The root to my question comes from the fact that my uncle is a diagnosed Schizophrenic. I only found out about 4 years ago that he can the condition and I had absolutely no idea. I always knew he was a little socially awkward but I never thought he was someone who would have such a serious illness. So our class decision about body image got me thinking about how someone with Schizophrenia, who already has enough issues to deal with copes with the everyday pressures of body image. After doing some research I found that individuals with Schizophrenia are treated many different ways through antipsychotics, cognitive behavioral therapy, and many other treatments. One way doctors suggest for individuals to cope is to find one hobby or thing that the individual can focus on to get their mind active on that specific hobby or activity. For example my uncle really enjoys fixing things. He has always loved taking things apart and putting them back together. So his hobby really allows him to stay positive and keep a normal lifestyle. For this specific question exercising or managing a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy or a doing a fun sport would be able to help someone with Schizophrenia cope with issues like body image. Also I read that family and friend support is key in helping someone cope with the everyday struggles of have Schizophrenia. They need to understand the disease as well as learn problem solving skills and coping strategies to help keep the individual positive and on track to a healthy lifestyle even with a serious illness.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml
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