Psychosis support for family member

[Cookiedough123]

My brother has been suffering with psychosis for a few years now. He is very up and down and it's like being on a rollercoaster. It is having a massive emotional impact on family members. He's mid 20s and has no interests or hobbys. He is very anxious and paranoid, sleeps all day and up all night. He takes 15mg olanzapine each day but doesn't engage with any therapies etc. Just angry at everyone for lying to him. We are at a loss after various police visits, emergency crisis meetings etc. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Will he ever get better or is this life now?

Hi @Cookiedough123 I’m sorry to hear how tough it is at the moment for the family and your brother. As you say, if he doesn’t want to engage with the help that’s been offered it is hard to know where to start.

Have you seen this www.hearing-voices.org/ it has some useful stuff on there.

Was there a trigger point when it all started for him? Sometimes it’s an illness with no obvious cause, other times it’s the brain’s reaction to a trauma. I saw a good Ted talk by a lady who hears voices saying we shouldn’t ask what’s wrong with you, rather we should ask what’s happened to you. So it may be from a point of pain and he needs that to be acknowledged before he can accept help.

I don’t know, everyone is different and I am throwing things out there. I do know that the online peer support groups are worldwide, there’s no barrier to joining whichever suits a person’s schedule.

Have a look at Mind as well, in terms of supporting each other. They have stuff for family members in their information sections.

Hope some of that is useful.

I have Schizoaffective disorder including psychosis symptoms, I take 30mg Aripiprazole for it plus other meds.

It sounds like your brother needs a med review most of all followed by some self care...

Personally I'm ok most of the time just with low level paranoia, but get breakthrough symptoms of extreme paranoia & hallucinations when I'm tired & stressed.
So I can only work part time and have to get a lot of sleep.

I'm on the waiting list for psychological therapy to help me deal with paranoia etc.
Not sure if it will work but I want to try it.