helping a shizophrenic?

[megadave]

Let me give try and explain...

A good friend of mine has recently showed very clear and obvious signs that he might be shizophrenic. I always thought he was a bit quirky but lately im beginning to think theres more to it than that. He's in a constant state of paranoia, confusion and whatever else.
He's admitted that hes even had thoughts that his clostest friends are part of one massive consipiracy thats out to get him for whatever reasons.
Whenever hes on a bus or train he feels like everyone is looking at him like hes a freak because hes unconsciously spasming or making stupid faces.
He interprets things that i wouldnt even think about in some completely abstract way as a gesture of bad will against him (such as coughing meaning we want him to go home, scratching your eye means hes doing something weird, he even thinks his work collegues think hes racist because of the way he once flared his nostrils)
He's heard things that nobody else has heard before and often when speaking to him he'll misheard what you say for something against him.
There's a whole load of shit but its too numerous to list. Some of my friends and I have confronted him about this but he obviously doesnt take it too well, he accepted that he does have many of the symptoms but when we ask him to visit the doctors he doesnt sound too keen. He'll always say something stupid like he doesnt deserve to go to the doctors because theres worse priorities that he shouldnt be getting in the way of. I can tell that part of him thinks this is all part of a conspiracy or joke against him and that even the doctor might be involved.

How can i get him some help? Would it be harsh if i just booked a doctor appointment and took him down there? i doubt he'd want to do it but dont think he'd refuse

i dont know what to do anymore, its heart breaking watching a close friend destroy himself. hes said that theres ALWAYS some sort of paranoid delusion in his mind and theres no way he can be happy like this

 

[Little Boy]

Yes, take him to the doctors, get him checked out, maybe it is, he can get treatmeant, he is main priority (sp?) for u dont worry about anyone else. If it has got that bad then YES take him ofc no doubt about it. Hope this helps.

 

[Yeke]

Since I know little about schizophrenia I did a quick (I do mean quick) google on the subject and from the small amount I skimmed it would seem imperative you get him to visit a doctor ASAP.

If you cannot get him to a doctor discuss your concerns with either his surgery and see what they suggest or perhapse google a schizophrenia support phone line and discuss with them on whats best to do.

Do it sooner rather than later tho.

 

[Reformed]

Get him help quick or he might end up still posting crap on here when he is 50 yrs old .

 

[Thorwyn]

This is serious mate. Get him to the doctor asap. He might or might not be schizophrenic (that´s a quite complex diagnosis), but at any rate, he needs counsling.

 

[Reformed]

Part of being ill with schizophrenia is that they don't realize their ill. Lots won't take their meds even. I have had a few problems myself with the old brainbox and still have them and I did have a full blown schizophrenic girl friend forra while. I must admit I found it fascinating. One minute ok and rational, then no meds and glassy eyed and up the wall. Extremely pretty girl too. One of the most frightening things must be to look into the eyes of a schizophrenic when they are having an attack. They sure as hell ain't seeing the same things you are seeing.

Very dangerous illness both for the person that has it and for all those around them too. Very few can rationalize through the illness either. A sufferer can be 'sectioned' if they won't get help themselves. Try and talk him into getting help though before forcing him or getting someone to force him.

 

[Tilda]

Sectioning is a last resort, only used if the patient is a danger to themselves or others.

 

[Vladamir]

Sectioning is a last resort, only used if the patient is a danger to themselves or others.

If you're a schizo, does that make you a danger to yourself and your other personalities count as others?

 

[Amanita]

If you're a schizo, does that make you a danger to yourself and your other personalities count as others?

Thats a whole different kettle of fish. Or personalities.

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

You could perhaps call your GP or a psychiatrist, and ask them how to handle this.
I'd try anything to get him to a doctor.
If worse comes to worst you could even slip him a sleeping pill in his drink orso, but he'd definately not thank you for that one, especially in his situation.

But if anything you should convince him to get himself checked out. The sooner you're at it, the sooner he can be helped, and the sooner it'll be done and over with, if that's possible atleast, cos sadly you can't heal all mental conditions. Depends on the cooperation of the patient, and the severity and a million other factors.

It's a damn tought situation to be in. Experienced depressions and up close, but not schizophrenia, atleast not up close. A mate of a mate of mine developed it after a long period of burn out, due to his company going bust
He's been treated, and it's gone now, but he's gotta stay cautious in longer lasting stress situations.

