Everyone feels negative emotions at times. And people with certain mental health conditions are more likely to experience strong negative emotions – depression and anxiety are characterised by times of feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions.6

The emotions you experience in response to schizophrenia symptoms are all human and natural too. It’s possible that the reason you are fearful or angry isn’t objectively real (meaning that other people don’t agree it’s real). That doesn’t mean the emotion isn’t real. If something is bothering you, it’s worth trying to find ways to come to terms with it – maybe CBT or some other kind of talking therapy could help? If it matters to you, it will matter to your therapist, doctor and family.

If your feelings are becoming overwhelming, don’t bottle it up. Tell someone about it. We all need support from time to time. Taking positive action and to get support is a great thing to do – for yourself and for your loved ones.

Your family is crucial. They can help in lots of ways. For example they could…9,10

…contact an urgent mental service for you

…listen to your worries

…offer comfort and support when you’re feeling down

…make sure your physical health isn’t neglected

…give you a ‘reality check’ if you’re not sure about something

…take care of ‘life admin’ tasks if it’s a bit much for you, like getting the shopping in or organising your money

…remind you about the things that are going well

…join you on your journey as you learn about schizophrenia

…keep an eye out for changes in you that you might not be aware of, and alert the right people

Your family may not be able or willing to help you in the way you need. If it’s a case of them not knowing HOW to help, encourage them to:

• Learn more about schizophrenia to understand it better
• Read about others’ experiences of living with someone who has schizophrenia
• Visit the Friends & Family Zone on this website
• Come to family therapy meetings
• Talk to you honestly about their thoughts and feelings

Things are more tricky if your family are not supportive, or you don’t have a family environment. You’re still not alone: there are a lot of people who can help you live your life in safety and with hope.

If you’re being bothered by worries, negative emotions and troubling thoughts, you could always…

…talk to your therapist at your next session

…talk to your doctor or nurse at your next appointment

…call a mental health helpline for a friendly listening ear

…call a medical service like 111 for advice

…join a group of other people with schizophrenia, either in real life or online

Talking to people who have similar experiences can be really useful. You might be able to find a mental health self-help or support group near you. Ask your therapist, doctor or nurse if they know of any in the area.

Or, you could look for chat rooms online for people with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. These are usually moderated – an administrator or team of admin people watch what is being said, to make sure that no-one says anything dangerous or inappropriate.

If you are having an online conversation with anyone, remember internet safety:11

If you’ve lived with schizophrenia for a while, and feel stable enough to support someone else, you could offer your experience to other people with schizophrenia.

Peer support is now recognised as a valuable aid for recovery in mental illness. 12 There’s nothing like talking to someone who has been through the same kind of things – someone who really “gets” it.

This can be good for both of you – they get support from someone who understands what they’re going through, and you can feel good about helping others and strengthen your own recovery too. 10,12

If this is something you think you would like to do, why not bring it up with your therapist at your next session? They can help you assess whether you are ready to take on this role, and how you might go about it.