brother with very negative symptoms Posted: 01-29-08 19:51pm
My 24 year old brother has schizophrenia
with very negative symptoms. He was
diagnosed with this around two years ago
and then over the past year or so he was
put on a mediation that made him gain
weight. Because of that, he recently
completely stopped taking his meds. He's
starting to show his negative signs again.
He refuses to see a doctor to see about a
different medication that he could try. He
won't go and my parents are too scared to
try and make him. They please him in every
way because they worry if they make him
upset, he'll hurt himself or someone else.
I still live at home and so I honestly
fear for myself and my family. He thinks
we%u2019re all out to get him and I have
no idea what to do to help. I feel as
though I%u2019m running out of time to do
something. Please help.
|
Galaxy
Supporter
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 512 Location: U.K,
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Posted: 01-30-08 17:41pm
This sounds like an awful situation and I
am surprised that your parents are not
taking a firmer line with him. You must
tell them how anxious YOU are feeling and
perhaps this will shift them into gear.
It is very hard on everyone but they are
adults and you, if you will forgive my
saying, sound quite young still. They may
be taking it all in their stride but it is
not good for you to watch the
disintegration of your brother's
personality. Here in the UK you can
legally be forced to take your meds if you
have a severe mental illness bit I am not
sure about the US.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5316 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
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Thanked:27
Posted: 01-31-08 15:44pm
Unfortunately, no one can MAKE him take
medication (in the US) or get treatment at
all unless he is dangerous.
Also unfortunately, medications for
schizophrenia often have terrible side
effects that make the person who has to
take them not want to.
Perhaps have a heart to heart with your
parents about your fears? He might be able
to see his doctor and find a medication
that they can both agree on- there are
tons of different medications out there.
If you are young, remember that maybe your
parents are worried, and they are doing
everything they can, but they are hiding
it from because they think you wouldn't be
able to understand/deal with it, or they
are ashamed. Talk to them, it's the best
thing you can do.
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likeolikeh
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 3 Location: ,
Posted: 02-04-08 20:13pm
I've told them my fears countless times
and they just keep saying, "I'll make him
an appointment tomorrow." Tomorrow seems
to never come. He had a very bad episode
almost two years ago in which he attacked
my other brother. My dad had to wrestle
him to the floor and then when he got
loose and I was in the way, he attacked
me. We called the police and he was in a
ward for four days. He would call and be
terribly scared and during that time, my
dad would just lay in bed all day and
acted as if my brother had died because it
killed him that he was “locked up“.
After that, was when my brother started on
the medication but as I said, it made him
gain a lot of weight. Since he's stopped
taking the meds, he's going back into his
old habits. Being loud for no reason,
laughing out of the blue, having no
sympathy towards anyone, saying random
things, being very paranoid, taking off in
the middle of the night. Basically my dads
reasoning for not taking more action is
that he thinks he's not a danger because
he hasn't done anything yet. The keyword
being yet. He doesn’t want him to be
locked up because of the last time, he
knew how scared my brother was so he
doesn’t want to do that to him again. My
mother agrees with me but untimely it’s
up to my dad and he just doesn’t
understand.
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5316 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 62
Thanked:27
Posted: 02-06-08 21:15pm
Well, I mean, he should get an appointment
not just to prevent him from harming
himself or others, but simply to have a
better quality of life. I'm sure he's not
living life to the fullest with the
disability holding him back.
He won't get locked up- if you're in the
US, you can't hold someone against their
will unless someone is in immediate
danger. Just being schizophrenic and
untreated is not reason enough to hold
someone.
Unfortunately, a person who has
schizophrenia needs constant maintenance
and communication with his doctor to
adjust medication as needed- throughout
his life. It's not a one-time fix.
Hopefully your parents will come around-
all I can say is keep bugging them- not
just for your peace of mind, but to help
your brother out. He doesn't seem to have
much of an advocate right now. He needs
someone who is concerned about his well
being.
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This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
