splinter
Butterfly
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Age: 22
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject: helping friend who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia |
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A friend of mine has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has been suffering from psychosis probably related to it for about a year and a half
Any advise |
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MightyMorphin
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 30, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 570
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| There isn't much advice we can give, other than just be supportive, and encourage them to take medications/seek help, and if they have any problems with medication, to make sure they go and change it to something that works for them, rather than just not take any at all. |
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McAnulty
Toucan
Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 258
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Try not to argue if she has moments of psychosis, it is real to her and if you argue she will just become distrustful and feel misunderstood. Other than that, I guess just be there for her if she needs you, and listen to her, and let her know you don't think she's crazy. Of course if she isn't in treatment already it would be good to try to encourage that. Is she receiving treatment? |
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HilarityEnsues
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jun 27, 2012
Age: 25
Posts: 58
Location: Williamsburg, Va
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Honestly, Don't be surprised if you friend stops talking to you. I was diagnosed years ago and childhood onset schizophrenia. When I turned 17 my life slowly started falling apart, I stopped going outside due to the paranoia, and something as simple as eye contact makes me feel very hostile and angry. Schizophrenics enjoy solitude, hate being patronized. The best thing you can do for her is try and talk her down and bring her into reality, but don't tell him she's crazy, she's hallucinating or anything that could be taken as patronizing. It could set him off and once a schizophrenic is set off, your life could be in danger.
_________________
“Schizophrenia cannot be understood without understanding despair.” R.D. Laing |
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splinter
Butterfly
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Age: 22
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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yes she is getting treatment .
Her biggest annoyance about it is hearing voices. They seem to be causing her sleep problems wearing her down. |
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splinter
Butterfly
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Age: 22
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Dont worry no intention of telling her she is crazy just trying to understand and help as best as i can . Thanks for the advise if anyone has any more advise please feel free to contribute |
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lostgirl1986
There's a party in my head.
Joined: Feb 29, 2012
Age: 26
Posts: 6250
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm going through the same thing with my friend. The best advice that I can give you is to try and keep them grounded by not participating in things that involve alcohol and drugs. Also, try and keep them busy with fun things that you can do together like shopping, camping, play sports, go to theme park, go to museums, go to theaters, go to zoos...Just do something that can capture both of your interests. Also, let them know that you're here for them to talk to whenever they want to talk to somebody. |
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McAnulty
Toucan
Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 258
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunately even with treatment many people will still hear voices, although sometimes they can be eliminated or reduced. I know a few people who still hear one voice, but not all the ones they used to hear. I have one friend who believes all the voices aren't real except for one which he is convinced is real, and another friend who knows they aren't real, but still hears them say bad things about her. I wish I had more advice on how to help her, I think helping to distract her and offering support are pretty much all you can do. The rest will hopefully improve with medication and therapy. She is lucky to have a friend like you who is trying to learn how to help her. |
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splinter
Butterfly
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Age: 22
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| It has been a while since we had much contact until now. We had gone our separate ways mostly with collage. The last time we had met up was at my 21st a few months ago. With the holidays now we plan to meet up soon . I did advise her to take up some activity. Knowing how when i started running and joining a athletics club helped deal with depression. Thankfully she is going back playing football |
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greentigress
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: May 15, 2012
Age: 38
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:05 am Post subject: Schizophrenia and depression |
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| splinter wrote: | | It has been a while since we had much contact until now. We had gone our separate ways mostly with collage. The last time we had met up was at my 21st a few months ago. With the holidays now we plan to meet up soon . I did advise her to take up some activity. Knowing how when i started running and joining a athletics club helped deal with depression. Thankfully she is going back playing football |
At least half if not 90% of people with schozophrenia will have issues with depression that is not curable by exercise healthy lifestyle etc.
The Psychiatrists are now realising that it is probably a hand in hand thing by that I mean that most psychiatrists now know depression is a big big deal for. Almost all schizophrenics
Post psychosis Pre psychosis long term debilitating or comes and goes
I had my first delusions as a child and have been on meds since age 17 or 18
Depression was huge for me and went unrecognised till 2005 I was 31
I'm 37 now and my life has changed utterly with the introduction of anti d's
I had never wanted to be on a cocktail of drugs because I thought it sounded bad
I have been in hospital since and they don't really improve psychoses but I'm a lot happier
Schizophrenia is not always a lifetime thing 25% are recovered after 10 yrs but watch coming off meds without advice 15% are dead in 30 yrs mostly suicide |
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