Analyzing Elyn Sak’s Amazing NPR Interview
1. One of the ways that Saks copes with her schizophrenia is through enriching the relationships in her life. It seems like Saks has a good work-life balance and a good relationship with her peers and family. Saks talks about her friend, Steve, who knows her well, and who she can talk to about her struggles. It seems that speaking with her friend each day is a healthy and helpful coping mechanism. Another coping mechanism Saks engages in is having a routine. Saks says that it is easy to get overstimulated, therefore she manages things by having a strict routine. Saks also speaks about how she values her alone time and takes it when she needs it. Saks also communicates well with those around her about her boundaries. For example, she compromises with her husband on issues like traveling often because she finds it difficult to. Communicating effectivively can help to reduce stress and worry.
2. At 9:41 Saks explains her therapeutic relationship with a psychiatrist whom she worked with. She talks about how helpful both the relationship and insight were. Saks learned about identifying stress and coming up with coping mechanisms. A protective factor I believe Saks has that plays a role in managing her illness is involvement with quality mental health care. It is very difficult to find mental health services and many people having a financial strain and dealing with clinician shortages. Some individuals who do find mental health care seek it through a community mental health center due to it often accepting Medicaid and providing free services. Unfortunately, community mental health is often where burnout and compassion fatigue are common amongst staff. This causes individuals with schizophrenia in these centers to lack quality care. Saks mentions that talk therapy was beneficial because the relationship was a kind and non-judgmental. Saks says this treatment eliminated the malignment symptoms of schizophrenia like the inability to do work or socialize. Sak’s involvement with good mental health care is a protective factor due to how supported she felt and how it benefited her day-to-day functioning like working or making friends. Those who lack this care are at a great disadvantage.
Another protective factor Saks seems to have is supportive parents. At 2:16 “my parents were very good parents and very kind and caring parents…” According to Galarneau & Ameti, “a critical component of the treatment plan for patients with schizophrenia is a supportive environment and stable living arrangements” (Galarneau & Ameti, 2013). Having parents who care is important for developing resiliency and being happier. Although it is still incredibly difficult to manage schizophrenia, it seems like Saks had the advantage of growing up with loving parents which might have helped with emotional security.
Furthermore, Saks mentions at 13:50 that she is fortunate to have close friends and a husband who knows her well and help her. Saks states that her friends are sometimes able to tell if she is struggling before she is. This is another protective factor as she strong social supports from family and friends.
Another protective factor that Saks has is resilience. She presents with a lot of self-awareness and good stress management skills. She seems able to acknowledge the problems that she is facing and has not allowed the schizophrenia to define her. Saks seems to have the ability to focus on plans and hopes for the future in the face of adversity.
References
Galarneau, D., & Ameti, H. (2013). Housing patterns among a schizophrenic patient population
pre- and post-katrina. The Ochsner journal, 13(2), 200–203.