Anyway, good luck to you and your friends. Get him checked out soon, the sooner he's helped, the higher the chance he'll be a happy camper again in a year

If you're a schizo, does that make you a danger to yourself and your other personalities count as others?

schitzophrenia isn't thesame as multiple personality disorder. Can ofcourse come together, I mean, if you got a dozen or so personalities, chances are increasing of one of your selves having schitzo in some form, but the two are seperate disorders

 

[pip]

Yes new some lady with it once bad shit,i was lying next to my gf 1 night in bed and she was shouting up from under bedroom i love you pip, good job my gf new she had mental probs ask if he hears voice in his head, and if he says yes just hope it's a friendly one and if he smokes the weed to stop straight of I don't no him he might not smoke it.

 

[Gamah]

Yes new some lady with it once bad shit,i was lying next to my gf 1 night in bed and she was shouting up from under bedroom i love you pip, good job my gf new she had mental probs ask if he hears voice in his head, and if he says yes just hope it's a friendly one and if he smokes the weed to stop straight of I don't no him he might not smoke it.

Do you live in some sort of hostel or scrag house or something?

 

[pip]

Do you live in some sort of hostel or scrag house or something?

No mate i moved out of your house

 

[Vladamir]

No mate i moved out of your house

Rofl, you legend :worthy:

 

[Ezteq]

pip teh leg end!

on topic, i'd do what ingaf suggested and call a doc or psychiatric help like i think theres one called MIND and ask them what to do, also if you can speak to his parents/siblings if they have any contact with him they would be able to do more than you because they are related.

Definately do this ASAP, give the local doctors a call and make sure you speak to a doctor not a receptionist, you could also call NHS direst they are nurses and will advise you. Just make sure you do it right now mate because if your friend has an attack he could really end up hurting himself, or someone else (i know not all schizophrenics are violent but they can hurt people without meaning to). And i'd recommend yu dont discuss this with your friend untill youve spoken to experts because if he's as paranoid asyou say he is he will probably block you out totally and you wont be able to help him at all.

good luck with it mate, brave very brave for stepping up to help like this.

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

Yes new some lady with it once bad shit,i was lying next to my gf 1 night in bed and she was shouting up from under bedroom i love you pip, good job my gf new she had mental probs ask if he hears voice in his head, and if he says yes just hope it's a friendly one and if he smokes the weed to stop straight of I don't no him he might not smoke it.

Okay, so erm, to get things straight. You were lying in bed with your new girlfriend, and simultaneously of her lying in your bed she was downstairs shouting at you?, then your girlfriend had new friendly mental problems, and suddenly she's a he smoking weed? You shake your head at him while he doesn't smoke the shaking?

 

[Gamah]

Okay, so erm, to get things straight. You were lying in bed with your new girlfriend, and simultaneously of her lying in your bed she was downstairs shouting at you?, then your girlfriend had new friendly mental problems, and suddenly she's a he smoking weed? You shake your head at him while he doesn't smoke the shaking?

it's a pip world!

 

[Hawkwind]

If he does not listen to you about seeing a doctor then I would seriously think about talking to his family. Tell them your worried about him. Maybe they can talk some sense into him. He may also trust their opinion more.

 

[Delket]

Could also be the side effects of smoking a lot of weed from what they say these days. Either way does sound like a good idea to go to the docs!

 

[old.Tohtori]

What's his age?

Kinda puts things in perspective. You know he just might be a bit silly, not necessarily a loonietune(it's a medical term).

Hell...you'd probably have me commited if you just saw me in a bus

 

[Dakkath]

Sadly people with this condition normally don't want to / aren't able to see whats going on and that they need help.

If you're genuinely concerned, I'd suggest talking to his family and seeing if you can get them 'onside' and either get him to visit the Dr on a false pretense or to help arrange a home visit from a Dr as you may have a very difficult time convincing your friend to go along voluntarily. If a family member make the call to the Dr, they can fill them in on the background with out causing alarm.

The irony of the situation here is, this illness often goes hand in hand with severe paranoia. To get your friend the help they need you may very well end up confirming their worst suspicions that their family and friends are plotting against them :/

Anyway, best of luck, hope you find a way to sort it...

 

[Thadius]

No mate i moved out of your house

Pip! :worthy:

 

[ZiggY]

wizz does that!