Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that needs to be managed, and coping with it can be a lifelong process. Even if you recover from this condition, it does not guarantee that you will remain symptom-free for life. Instead, recovery implies learning about ways to make simple lifestyle changes to manage schizophrenia better.

Key lifestyle changes to manage schizophrenia better:

• The first thing to understand is that schizophrenia can be treated even though there may not be an absolute cure. The illness can be managed successfully with a proper treatment plan and a robust support system. It is possible to enjoy a meaningful life, have satisfying relationships, be part of a social community, etc. So, it would help if you got diagnosed early to begin your treatment with a professional. Medicines are not enough, and you must get information about the illness, take self-help measures, communicate with your doctors, etc. The treatment process can be customized to suit your needs, but you need to have a say. To get the best treatment, you must work together with a medical team and your loved ones.
• You can start regular exercises to remain physically active because this helps to ease symptoms. Unless you are going through a psychotic episode, you should not give up on physical activities. It will help to enhance your focus and relieve stress.
• You can reach out for face-to-face support. This helps to calm down your nerves, and interacting with someone on a face-to-face basis can help. This person could be someone you can converse with comfortably and preferably an individual who will not judge or criticize you. For this, you can turn to your friends and family because loved ones will try to get you the best treatment to keep your schizophrenia symptoms in check.
• You can start meeting new people or join a support group to see how others in similar situations are coping with this illness.
• You can try and stay involved by continuing your studies if possible or volunteering to help others.
• It would help if you found an environment where you feel safe, and this is usually among your family members. If this does not work out, you can search for facilities that allow for such treatment.
• To reduce stress levels, you should use relaxation techniques like deep breathing, mindful meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, etc. that will maintain a body and mind balance. You must understand and accept your emotions instead of trying to ignore these.
• You need to get enough sleep, preferably eight hours every night, which is all the more true when you are taking medications. You can cut down on caffeine and sugar to avoid having disturbed sleep.
• It is best to stay away from alcohol and medications. Although it is very tempting to resort to these to ease symptoms, the truth is substance abuse will make matters worse and complicate the treatment.
• Following a well-balanced diet is one of the most important lifestyle changes to manage schizophrenia. Eating nutritious meals will prevent sugar spikes that can affect your mood. When you cut down on sugar and refined carbs, you can keep your mood swings in check. Eating more fatty fish, flaxseeds, and nuts will help to improve concentration and remove tiredness.