown out auditory hallucinations.

Keep a routine

Establishing a consistent daily routine is another habit that may make it easier for people with schizophrenia to manage symptoms, stay on top of responsibilities, and adhere to treatment recommendations. Many individuals with this condition find that having a predictable structure to their days helps them remain functional. 

Practice self-care

Certain positive lifestyle habits may improve both clinical symptoms and everyday performance in schizophrenia. They can help with managing stress, which seems to be associated with relapse risk, while also helping individuals lead a more healthy and fulfilling life.

Self-care activities for managing schizophrenia symptoms

Here are some examples of self-care activities that may help manage schizophrenia symptoms:

• Exercise: Research indicates that physical exercise tends to improve symptoms, life satisfaction, and day-to-day function in schizophrenia.
• Consistent sleep: Sleep disturbances may worsen symptoms of psychosis, so maintaining a healthy sleep schedule could be beneficial.
• Meditation: Mindfulness meditation could lower stress and reduce negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Music: Listening to music may be helpful for relaxation, emotion regulation, and general mental health, and music might also diminish psychotic symptoms.
• Challenging or creative hobbies: Engaging in fulfilling leisure activities may boost self-esteem and confidence, and many activities offer additional benefits, like cognitive improvement or better physical health. Possible examples include art, music, outdoor adventure, martial arts, crafting, and writing.
• Spiritual practice: If you have religious or spiritual beliefs, engaging actively with them could be a helpful way to cope with the challenges of schizophrenia.

Avoid intoxicating substances for better mental health

Substance and alcohol use can impair judgment and lead to impulsive behavior, both of which could be particularly risky for people with schizophrenia. An affected individual may be more likely to forget medication or act on delusional beliefs under the influence of these substances, often leading to negative consequences. In addition, some research suggests that using substances like cannabis can increase the symptoms of psychosis.

Prioritize social connection

Many individuals with schizophrenia have a higher tolerance and preference for time alone than the general population. That said, lower levels of social connection may exacerbate negative symptoms like lack of motivation, diminished vocabulary, or loss of enjoyment and pleasure. 

Keeping in regular contact with other people can be beneficial for people with schizophrenia. That can mean calling family members at a set time each day or week, joining peer support groups, or participating in group hobbies. For those who can maintain employment, job attendance can also provide a source of structured interpersonal interaction.

Supporting a loved one with mental illness

If you have a friend or loved one with schizophrenia, staying in regular contact with them could be beneficial to their recovery prospects. Family support can often be a significant factor in the ability of people with psychotic disorders to live independently. Not only can you provide them with useful reminders and opportunities to maintain their social skills, but you can also watch out for warning signs of relapse and encourage them to seek help.

Attend therapy

A licensed mental health provider can help someone with schizophrenia stay independent and functional. They can provide evidence-based psychological treatments, teach proven coping skills, and monitor the client for signs of worsening symptoms.

Benefits of online therapy for schizophrenia treatment

If you’re living with schizophrenia and unsure you can find time for counseling, you might want to consider online therapy. Being able to meet with your mental health provider over the internet rather than in person often makes scheduling more flexible and convenient. However, online therapy may not be appropriate during phases of acute psychosis.

Online mental health care can be an effective treatment for many aspects of schizophrenia. Some studies suggest online therapy can reduce psychotic symptoms like hallucinations while also improving the ability to function socially.