Does anyone know about schizophrenia?

[Janos]

Obviously it's not something that can be diagnosed without a medical professional being involved but what are the symptoms? Does anyone have experience of this?

Thanks.

I'm very angry with him right now tbh.

And this morning I told him to never contact me again.

Honestly, the texts were awful. Really really awful.

I could suggest it but it's likely to be ignored as he believes ant depressants are dangerous.

There are other worrying behaviours aside from the stupid horrible texts.

Sorry if posts are a bit rambly..very tired atm!

you can call his GP if you know who it is and just leave a message saying you have concerns?

you need to protect yourself too and maintain your sanity.

I know Scottishmummy. You are absolutelt right. It is hard to switch off caring for someone but if he won't seek help dunno whatI can do.

Don't know who his GP is unfortunately.

Does he have any other family/support, Janos? Wondered if other people have noticed his odd behaviour and could push him to seek help? I think Scottishmummy is dead right that diagnosis online is impossible. His symptomology as described could be anything from an antisocial personality disorder to alcoholism to a psychotic illness to a mood disorder like depression to nothing diagnosable mental health wise to a mixture of all the above...

i agree with scottishmummy.
think really carefully about getting re-involved. it could be a long and painful road to any sort of diagnosis/treatment.
sorry if that sounds hard and uncaring.

you sound really caring and lovely btw

Absolutely ScummyMummy! He has family about, only person I think he would talk to/listen to is his cousin.

jooseyfruit you don't sound hard and uncaring. I think you're right. It just make me really sad to be honest, this lovely kind person acting in such a horrible self destructive way.

If he hadn't sent those awful messages then I would prob be over there with him now, we would be having a nice time.

Poor you. Would it be worth having a chat with his cousin and seeing if s/he could have a word with him about going to the GP?

May be worth trying ScummyMummy.

Anyway must get to bed now - it's been a very trying day.

Thank you all for your help/advice. It's been really useful.

trying = tiring!

Sleep well.

Thanks again to everyone who has posted.

I'm feeling much clearer after a good long sleep last night.

I've bored to tears talked to a friend about this and I think problems are more likely to be related to alcohol abuse

Which I still really sad about but know there's not really anything I can do.

Still, thank you all for listening and advising. Feel that I've been a bit of a fraud.

oh you haven't janos

don't forget that a lot of mentally ill people abuse alcohol so it can be quite difficult to untangle the chicken and egg situation

I hope you find some peace from this all!

sorry, someone will read that and think I am making sweeping statements about mentally ill people abusing alcohol which I wasn't meaning to

I think there is something else there foxinsocks.

I appreciate your sympathy. It is upsetting, because he is such a lovely, kind, funny, intelligent person - when he is not drinking.

He has very low self esteem and has said himself he gets paranoid and agitated very frequently. Things which other people would 'take in stride' distress him a lot. If someone annoys him he takes it very personally.

From my own experience I think these are indicative of mental health problems but if I ever suggested doctors, or that he might be depressed he would insist he didn't need to go, wasn't depressed.

I really don't know what to do for the best as part of me (a lot actually) is very angry with him, the other part cares wants to help.

From what you describe Janos I would veer more towards the alcohol conclusion. However there may be some underlying mental health concerns. It is chicken and egg unfortunately, he would need to lay off the booze in order to gain an accurate assessment.

I can understand that feeling tbh janos. It is very hard to untangle your own feelings. There's an instinctive need to protect and care for those we love but there also has to be a point where we let them follow their own path, even if it might seem like the path to self destruction.

One of the biggest problems with alcohol issues, mental health problems or not, is that the person has to a) want to get help and b) want to get better. Without those 2 things, nothing will happen anyway and unfortunately, a lot of people will hit absolute rock bottom before they even think of a) or b).

Ime, all you can do is be there if you want to. But it may be very soul destroying.

Will he read books?

I think he would read foxinsocks. If you have some titles to suggest that would be great.

He has said he wants to stop drinking but then carries on doing it. Despite the fact on a practical level drink is expensive and is costing him money he needs for other things. So I guess the urge is very strong.

You are right of course about letting people follow their own path. Yes it's hard to let go but sometimes we have to, I understand that.

I will look up the books. I just feel sorry for you both tbh. It's so horrible to see someone in the throws of something like that. Makes you feel so powerless.

Thanks foxinsocks, vee kind of you.

I do feel powerless, and torn! Very frustrating.