Understanding Your Schizophrenia Illness: A Workbook by Chris Healy

Author:Chris Healy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780470511749
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2007-08-31T21:00:00+00:00

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Questionnaire

These questions are not meant to be seen as a test. They are only a means of sharing information and getting you to think about your illness before you start your session. If you’re not sure, just make a guess: there are no right or wrong answers.

1. What symptoms do you think you would experience if you became unwell again?

2. What plans do you have for the future?

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Session 6

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During this session, we will be looking at the following frequently asked questions regarding the treatment of schizophrenia:

1. What can I do to keep myself well?

2. What are the early-warning signs of a relapse in my illness?

3. How do I prevent a relapse?

4. How can I cope with my ‘voices’?

5. What can I do to deal with my strange ideas?

6. How can I improve my confidence and rebuild my life?

7. What effect will my illness have on my relationships with my family and friends?

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WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MYSELF WELL?

In this session we will be looking at some practical ideas on how to keep well. There will also SESSION

be some useful ideas on how to control and cope with your symptoms. Furthermore, there will be advice on what to do if you feel you are getting unwell again.

Before we continue this session, we need to explore whether you feel in a challenging mood or not.

Because you have schizophrenia, it does not mean you cannot have a normal life like those who do not suffer from schizophrenia. The symptoms that you suffer from are not considered ‘normal’, but you can have successful lives like others and as already discussed regarding famous people with schizophrenia (page 36). They have managed to have successful occupations, happy family lives and make a contribution to society. You don’t have to be famous to achieve the above; you can be just you, and happen to suffer from schizophrenia.

Some of you may not be ready to see this illness as a challenge and may want to be seen as a victim of your diagnosis, wanting others to rally around for you. If this is the stage that you are at, then that is fine. Nearly all illnesses, physical and psychological, make us feel like this at some stage, making us think:

■ ‘What’s the point?’

■ ‘Nothing will change.’

■ ‘It sounds like hard work and I don’t have the energy.’

But eventually there will be a time where you want something different and you will want to live your life with more hope and passion.

The key is you taking control of your illness and not letting your illness control you. You can do so much to keep yourself well. In this session we will explore:

■ learning how to cope with ‘voices’

■ learning how to cope with strange ideas

■ learning about the early-warning signs of your illness returning

■ learning how to improve your confidence and rebuild your life

■ looking at family relationships

■ looking at intimate relationships

■ how to be assertive.

Do you want to take up the challenge?

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WHAT ARE THE EARLY-WARNING SIGNS OF

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