Schizophrenia and Life in the World of Others

Abstract

This article examines the social and relational impact of chronic schizophrenia on 10 adult sufferers living in the community in New Zealand. The findings reported here are drawn from a larger Heideggerian phenomenological study that set out to answer the question What is it like to live with schizophrenia? While schizophrenia affects all dimensions of a person's life, in this article 6 themes are presented to illustrate the impact of their illness on one aspect of the participants' lives - their interactions with others. The themes are: living with the prejudice of others, being fearful of others, feeling uncomfortable in the company of others, staying engaged with others in the world, depending on others for help, and finding others who understand. The article demonstrates that it is possible to understand the experience of those with schizophrenia, and suggests that attention to the relational aspects of the lives of people with this illness can help them to lead healthier and happier lives.