Have you known anyone with schizophrenia?

Question

What were they like? I believe my brother has it and just need some opinions and stories.

Answer 1

My cousin is a diagnosed schizophrenic.

She was a pretty normal girl through highschool, a little strange maybe, a little withdrawn, but overall, normal. Then in her early twenties things got really bad. She started using drugs, which probably didn't help her condition. She goes through periods where she takes her medications and at those time's she's been able to drive and hold down some type of job. She's been to rehab several times, and found 3 husbands that way. Of her 3 children, 1 was taken from her by the state, her parents are raising the 2nd and the 3rd was taken by his father's parents.

At about 35 things got really, really bad. She went to a physicatric hospital, and was in and out for a while. Off her meds, and back on hard drugs. She tried to have her parents arrested for abuse (the most ridiculous thing ever if you knew these people). She became more and more delusional, hearing voices.

Around 40 she finally is in a quasi-permanant hospital; but she's been classified as a "danger to self" and has no personal rights. The Dr.s can force her to take injectable medication when she refuses. She's actually the most stable she's been for years, but we don't have much hope that she'll actually get better.

The thing that I've seen the most, is staying on medication really does help. Sometimes it takes a bit to find the right combination for the individual person, so try not to stress too much. I know my story must be a bit depressing, but my cousin, is a very, very, ill schizophrenic. She's not violent or dangerous to anyone, and she has a really supportive family. The problem is, past the age of 18, if someone doesn't want help, you can't force them to get it, unless they do something really bad to themselves, or someone else.

Best of luck, it's not an easy road.

EDIT: I'm really sorry about your younger brother. In light of that, he will be institutionalized for a bit, and least until they can guarantee his stability. If your parent's don't want to oversee his decisions, he'll become a ward of the state for a bit. Medication can help. With any luck you may get at least one of your brothers back.  

Answer 2

  My Uncle had it for a long time.  His was really bad, he thought that my grandmother was trying to kill him and he put a gun to her head.  He lived with her after his wife divorced him and he was hospitalized after that for a while.  

   When he got better, he was on meds which kept him to be able to function.  He ended up on social security because he couldn't keep a job.  He was always paranoid that someone was after him at work.  

  My Uncle had a very rough life and it is a shame that he was suffering for so long (since a young boy) without any help.  He died about 4 years ago from throat cancer...he was a chain smoker.

  The last conversation we had was I asked him if pschizophrenia runs in the family.  After all, I know that depression runs in our family and I suffer from that and I was scared that I would be in his shoes one day.    

Answer 3

I worked in a psychiatric hospital with schizophrenics. They are all different.

Here's some info:

"There are several types of schizophrenia, so signs and symptoms vary. In general, schizophrenia symptoms include:

    * Beliefs not based on reality (delusions), such as the belief that there's a conspiracy against you

    * Seeing or hearing things that don't exist (hallucinations), especially voices

    * Incoherent speech

    * Neglect of personal hygiene

    * Lack of emotions

    * Emotions inappropriate to the situation

    * Angry outbursts

    * Catatonic behavior

    * A persistent feeling of being watched

    * Trouble functioning at school and work

    * Social isolation

    * Clumsy, uncoordinated movements"

Answer 4

Schizophrenia is a very serious mental disorder.  I doubt your brother has it.

Read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophren...

Answer 5

Yeah she was really sweet and she'd have seizures and rock back and forth.  It was painful to see her in misery but I stood by her to make sure she was safe.

Answer 6

yes, my brother's baby's mom has it. she used to get really paranoid. she used to be a little whacky. when she was on her medicine she was fine but when she stopped taking it they took her to the mental hospital. she started doing heroin, and stopped taking it again. she went to rehab and they made her take it. she just got really outta hand. she used to call my mom's house like a zillion times a day. they took her to the ward and she was there for a couple weeks. the state took my niece. but now she is on the medicine again and things seem to be fine. i think she is still clean. long story short, if they take the medicine everything will be fine. if they are off it, sh*t gets crazy.

Answer 7

Yeah my best friend and he was gifted, intelligent, talented etc. He almost got signed when he was 16 but then went through depression and developed schizophrenia. How old is your brother? This condition usually has an onset of late teens and early adulthood. my advice would be to tell your parents so he can get evaluated and checked out and put on medications. My friend is still amazing just different now he doesn't like to go outside or talk on the phone so we chat on aim and if he moves to CA he wants to visit me or have me visit him but he also is bipolar with the schizophrenia so it's hard to know what is causing what there.

Answer 8

my dad has schizophrenia there are different types. the not so bad and severe cases.it like a duel personality. i used to take my boyfriends to meet my dad and hed talk to the good as gold then a mth later we would go back to visit and it was like my dad had never met him. i suggest google it 4 symtoms etc.