Schizophrenia is a neurological disease that affects men and women from all walks of life. It can impact their concentration and motivation and cause hallucinations and delusions that are very real to them. You can learn how to help someone with schizophrenia and give them a lifeline when their symptoms are peaking, which can be a very frightening and confusing experience. Schizophrenia disorder treatment in Portland is available for men and women who need assistance managing their symptoms.
At Crestview Recovery, we provide a private and safe treatment facility for men and women 18 and over who are living with schizophrenia or other mental health disorders. We know that no two cases of schizophrenia are the same and to treat their illness takes a tailored treatment experience that focuses on their specific symptoms. If you or a loved one is struggling with schizophrenia and need help managing their symptoms, call 866.262.0531 today for more information about our schizophrenia disorder treatment in Portland.
Understanding Schizophrenia Disorder
While there is no actual cure for schizophrenia, there are a number of effective treatment programs and medications that can significantly reduce symptoms and the frequency of schizophrenic episodes. An episode is when the symptoms of schizophrenia are at their peak. People can experience delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and paranoia for a few days to weeks. If left untreated, schizophrenic episodes can last for several months.
Other symptoms of schizophrenia in the non-active stage include:
- Depression
- Difficulty expressing emotions
- Lack of motivation
- Trouble concentrating
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble controlling their body
- Poor personal hygiene
At Crestview Recovery, we know the value of helping someone with schizophrenia and how it can go a long way toward minimizing their symptoms. Our treatment programs include medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapies to give clients the support they need to manage their symptoms and reduce the number of episodes.
How to Help Someone with Schizophrenia Disorder
There are plenty of ways that you can help someone with schizophrenia in addition to the treatment programs that they attend. Sometimes, just sitting with them and acknowledging what they see is frightening and disturbing can go a long way in calming them down and preventing them from running away or harming themselves.
Here are four tips for helping someone with schizophrenia:
1. Learn all you can about schizophrenia
Familiarize yourself with the active and non-active symptoms of schizophrenia and how their delusions can seem very real to them.
2. Listen and validate their feelings
Don’t dismiss what they say when talking about their hallucinations or delusions. Acknowledge that you hear them and ask what you can do to calm them down. Simply staying with them during an episode is sometimes enough to calm them down.
3. Keep in touch
Isolation and social withdrawal are real concerns for people with schizophrenia and can contribute to their delusions and paranoia. Visit with them often through texting and in-person visits. Offer to go with them to run errands, visit friends, or see a movie.
4. Encourage them to continue with therapy
A key symptom of schizophrenia is a lack of motivation, which can interfere with their treatment if they lose the desire to continue therapy. Remind them of the benefits of therapy and of the progress they’ve already made.
Crestview Recovery: Your Best Choice for Schizophrenia Disorder Treatment in Portland
At Crestview Recovery, we support men and women 18 and over who are struggling with their schizophrenia symptoms. Our clients and their families learn how to help someone with schizophrenia and reduce the number of schizophrenic episodes.
We offer Portland residents a wide range of behavioral health services to benefit their recovery, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Group and individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Aftercare program
Call 866.262.0531 or fill out our online form today to discover how you can support a loved one living with schizophrenia or other mental health disorders.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
