Foo - Does anyone have a family member who is schizophrenic?

Anyone on here have a loved one dealing with this? I do. And I'm at a loss. Any serious (real) advice would be appreciated.

merider1, YGPM

My best friend was diagnosed. Someone I knew since the age of four. Before her dad died, he asked me to keep an eye on her. A big responsibiity. I told him I would try. She was 38 years old.

The biggest problem I had with her was the medication. If she didn't take it the voices would return. Those voices terrified her and she would run away. Often times I would have to comfort her for she swore they were out to kill her. I had to stay there and make sure she swallowed them because she would think someone is trying to poison her.

She is currently married and living a smoother life. Just keep an eye on the meds, M.E. Take care :o

My best friend was diagnosed. Someone I knew since the age of four. Before her dad died, he asked me to keep an eye on her. A big responsibiity. I told him I would try. She was 38 years old.

The biggest problem I had with her was the medication. If she didn't take it the voices would return. Those voices terrified her and she would run away. Often times I would have to comfort her for she swore they were out to kill her. I had to stay there and make sure she swallowed them because she would think someone is trying to poison her.

She is currently married and living a smoother life. Just keep an eye on the meds, M.E. Take care :o
Wow. You could have written my dilemma. My sister, who is 39, and who was diagnosed at 26, is exactly where your friend is. And we (my family) don't know why. She has the meds, but believes the doctor is trying to poison her and that everyone, other than me, is trying to hurt her. I'm her touchstone. She also believes that world has gone crazy. She barely speaks above a whisper and will only take her meds if I beg her to do so. I've logged on to NAMI.org for help, I've researched the disease, and I'm flying back (to TN) in a couple of weeks to be with her for Christmas, but I'd like to go with a better understanding. I realize how pathetic I must seem posting this on a public website, but if it will get even one person's advice (who has been through this), it would be worth it. My sister, by the way, is one of the kindest, most-loving human beings (honestly), and I love her dearly.

M.E. Don't think this is pathetic to post this here. We are family. We are here to help.

Kathy trusted me the most too. And since you and I are "the ones", we are their security blanket. She is just very lucky that she found a patient man who loves her enough to help her through this.

Love your sister, be with her, and reassure her. She trusts you. And make sure you get breaks every once in a while to "refresh". Because you cannot take care of her if you are not at your best. Good luck and big hugs to you. ((hugs))

M.E. Don't think this is pathetic to post this here. We are family. We are here to help.

Kathy trusted me the most too. And since you and I are "the ones", we are their security blanket. She is just very lucky that she found a patient man who loves her enough to help her through this.

Love your sister, be with her, and reassure her. She trusts you. And make sure you get breaks every once in a while to "refresh". Because you cannot take care of her if you are not at your best. Good luck and big hugs to you. ((hugs))
Thank you Siu,
Your words are so kind and appreciated...:o

:)

I have no advice to offer, just a hug.

Not skitzo but a hypochondriac and has every ailment you may have and the whino on the street. It's annoying. At least with a skitzo you can have a conversation that does not involve their health problems that are apparently not real.

My heart goes out to you Merider,
Im not sure what to say... therapy Im sure can help you deal with this, it is also for the members who have to deal with such a hard situation.
It's Ok to talk about this and how hard it is and maybe they can even help you find tricks to deal with this.

Not skitzo but a hypochondriac and has every ailment you may have and the whino on the street. It's annoying. At least with a skitzo you can have a conversation that does not involve their health problems that are apparently not real.
Perhaps it's my mood this morning, but I can't let this slide. My sister is NOT a "skitzo". Perhaps you were trying to be helpful, but I take real offense to that. She has schizophrenia, which is serious mental illness. I would have PM'd you, but I don't want others on here or anywhere for that matter to think it acceptable to use that word. Here is what a psychologist posted in repsonse to those who do, and I echo his sentiments:

"Skitzo" is a cruel, derogatory, and inappropriate term of abuse for men and women who suffer from schizophrenia, a behavioral illness. Schizophrenia, which has a number of characteristic types, is a thought disorder and known disease, in which certain atypical patterns of thought processing in the brain lead to perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral problems such as hallucinations (seeing and hearing things others don't see and hear), delusions (believing things others don't believe), and "negative symptoms" (lack of visible emotion on the face, problems with movement, problems with speech, etc.). Schizophrenia affects approximately 2.2 million American adults. Many of them are able, through pharmacotherapy (medication) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (learning new ways of doing things), to lead fulfilling & productive lives. But for each person with schizophrenia (not "schizophrenics," and certainly not "skitzos"), the odds of having a fair chance at a happy life is enormously increased if they do not have to face cruel, heartless, unjust taboos and stigmas imposed upon them by society merely because they were born with a disease.

