Having schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder, how do you cope?

Question

my friend has both of these illnesses but hasn't told her parents i honestly don't know how they don't know she's had many episodes with them around but they don't care. She's changed so much.

Is there any way of coping without going to the doctor.

Answer 1

i would question her having multiple personality disorder, this is a very complex diagose and i doubt it would be possible without her parents knowing because in both of these conditions it would be likely she would have to have carers during her episodes..

is it possible your friend is a bit confused and maybe confusing her feelings for these..

if you genuinely feel she is ill, talk to her parents, people with those conditions are highly impulsive and she could be a danger to herself or others,,

if you know its your responsibilty to get get her help..

Answer 2

These two disorders aren't seen together.

Your friend needs to see a doctor.  Neither you nor she are qualified to make a diagnosis.  There are too many other illnesses that could look like either of these, including medical ones.

Your friend needs to talk to her parents, see her regular doctor for a check up to rule out medical causes, describe her symptoms, and then be evaluated by a psychiatrist as needed.

Seriosly, stop playing doctor and encourage your friend to get help.  If she's 16, she doesn't need her parents okay to see a doctor.  If she's under, she still can talk to a school counselor.  In either case, she still should talk to her parents and you should be the supportive friend, not the diagnostician which is probably not helping.

Answer 3

well, i suggest she go to the doctor  

Answer 4

If she hasn't gone to the doctor, how does she know that is what she has? First of all, multiple personality disorder is rarely, if ever any more, diagnosed. Some psychologists question its existence, myself being one of them.

Schizophrenia is a VERY serious disorder, it's not diagnosed very often in children or young adults. Men typically have the onset in their mid to late 20s and women typically have the onset in their late 20s into their 30s.

If your friend is exhibiting any signs of either of these she need to  seek professional help immediately! She MUST talk to her parents. These are serious problems and should not be handled without professional assistance.

Answer 5

There is no way of "coping" with schizophrenia without professional medical attention.  How does your friend even know if they have these conditions if they haven't been diagnosed by a doctor?  

Answer 6

Your friend might not have them illnesses. If you're so concerned, maybe she does have something wrong - but not necessarily these. Delusions and hallucinations can be common to a lot of mental disorders, not just schizophrenia. They can also be caused by lack of sleep. Your friend isn't just going to 'cope', she needs to see a doctor. If you think there is something wrong, encourage her to see a doctor and explain her symptoms. They can then give her a formal diagnosis and go on to treat her. Schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder are both very serious illnesses and it's hard for anyone to deal with them. Even with professional help, it can be extremely hard. For this reason, she needs some help - even if it's just to see if there is something wrong.

I don't have any experience with multiple personality disorder, but I do suffer from schizophrenia. When I was fourteen, I started doing heroin and I became an addict. For years, I carried on the way I was until I was seventeen and we found out that I was majorly depressed and schizophrenic. At first, I refused treatment because I thought that I could deal with them on my own. I was already a drug addict so that didn't help, either. People found out what was wrong with me and generally decided to avoid me, calling me a 'psycho' and a 'freak'. That left me with not many friends and very low self esteem. I became violent towards people, I heard voices telling me to hurt myself and others. I would see people with knives, blood pouring from walls and my Dad - who was dead. It got to a point where I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what was not. I became increasingly paranoid and believed that my family were trying to take my brother away from me. I thought that MI5 were after me and that all my friends were helping them to catch me. I was unable to sleep, eat and think properly. My whole life was ruled by people I thought were real, who I thought were my friends and wanted to help me. I became suicidal because I couldn't deal with all my delusions and hallucinations. I would hear people calling me stupid and telling me to kill myself. In the end, I was admitted into hospital because I was considered a danger to myself and others.

I wish that I'd gotten help before it got so bad. If you think your friend has a problem, convince her to go to the doctor. If she won't, take it into your own hands and tell a responsible adult. At least get it checked out, for your friend's sake.