Looking after yourself

Ensure that there is follow up care and treatment.
This means taking medication if prescribed, keeping ongoing appointments for cognitive testing, psychosocial education and rehabilitation if necessary.

Try to provide a structured and predictable environment.
The recovering person will have problems with sensory overload. To reduce stress, keep routines simple, and allow the person time alone each day. Plan on stressfree, low-key regular daily activities, and keep “big events” to a minimum.

Be Consistent.
All family members and friends including the person should agree on a plan of action and follow it. If recurring concerns are handled in a predicable manner, it reduces confusion and stress for the person who has been ill. Set limits on how much abnormal behaviour is acceptable and consistently apply the consequences. Some relearning may be necessary.

Maintain peace and calm at home.
Thought disorder can be an ongoing problem for some people. It generally helps to keep voice levels down. When the person is participating in discussions, try to speak one at a time, and at a reasonably moderated pace. Shorter sentences can also be helpful. Above all, avoid arguing about delusions (false beliefs).

Be positive and supportive.
Being positive instead of critical will help the person much more in the long run. People who have experienced psychosis need frequent encouragement, since self-esteem is often very fragile. Encourage positive efforts. Be sure to express appreciation for a job even half-done, because the person’s confidence, initiative, patience and memory may have also been undermined.

Help the person set realistic goals.
Some people who experienced psychosis may need lots of encouragement to regain some of their former skills and interests. They may also want to try new things, but should work up to them gradually and not take on too much at a time, The point is to avoid excessive stress, so goals should be reasonable and nagging should be avoided.

Gradually increase independence.
As participation in a variety of tasks, recreational and social activities increases, so should independence. It is important for young people to continue with social activities, education and employment if possible. If school or work are not possible, try to keep up social and recreational activities and help the person plan to use their time constructively.

Learn how to cope with stress together.
Anticipate the ups and downs of life and try to prepare accordingly. The person who has been ill needs to learn to deal with stress in an acceptable manner. Your positive role-modelling can help. Sometimes just recognising in advance something that might be stressful and talking about it can also help.

Encourage the person to try something new.
Offer help selecting an appropriate activity. If requested, go along the first time for moral support.

Be good to yourself.
Self-care is very important, even crucial and ultimately helps the functioning of the entire family. Let go of any outdated notions of guilt and shame. Remember, poor parenting or poor communication does not cause psychosis nor is it the result of any personal failure by the individual.

Value your own privacy.
Keep up your own friendships and outside interests, and try to lead as orderly a life as possible.

Do not neglect other family members.
Brothers and sisters often secretly share the same guilt and fear as their parents. They may worry that they might also experience psychosis. When their concerns are neglected, they may feel jealous or resentful of the ill person. Siblings of people who have experienced psychosis need special attention and support to deal with these issues.

Check for resources in the community. If someone in your family experiences a psychosis it helps to know that you are not alone. Support groups are good for sharing experiences with others. You will also get useful advice about your local mental health services from those who have “been there.”

Knowing where to go and who to see, and how to avoid wasting precious time and energy can make a world of difference. When trying to find good treatment. Continuity of care may also be important. Ultimately, this could involve ongoing medical, financial, housing, education, employment and social support systems.