How to check up on your loved ones who have schizospec disorders/psychosis:
• Keep a steady flow of contact. Don't expect them to initiate conversations or hangouts. Social withdrawal is a common symptom, and it is probably a lot more difficult for them to keep in contact. Just reach out as often as you feel comfortable. It can be as simple as sending them a meme, or asking what they've been up to lately.
• Take notice of how they are acting. If it's normal for them to talk during a hangout, but this time they are mostly silent, take that as an indicator that something is off. If they normally love drawing, ask them what they've been drawing lately to make sure they are still taking part in activities they enjoy. They might not tell you outright that they are declining mentally, so try and gage their behavior and compare it to their normal.
• Make sure that they have other people to support them. Ask if they've talked to their family, friends, or therapist lately. Isolation exacerbates psychotic symptoms, so check in to see if they are being social or connecting with people. It's also important for them to have a safe person to turn to in case their mental state gets worse.
• If you are aware of what treatment methods are effective for them, make sure they are still utilizing them. If you feel comfortable, ask them if they are still taking their medications, going to therapy, journaling or whatever else they are using for treatment.
• If they share that they are struggling with getting basic tasks for living done, offer to help. You can text them reminders and encourage them to do things like brush their teeth. You can offer to go grocery shopping with them. You can come over to help clean or even just stay on the phone with them while they clean.
• If they share that they are struggling mentally, take the time to listen without judgment. Don't give reality checks unless you are explicitly asked to. Just be a safe space for them to open up about their experiences and how it affects them. Try not to look shocked or treat them like they are "acting crazy". Just be as neutral as possible and sympathetic to their struggles so they can feel safe to tell you these things now and in the future. You don't need to find solutions right away, you can just be there to listen, that is a huge help on its own.
• If it seems like your loved one is declining mentally, lean into that relationship. Check in more, listen to them more, help them more if you can. You don't need to treat it like an emergency unless you believe it truly is one (if they are at risk for hurting themselves or others, then look into mental health and medical assistance). Just be there for them in whatever way you can. If you truly care about them, don't turn your back on them when they need you most. You can help more than you know just by being there, especially during the hard times.
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