Tips from ODSW February 2016: Caregiver's Guide to Psychosis | Page 22

COPING WITH PSYCHOTIC
SYMPTOMS
When a patient experiences
hallucinations & delusions...
• Listen empathically.
• Avoid convincing or arguing with the young person that their
experiences are not true.
• Ask the young person to describe the symptoms and how he/
she feels about it
• Do all things with patience and understanding.
• Respect his/her decision if they do not want to talk about it.
Help the young person to reduce distress associated with symptoms
through:
ENVIRONMENTAL
STRATEGIES
Physical exercise
Listening to music
Deep breathing
exercises

BEHAVIOURAL
STRATEGIES

COGNITIVE
STRATEGIES

Encourage social and
Distract the young
non-social activities person from anything
(E.g. conversing;
that can trigger the
reading
symptoms
Think positively
Pay little attention
to symptoms and
combine it with
positive thinking
Accept conditions
and aim towards
other goals
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