Is This the Onset of Schizophrenia ? Posted: 07-28-07 22:42pm
My boyfriend has been experiencing
delusional episodes for the last 8 months
- they are paranoid and persecutory
delusions. he believes that he is a pawn
in a government conspiracy and tat he is
being tracked/bugged/followed. When a
special date is coming up - like 7/7/7 or
his last birthday, he believes that they
will come to kill him. And when it passes,
he believes that they extended the date
because of some deal he made with them
previously
His delusions come in the form of memories
of things that happened in the past but he
will also take current events on tv and
incorporate them into his belief system.
It is a very sophisticated and intricate
belief system.
He also believes that he can read people's
minds and thhat he can fly if he gets a
real eagle feather...among other weird
things
It all started last November when he went
to get help for depression. he started
taking prozac and shortly after, he
confided in me about some memories he was
having from his childhood - when he was 16
and pissed off some very powerful people
which put him on a black list.
At first, i believed him and became very
scared because he told me that people were
watching him and were going to come and
get him. But the more i thougt about it
the more i belived it was due to the
antidepressant he was taking.
So i told him that and he weaned himself
off of the prozac. It's been 8 months and
he's still delusional. I can't convince
him to get help because he thinks that all
the doctors are in on the scheme.
He's 33 years old and has never had this
happen to him before. I've known him for 7
years and he's always been a very "normal"
person.
Prior to taking prozac, he was a heavy
marijuana smoker to help him deal with his
back pain. When started the prozac, he
stopped smoking marijuana.
This is very hard for me to deal with
because i know that his memories and
thoughts are delusions and we argue all
the time because i can't reason with him.
I just read that this is not the proper
way to deal with a delusional person.
My question is: Since he's been "normal"
his whole life, is this the onset of
schizophrenia? Can antidepressant cause
delusions? Will they eventually go away if
left untreated? How can i help him get
treatment? He doesn't have insurance...
Please help!
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Philo
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 331 Location: Montreal
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Posted: 07-29-07 08:42am
I know that depression can involve
hallucinations. Ask yourself if he's still
depressed. Also, smoking pot can trigger
latent schiz. I don't know if
antidepressants can cause delusions. I
don't know anything about seeking
treatment in your country.
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Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1666 Location: ,
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Posted: 07-29-07 19:35pm
He's right. Untreated depression, can at
times lead to delusions. However, it
seems that since he isn't experiencing
hallucinations (correct?) that this may be
delusional disorder, because this is a
common manifestation of it. These things
can sometimes just come out of nowhere,
but the drug use may have had an effect.
However, I must ask, has he ever had any
physical symptoms as well? Any family
history of diabetes or other illnesses?
Also check for physical problems first,
you'd be surprised what certain diseases
can do to the mind.
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recombinantgirl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 2
Posted: 07-30-07 08:32am
Stan Stepanic
wrote:
He's right. Untreated
depression, can at times lead to
delusions. However, it seems that since
he isn't experiencing hallucinations
(correct?) that this may be delusional
disorder, because this is a common
manifestation of it. These things can
sometimes just come out of nowhere, but
the drug use may have had an effect.
However, I must ask, has he ever had any
physical symptoms as well? Any family
history of diabetes or other illnesses?
Also check for physical problems first,
you'd be surprised what certain diseases
can do to the
mind.
He has not had a job for 3 years, he's
very socially withdrawn but that's always
been part of his personality. He lives by
himself and aside from me, doesn't really
see much of anyone else.
He's not having hallucinations - at least
not that i know of. As for physical
symptoms, it's hard to say but there
hasn't been any physical change in him
since the delusions started. He's become
deeply religious and he's cut out all
unhehalthy behaviors to purify himself -
stopped smoking, no soda or coffee, no
processed foods etc... So he actually is
eating healthy. He has very good hygiene.
His sleep pattern has been off for the
past 3 years.
The symptoms he displays are
delusions
memory problems - he's remembering a lot
of things from him childhood
extreme paranoia
social isolation - but again this has been
the case for the past 3 years
How can i help him? He won't even listen
to me when i mention schizo or mental
illness...
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Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1666 Location: ,
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Posted: 07-30-07 09:30am
Sounds like straight delusional disorder
then if you say he's eating right and
there doesn't seem to be any physical
link. Unfortunately, based on how mental
health law works, there is nothing you can
do. He is free to live as he wishes
unless it becomes a threat to himself and
others, at which point he can be committed
for treatment. There is nothing else that
can be done and it's likely that any
suggestions you make will fall on deaf
ears.
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sad_dad
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 2
Read This! Posted: 08-03-07 13:25pm
I'm currently in the need of a lot of
advice myslef, but I'll tell you what I
would do if I were you:
Run. You are young and single. Go
experience the world a little more...meet
more people, find a new boyfriend. I knew
before I got married that my wife had a
mental illness, but I was too dumb to run.
Don't let yourself get sucked into a long
life of living every moment "treating"
your boyfriend's illness.
