paranoid schizophrenia

[Thomcat]

My step sister is a paranoid schizophrenic. Not long been diagnosed. Does anyone know anyone with this and how bad does it get, can it get better?

My brother has psychoefffective disorder (I am sure that I misspelled it). It is similar to Bi-Polar disorder, but he has delusions that can last for months at a time. The right balance of medication can help tremendously, but honestly if she has had a break, she might not be the same (might not remember things that same way that you do). There is hope Thomcat. Hopefully she will get the best of care and you will be able to support her through the medication changes. Sometimes it takes a while to get the right dosage--my brother sat in a stupor for weeks while they were adjusting him from one of his manic stages. You have my thoughts and well wishes.

I meant to say schizo-effetive disorder (probably spelled that wrong too)

Thanks sunchowder.

She is getting kicked out of the home she is in soon as she keeps breaking out to take drugs and do whatever it is she does and they won't keep her in there anymore. No-one knows what to do with her. It's all awful. My mum is concerned she might turn up at the family home and want to hurt one of them.

Over here we have assisted living homes which is where my brother is right now. I know how difficult this can be. Mental illness does not get the press or support it needs. It is very difficult to treat and most people don't understand it. Is there any way to get her hospitalized so that they can regulate her medication and then place her at another home that will monitor and make sure she takes her medicine? I feel for you, it is a horrible illness and I am sure she is not aware that she is causing you or anyone in her family any anguish. It is also a very selfish disease in that sense as they are not aware. Let me know how you get on. It sounds like she needs to be placed in another home that will support her a bit better.

\link{http://www.rethink.org/information/about/wis1.html\Rethink} have good information, tc. How old is your step sister? Has she had any hospital admissions? Is she being supported by a Community Mental Health Team? If so, they should be able to help her find alternative accommodation and your mum should be able to ring her worker to discuss any concerns or risks. Does she have a history of wanting to hurt people in the family?

My cousin has it, he is currently in hospital (he is sectioned), I think he is very up and down, he has his meds by injection because he was not taking the tablets. He drinks too much sometimes, and he cannot handle his money well, he still lives with his mam and dad. He was diagosed at about 36 (?). He is a really nice guy, just had a hard lot in life and its affected him. My mum says there had been signs for a while.
I think the main problem is controlling it and helping him control it. He has some psychosis sometimes.

I don't think this is very helpful, or positive, sorry.

It's just good to hear from others who can relate.

The voices tell her she is a bad person and she self harms. She is currently sectioned but breaks out. It's all a bit vague sorry. I might get my mum to come on and discuss in more detail so she can get some support.

Thanks for that link btw.

Hi Thomcat. I used to work with people with schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder & bi-polar disorder. It was a long-term research study so we would see the same people many times over a number of years. We also interviewed and worked with their family members looking for genetic and other medical links to these diseases. I know it's not the same as having personal experience in your own family but I did get to know an awful lot about it.

Unfortunately, the answer to your last question is that as far as I know it doesn't get better, in the sense that she will never be "cured" and she will probably never be quite the same as she was before. She will probably always need to be on medication and even if she improves, stressful events in her life may make it worse again. That doesn't mean that with the right medication, support and other treatment she can't learn to control it and have a reasonable life. I did all this work in the states however so I'm not sure exactly what support should be available to her.

It's a very difficult, very complicated illness. Aside from the voices, she may have a "flat affect" which means she will have trouble expressing any kind of emotion. Her thoughts may be confused so words may not mean what she thinks they mean and she may have trouble expressing herself verbally or in writing. Difficulties with personal hygiene are actually a symptom of the illness as well.

I think the most worrying thing for those around her is the paranoia, if she thinks people are trying ot hurt her or out to get her in some way. But like I said, if she can get the right medication and the right support then she can learn to control the symptoms and more importantly gain some insight into her illness.

I'm sorry if that's all a bit scarey and not very helpful. Good luck with it.

I am going through this atm with my brother he has cannabis induced paranoid psychosis.It is a nightmare he is in Ireland and is being detained atm.He had stopped his medication which I have to say was brilliant and had made him the person he used to be and he atarted imagining all kinds that people were following himetc and then started texting me that I was going to be killed etc.I think the key is the right medication although people often stop taking it when they feel better or as a result of side effects It is very difficult as there is really not much youm can do

Hi Thomcat

I can understand how worrying it is. Dp's brother is schizophrenic and is currently sectioned. He is quite a poorly schizophrenic in the sense that when he is well he does live on his own, but he doesn't manage very well and couldn't work. However, he has gone through cycles been in prison twice and should really have been out again now but they have taken him from prison to hospital and he lost heart I think and they changed their minds from having him in the community to insisting on changing his meds to a high risk drug for which they took him into a medium secure hospital.

Like most mental illnesses it has a wide spectrum, the majority have it for life but some people do manage to have a good quality of life and hold down jobs, have family life etc. For others it is more difficult. Drink and drug use is quite high amongst schizophrenics.

I have met a lot in hospital though and once under control periods of calm and settled life are possible.

Not much help I'm afraid.

There is usually a fair amount of involvement of family members in the care process in the sense that your parents may be able to attend meetings, talk to care team members etc and I think there should be advocacy in each hospital for independent advice.

I am concerned as my brother is alone in Ireland and we all live here in England so he is usually stabilised and goes back home.When he was on medication hemanaged quite well and even has had a few jobs aklthough now this is impossible.Do people ever live'normal'lives with this or will he always be in the system?Sorry for hijack but I am really worried that he will come to my house when he is let out and he is very unpredictable

SugarMag, great post, so much of what you have written is my experience that I have had with my brother. It is so very difficult.

My brother has it too, diagnosed about 18 yrs ago. Got a law degree, failed his solicitor's finals and we're left with a shell of what he was. He now stacks shelves in Tesco at night.

But he is clean, he has a job and money and somewhere to live. He is able to live on his own and to some extend control himself. He no longer smokes cannabis or cigarettes and lives very healthily. We can't ask for much more.