You can help people by not using words like this and by learning more about schizophrenia and other behavioral illnesses."

Don't feed into the hallucinations. If they are on medication you have to be very direct about why they aren't taking them. Basically they'll take it, feel fine, then not take it anymore because they feel fine.

I had a friend call me almost a year ago very upset about her roommate. The roommate wouldn't let her close her door and made her keep her lights on all night because otherwise the light of Christ wouldn't come in. She also nailed a note to the door saying "It is a Rule! Do not transpass [sic] this door if you don't want to die in the name of Jesus! Then she threw her out and wouldn't let her back in, started breaking all her stuff and throwing it away. There were other things too but that's the gist.

I called a friend who is a psychologist, told her everything that was going on and said it sounded like she was a schizophrenic. Told me not to feed into the 'crazy talk.' They will also respond to the strong "Daddy" figure - especially males. "Why aren't you on your medication? "Where's your medication?" "Do you want the police to come back here?"

Long story short I was able to talk my way in there using that tactic and move her into my place for a few months (was right before the holidays too, very sad). But talking very directly and very pointedly made her back down immediately.

That's my experience - I feel for you. It wasn't an easy thing for me to deal with and I never met this woman before. I can't imagine if it was someone I cared about. I would talk to a psychologist (not necessarily psychiatrist) and ask for tools.

That's my experience - I feel for you. It wasn't an easy thing for me to deal with and I never met this woman before. I can't imagine if it was someone I cared about. I would talk to a psychologist (not necessarily psychiatrist) and ask for tools.
Thank you - and everyone one here providing input (and kind words). I just logged onto NAMI and the healthboard forum that C-V suggested. My intent now is to get into a support group locally to seek information on how to properly deal with the illness. I'm erring constantly. Yesterday I lost my temper and yelled at her on the phone when she insisted the doctor was trying to kill her. I know that didn't help any. Last night she called the police, telling them that a serial killer was in the house trying to kill her and my mother. The police almost kicked my parents' front door in trying to get in the house. My mother was so startled and is completely shaken and worn out today. My Dad sounds so tired. He actually mentioned that the doctor suggested shock treatments and/or group home if this doesn't stabilize soon. We aren't sure what happened in the last two months that brought this on, but we know she stopped taking her meds. It's a mess.

Anyway, I'm going to take this off of here and go to the proper sources for help. I just can't ignore it and keep hoping that my parents can handle it any longer, especially as they are getting older. The last thing I want is for her to be in a group home or, God forbid, shock therapy. I may be flying home next week if the situation worsens to help provide them a break.

Thanks again for all of your comments.

Another good source for information is www.schizophrenia.com I have a form of schizophenia myself so I can understand what you must going through. Many friends and family desert the person with SZ when they need the help the most. So I commend you for sticking by sister in her time of need.

Another good source for information is www.schizophrenia.com I have a form of schizophenia myself so I can understand what you must going through. Many friends and family desert the person with SZ when they need the help the most. So I commend you for sticking by sister in her time of need.
God, I can't imagine myself or my family abandoning her as she'd end up on the street. It's heart-breaking when you see people who are so obviously ill living homeless because no one cares or their loved-ones can't find them. Thank you for the link, and I will access it.

Good luck M.E.

I work in a fountainhouse here in Oslo. Loneliness and isolation are among the most negative sideeffects of schizophrenia. Having a meaningful workday and good coworkers can mean a world of difference.If your sister is unemployed you could check out if there is a clubhouse where she lives.
http://www.fountainhouse.org/

My 18-year old stepson is a bipolar schizophrenic. The revealing episode occurred about a year and a half ago...luckily no one got hurt. Since then he was back in the hospital once when the idiot doctor took him off Zyprexa and onto Geodon too quick. Luckily no one got hurt before, during or after that episode either. Abilify is working well for him now, and has halted his weight gain. Yeah...it sucks, but try dealing with it whilst chasing a 2-year-old boy around and attempting to make the pregnant wife comfortable. :eek:

Perhaps it's my mood this morning, but I can't let this slide. My sister is NOT a "skitzo". Perhaps you were trying to be helpful, but I take real offense to that. She has schizophrenia, which is serious mental illness. I would have PM'd you, but I don't want others on here or anywhere for that matter to think it acceptable to use that word. Here is what a psychologist posted in repsonse to those who do, and I echo his sentiments:

