{"id":6313,"date":"2025-09-08T09:21:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/?page_id=6313"},"modified":"2025-09-08T09:21:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:21:54","slug":"sod-chapter-8-subchapter-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/sod-chapter-8-subchapter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"SOD Chapter 8 – Subchapter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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8.2 Substance use and triggers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussing substance use and potential triggers with someone who has schizophrenia and a substance use disorder can be more effective when approached with compassion and a non-judgmental attitude.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Such an approach can create a safe environment where the person feels comfortable reflecting on their substance use and its impact on their mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Open-ended questions about disorders connections<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open-ended questions can provide your loved one with an opportunity to share their experiences in a way that feels safe and free from judgment.

This technique, often used in motivational interviewing (MI), encourages reflection and insight<\/strong> about their thoughts and ambivalence around change.

\u2022 Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Have you noticed how using [substance] seems to affect how you\u2019re feeling or behaving?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These kinds of questions may help your loved one draw connections<\/strong> between their substance use and mental health, fostering self-awareness and insight.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Understanding triggers and patterns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring triggers and patterns<\/strong> can play an important role in dual schizophrenia care. Triggers often stem from stress, emotional challenges, or environmental factors.

\u2022 Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Are there times or situations when you feel more drawn to using? What seems to make things harder?\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


This kind of dialogue can open up a chance to talk about alternative coping strategies and ways to handle<\/strong> those vulnerable moments.
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Normalizing the experience without minimizing the problem<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During difficult times, choosing words that normalize and validate<\/strong> one\u2019s experience can help ease feelings of shame or guilt. At the same time, it\u2019s important to make sure they know their struggles are taken seriously. Validation creates a safe, supportive space<\/strong> where they feel comfortable opening up.

\u2022 For example, you might say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A lot of people going through tough times turn to something to cope. I\u2019d really like to hear about what you\u2019re going through and explore how we can work on it together.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines, acknowledging their experience, without approving harmful behavior, can lower resistance and encourage more open, honest conversations<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reflecting and summarizing to clarify<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on what your loved one shares can be a meaningful way to show empathy and ensure their experiences are understood. Summarizing their thoughts can also help bring clarity to the conversation and provide space for further reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 For instance, acknowledging something like,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It sounds like you feel calmer at first when you use, but later on, it makes things feel worse. Isn\u2019t that right?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

can help foster trust and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach, often emphasized in trauma-informed care, can be especially helpful when supporting someone with complex mental health and substance use needs.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Gently exploring the consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking about how substance use might be affecting different aspects of life can be a thoughtful way to encourage reflection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking about areas like sleep, mood, or relationships in a caring tone<\/em><\/strong> allows space for them to consider the impact without feeling judged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 For example,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

wondering together about how substance use might interact with symptoms of schizophrenia,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

such as hallucinations or delusions, could lead to deeper insights while keeping the conversation compassionate and open.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Example conversation about current feelings and mental state<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was just wondering how things have been feeling for you lately. How are you doing?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It\u2019s been up and down. Sometimes I just feel like everything\u2019s too much, you know?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That sounds really overwhelming. Do you feel like using help during those times, or does it make things harder?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“At first, it makes things easier, like I can handle it. But later, everything just comes back, and sometimes it feels worse.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I hear you. It sounds like it gives you some relief initially, but then things get more intense afterward. Is that right?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah, I guess so. It\u2019s hard to manage sometimes, especially when I\u2019m feeling stressed.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I can only imagine. Are there times when it\u2019s harder to resist using, like when certain things are happening or you\u2019re feeling a certain way?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Definitely, especially when I\u2019m stressed out or can\u2019t sleep.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Thanks for sharing that. It\u2019s really helpful to understand when things feel most challenging. Maybe we can think of other ways to manage stress too, so it feels a little easier.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Back to chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Next subchapter<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

8.2 Substance use and triggers Discussing substance use and potential triggers with someone who has schizophrenia and a substance use disorder can be more effective when approached with compassion and a non-judgmental attitude. Such an approach can create a safe environment where the person feels comfortable reflecting on their substance use and its impact on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-sod.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rea_page_title_signed_in_meta_block_field":"","rea_page_title_signed_out_meta_block_field":"","rea_page_description_signed_in_meta_block_field":"","rea_page_description_signed_out_meta_block_field":"","rea_page_footer_id_meta_block_field":"","rea_page_footer_date_meta_block_field":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6313","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6313\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schizophrenia.life\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}