AMA Request: Schizophrenia

[YourLocalTERF]

Hello,

Would anyone with schizophrenia be willing to do an AMA about the condition?

It looks like a relative of mine is being diagnosed with this so I'd like to better understand it.

My sibling has it.

Thanks. Would you be wiling to discuss the condition AMA style?

I was a carer for adults with schizophrenia so can offer some insight as an 'outsider' if that makes sense.

I was diagnosed schizophrenic for 5 years till they changed diagnosis, but had the treatment, experiences. Just not sure if I'm still diagnosed with it alongside new ones or not

My mum was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 34 in the 1980s, I think things have come a long way treatment wise since then but happy to help if I can. She died in 2019 aged 71 from bowel cancer. We had a very difficult relationship, partly due to her difficulties but also her alcoholism. She really hated the medication they put her on for the schizophrenia and kept coming on and off of it and I think this resulted in a lot of sectioning - perhaps more than if she was stable. She was sectioned many times throughout my childhood. However, from when I was an older teen to her death she became more stable and was actually able to reduce the medication down to just anti depressants and she never had a full relapse again - never sectioned again - she just learnt to somewhat live with it. Very difficult.

Yes I am willing to answer any questions that I can.

My sibling was misdiagnosed for many years and iirc he was 30 when they got their correct diagnosis. Obviously this has had an impact upon their lives. They have never worked due to being unable. They have self-neglected and for a large chunk have misused alcohol. When they were not receiving the correct medication the alcohol dampened the voices and hallucinations.

They have never had stable housing. When they had their own accommodation on two occasions they self neglected to the point they were admitted to hospital due to the risk to themself. There were definite signs from childhood of mental illness and they saw a child psychologist who said they had mental illness manifesting in a lot of anxiety. My mother was told not to be surprised and to look out for signs of a serious mental illness when they were older.

My father did not understand mental illness and to be honest was not prepared to try and understand so they did not have the best relationship. My father was an older father when we were born anyway so had a very old fashioned outlook to life.

My sibling in some ways is becoming wheat they call a burned out schizophrenic. It has taken its toll and they look so much older than their years. They can be very selfish too. When they are having a psychotic episode there is no reasoning with them. After my parents passed away it was like my sibling expected me to be their mother and do everything but obviously I would not. I still ended up receiving phone calls because of the latest issues, having to go to visit in hospital so much I wore myself out.

I have serious and complex mental illness myself and I just cannot cope with my sibling when they become unwell. I have also been told that it is extremely likely I have autism which doesn't surprise me.

I apologise if I have not presented this very well or explained things well. If you have questions perhaps about generic behaviour to look out for etc I will try to answer to the best of my ability.