Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness characterized by delusions and hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, and other negative symptoms, such as a lack of emotion. These symptoms significantly impact all relationships, including the relationship a parent has with her child. There are many possible effects of having a parent who suffers from schizophrenia. Some children have a hard time coping and may develop psychiatric problems. Others learn healthy ways to cope with the instability in their lives.
Normal Activities
According to Helpguide.org, schizophrenia significantly impacts a person's ability to participate in normal daily activities, such as doing the laundry or fixing dinner. Parents, especially single parents, with schizophrenia may have a hard time providing basic needs for their children. This means that the children may not eat for a couple days, wear dirty clothes to school and not bathe for a few days. If the parent refuses to get treatment or take his medication regularly, the children might have to be removed from the home due to neglect. The parent is not at fault for having a mental illness; however, the safety of the children must be taken into consideration when a parent suffers from schizophrenia.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Children who grow up in homes with a schizophrenic parent may constantly be exposed to trauma. Someone who suffers from schizophrenia may do reckless things, such as drink and drive, have unprotected sex and use large amounts of drugs. Doing these things can put one's children at risk. Also, many children don't know what to expect in these circumstances. One day the parent may be doing well and taking her medication regularly, and the next day the parent may be having hallucinations and not be able to carry on a conversation. Children might become accustomed to their parents having to go to psychiatric emergency rooms and having to call 911. The trauma that children experience when they have a parent with schizophrenia can cause the children to suffer from an anxiety disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Losing a Parent
Helpguide.org reports that suicide risks increase when someone suffers from schizophrenia. This means that children of parents who are diagnosed with schizophrenia have an increased risk of losing a parent due to suicide. This can be extremely difficult for all family members and can take years of therapy to overcome. Children who lose parents to suicide may end up in foster care, where their lives are turned completely upside down. Pairing the loss of a parent and a new living environment can cause children to develop psychiatric issues, such as depression or anxiety.
