Ways to Promote Recovery, Prevent Recurrence
The following family guidelines are used in multifamily group meetings of patients at PIER and their families to promote patient recovery and create a positive environment. Staff at PIER believe these strategies are what account for lasting change and long-term recovery, by helping to alter the psychosocial environment in which biologically vulnerable individuals live (see Original article: Program Marks new Direction in Schizophrenia Treatment).
Believe in your power to affect the outcome. | |||||
Make forward steps cautiously, one at a time. | |||||
Consider using medication to protect your future. | |||||
Try to reduce your responsibility and stresses, at least for the next six months. | |||||
Use the symptoms as indicators. | |||||
Create a positive environment. | |||||
Keep it cool. | |||||
Give each other space. | |||||
Observe limits. | |||||
Ignore what you can't change. | |||||
Keep it simple. | |||||
Carry on business as usual. | |||||
Solve problems step by step. | |||||
Keep a regular sleep and wake cycle. | |||||
Avoid street drugs and alcohol and never use cocaine, amphetamines, or hallucinogens for any reason. | |||||
Stay away from nicotine and caffeine, as hard as that might be. | |||||
Keep hope alive. ▪ | |||||
