Living Well With Schizophrenia: Tips And Treatment

Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder typically associated with several severe mental health symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment to delusions and hallucinations. In this article, we will delve into the story of Lauren, a social worker and mental health advocate living with schizoaffective disorder. We will explore her advocacy journey, valuable resources provided through her online community and organization, and treatment tips from real people living well with schizophrenia. One convenient support option may be participating in regular online therapy sessions.

Living well with schizophrenia is possible

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Understanding schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that can deeply affect both physical and mental well-being by disrupting brain function and impacting cognition, memory, sensory perception, and behavior. This disruption can severely impair daily functioning and lead to risky behavior and difficulty with thought organization.

Typically, symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as schizoaffective disorders, present in two main phases: the active and residual phases. During the active phase, symptoms like auditory hallucinations, unusual thoughts, and strange visual perceptions can be overwhelming.

While individuals with schizophrenia may not always recognize their own symptoms, those around them often do. The disorder typically manifests through five primary symptoms:

1. Delusions, which are false beliefs that persist despite evidence against them

2. Hallucinations, involving sensory perceptions of nonexistent stimuli

3. Disorganized speech, involving difficulty expressing thoughts coherently

4. Disorganized or unusual movements that deviate from expected behavior

5. Negative symptoms, such as reduced facial expressions and diminished motivation

Consequently, individuals with schizophrenia may:

• Experience suspicion, paranoia, or fear
• Neglect personal hygiene and appearance
• Encounter depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
• Turn to substances like alcohol to alleviate symptoms

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Support is available 24/7.

Lauren’s story

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders tend to be complex mental health conditions that are often misunderstood on both a medical and societal level. Advancements in treatment and public perception may continue to progress and improve thanks to mental health advocacy efforts. However, in general, schizophrenia has long faced a challenging stigma.

Lauren, a prominent mental health advocate living with schizoaffective disorder, shares her journey of diagnosis and recovery through the Living Well with Schizophrenia platform. Lauren shares more about her background and mission on the official Living Well with Schizophrenia website: 

“My name is Lauren and I started Living Well with Schizophrenia because I myself live with the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. I am a social worker, and have just recently returned to school to work toward my Masters in Health Policy Research.

I have been a mental health advocate since a young age, and offer the unique perspective of having experience as a mental health professional and mental health researcher, combined with my own lived experience of mental illness. I have delivered talks with the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

I started the YouTube channel, ‘Living Well with Schizophrenia’, as a means to increase knowledge and compassion around schizophrenia and mental illness.”   

Living Well with Schizophrenia

Living Well with Schizophrenia is a mental health advocacy organization that primarily aims to make a positive impact on the public perception of mental illness and build a community for people living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

According to the website, “Living Well with Schizophrenia is devoted to increasing knowledge and awareness around schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis spectrum illness and mental illness in general. It is our hope that these videos and this community will be a valuable resource for those living with the illness, their loved ones, and for people who just want to learn more.”

On the Living Well with Schizophrenia YouTube channel, Lauren openly shares her experience living with schizophrenia, how the condition affects her day-to-day life, and helpful tips for symptom management. 

Lauren and her co-host also speak about leading a fulfilling life with mental illness on the Living Well with Mental Illness podcast. Through this platform, people can discover real and vulnerable stories regarding the reality of various forms of mental illness, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. 

Along with these resources, Living Well with Schizophrenia has created an online peer support community for people living with schizophrenia. This welcoming community aims to provide a safe, supportive space for people to share their experiences. Schizophrenia Peer Support offers weekly groups, text-based chats, and online forums, all of which work to build community and make a positive impact.  

“It’s more than just a support community,” the website explains. “It’s a welcoming social community where you can meet new friends, and connect around shared interests other than schizophrenia.

Finally, Living Well with Schizophrenia offers mental health apparel for those dedicated to spreading awareness and increasing knowledge on schizophrenia and mental illness as a whole. 

Tips and treatment

A combination of prescription medication and supportive services, self-care, and therapy is typically the most effective approach to treating schizophrenia. In many cases, symptoms like agitation, delusions, and hallucinations can improve within a few days or weeks of starting medication as prescribed by your psychiatrist or doctor.

Helpful tips from people living well with schizophrenia

Another online mental health community, Strong365, shares some helpful tips from people living with schizophrenia, such as the following:

• Don't give up: Keep moving forward; the mind can heal over time with positive changes in behavior.
• Stay social: Lean on supportive relationships for strength and comfort.
• Pursue interests: Engage in hobbies that bring joy and purpose, like playing music.
• Share your story: Don't hesitate to share your experiences; it can help you find acceptance.
• Seek role models: Look for inspiration and hope from others who have overcome similar challenges.
• Build community: Cultivate a network of supportive individuals, starting with professionals and expanding to friends and family.

Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently recommended for treating schizophrenia, as CBT typically aims to teach coping skills, manage difficult situations, and reduce symptom severity. 

Online therapy can often provide affordable and flexible support that may be particularly beneficial for those seeking a therapist with whom they can truly connect. The online format allows you to choose from a wider selection of therapists who may not be available in your area. Online therapy often offers more flexible scheduling and enables you to attend therapy from the comfort of home. 

While the effectiveness of online therapy for schizophrenia likely requires further research, studies show that online CBT can be equally as effective as in-person therapy for treating other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, which commonly co-occur with schizophrenia. However, online therapy may not be an appropriate treatment option for crisis situations.