Caring For People With Schizophrenia

Submitted by tonyplant on March 23, 2006 - 21:11.

The excellent Dr. Crippen has posted a remarkable account of an elegy he gave at the funeral of his friend Emma, whose life came to a premature close after years of living with schizophrenia. The account of Emma's life would be incomplete without talking about the destructive force of schizophrenia, from the time when she was a teenager until her untimely death.

Schizophrenia. Perspectives on it vary so much. There is the demonising view of some popular news reporting that implies that all schizophrenics have the potential to become dangerous to all those around them. And yet, historically, it was not that long ago that schizophrenia (like severe depression) carried a romantic air about it - it was seen as the fine line between madness and creative genius. Schizophrenia has become the universal metaphor for conflicted duality. It stands for self-indulgence and stoicism, inferiority and perspicacity, alienation and virtuosi of empathy, victim and persecuter.

The eulogy is a poignant summary of Emma's life. Dr. Crippen's charts the decline of Emma with respect and much affection. It is particularly sad to read of the gradual loss of those activities that she enjoyed: and to learn that someone who loved reading so much gradually found herself unable to read. However, we learn to admire her resilience and that she retained her humour, and sometimes mined the vein of her insight into her condition:

Apart from the periods of acute and distressing illness, she retained complete insight into her condition, its outlook and prognosis.

 

Buried under the often sad face was an incredible sense of humour. She was able to laugh at herself and at her illness, and she frequently did. She was capable of great kindness and consideration.

Reflecting on Dr. Crippen's account made me think of all of those families who care for somebody with schizophrenia. And what it is like for them if they watch the decline of somebody that they love - particularly if that loved one develops alcoholism or another addiction as a means of coping with their illness. Research shows that there is a greater impact on carers' health if the person for whom they care begins to lose their cognitive faculties:

“To watch someone...lose cognitive abilities so that they cannot do the 'thinking' tasks that they used to, is very hard on the caregiver emotionally—and often is actually more stressful than assisting with the more physically demanding tasks such as bathing or cleaning.”

Schizophrenia. It influences the lives of so many-and there is so little provision for the people who suffer from it and the people who may care for them. Like the Teasdale poem that Emma quotes:

as constant and as changeful

As the unchanging, many-colored sea.

 

Copyright 2006, Tony Plant Happystance Project

schizophrenia | eulogy | dr. crippen | carers | caregivers | alcoholism | addiction