"Skitzo" is a cruel, derogatory, and inappropriate term of abuse for men and women who suffer from schizophrenia, a behavioral illness. Schizophrenia, which has a number of characteristic types, is a thought disorder and known disease, in which certain atypical patterns of thought processing in the brain lead to perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral problems such as hallucinations (seeing and hearing things others don't see and hear), delusions (believing things others don't believe), and "negative symptoms" (lack of visible emotion on the face, problems with movement, problems with speech, etc.). Schizophrenia affects approximately 2.2 million American adults. Many of them are able, through pharmacotherapy (medication) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (learning new ways of doing things), to lead fulfilling & productive lives. But for each person with schizophrenia (not "schizophrenics," and certainly not "skitzos"), the odds of having a fair chance at a happy life is enormously increased if they do not have to face cruel, heartless, unjust taboos and stigmas imposed upon them by society merely because they were born with a disease.

You can help people by not using words like this and by learning more about schizophrenia and other behavioral illnesses."

Calm down Hoss............didn't mean anything derogatory and sorry you took it that way. Seems too much sleeve wearing can get one into this. I simply meant that hypochrondriac in my case was the only thing close to what you may be going through from my eyes. Yes, two different ailments but does not mean because I spelled it a certain way means I don't care. You assumed.................and we know what that does. I feel for your situation and never meant for you to get tweaked over what I said. Either accept my explanation or stay upset, choice is yours. I assure you though I meant no harm regardless how I spelled a term.

Calm down Hoss............didn't mean anything derogatory and sorry you took it that way. Seems too much sleeve wearing can get one into this. I simply meant that hypochrondriac in my case was the only thing close to what you may be going through from my eyes. Yes, two different ailments but does not mean because I spelled it a certain way means I don't care. You assumed.................and we know what that does. I feel for your situation and never meant for you to get tweaked over what I said. Either accept my explanation or stay upset, choice is yours. I assure you though I meant no harm regardless how I spelled a term.

You actually may have been thinking about someone who is schizoid (http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-pe02.html) which is actually not the same disorder. I didn't know they were different until that episode above occured.

Lots of love and support from us merider!

Actually, I'm going to ask Snowy or Stacey to shut this thread down. Otherwise, I'm liable to say something I would otherwise not say, as I don't like being referred to as "Hoss." I'm not one to attack anyone on this forum and try to treat others with respect, and I simply wanted to clarify that using terms like the one that Msheron used proliferates incorrect stereotypes of the mentally ill. I do not believe that was a typo in Msheron's original post at all. I've seen that word (and exact spelling) used many times before and I would just like people to be educated on the proper way in which people with these types of illnesses should be addressed.

Also, I'm too close to this to take anything in stride. So, again, thank you to all of you Foo members who provided helpful information and positive words.

Hey merider, don't be mad because someone used the word skizo, I understand where you're coming from now, but at least to me, an uneducated mind, I thought it was just a short way of saying schizophrenic. Thanks for setting the record straight, because I didn't know it held any derogatory connotation.

Now that I think about it, I do recall my dad's best friend's son has it. The family is a converted mormon family, the son for some reason wouldn't take his medication(I think there were terrible side effects or something) and became addicted to marijuana and other illegal drugs to numb the symptoms he had. Unfortunate, because he has gone through alot. I feel for you and your sister ME. ((.:hugs:.))

Actually, I'm going to ask Snowy or Stacey to shut this thread down. Otherwise, I'm liable to say something I would otherwise not say, as I don't like being referred to as "Hoss." I'm not one to attack anyone on this forum and try to treat others with respect, and I simply wanted to clarify that using terms like the one that Msheron used proliferates incorrect stereotypes of the mentally ill. I do not believe that was a typo in Msheron's original post at all. I've seen that word (and exact spelling) used many times before and I would just like people to be educated on the proper way in which people with these types of illnesses should be addressed.

Also, I'm too close to this to take anything in stride. So, again, thank you to all of you Foo members who provided helpful information and positive words.
I agree, you have all right to be upset.
It's different when this decease touch someone you love.
I wouldnt like to be told "calm down host" either, that's just disrespectful.
You are in our thoughts, and you most definilty have our support and thanks for trusting us with something this painful to you.
Big hug.

Anyone on here have a loved one dealing with this? I do. And I'm at a loss. Any serious (real) advice would be appreciated.

I won't be suprised if i was schizophrenic.