It can be overwhelming to deal with the schizophrenia, either personally or as someone who cares for or about an affected individual. One may also be over­whelmed by trying to digest all the facts that we have shared here about this highly complex disorder. As scientists, we too find it overwhelming to lament how much we still don’t know, and how to use what we do know to make real change for affected individuals. But having the facts at hand gives some sense of control. It is important, then, to clarify at this stage what affected individuals and their families can do to cope with the disorder, both day to day and in an emergency. Affected individuals learn to cope with schizophrenia symptoms by trial and error. When they have a worsening of symptoms, they may learn to seek hospital admission rather than resist it. Over time they learn that stopping or changing medication leads to a relapse of positive symptoms. They may be able to adjust the dose of drugs to avoid severe side effects, yet maintain a level that prevents symptom flare- ups. Clearly, not all individuals with schizophrenia can do this. Nearly half of indi­viduals with schizophrenia who are treated on an outpatient basis fail to take their medication; the relapse rate is high among such patients. Patients should be under continuous supervision by their psychiatrist during drug therapy. Even if they discover how to adjust the drug dose, they should share and discuss these experiences with their psychiatrist and not attempt to make changes on their own. If the patient finds it difficult to remember to take tablets, long- acting injections of medication are available; one injection works for an average of 2– 4 weeks. Patients should faithfully follow their doctor’s prescription and receive the in­jection regularly; with time this can be adjusted as needed. The family has an important role to play in reminding patients to take medicine regularly or to visit the doctor for injections. This is particularly true if the indi­vidual becomes reluctant to follow doctor’s orders and relapse seems imminent.