I'm so lost! Please help me?

Question

Yesterday my fiancee was committed to the psych ward because he's having a really bad schizophrenic episode. Well I went home last night and everything is a disaster! I'm going to clean the house back up for him when he gets home. But is it normal for schizophrenic people to do REALLY odd things? Like break up light bulbs, and make balls of string, and put things totally out of their place (Mustard in the living room, hammers in the kitchen). I went home last night and after seeing how sick he was from the things he had done, I was heart broke. I couldn't sleep or eat. Is there anyway to keep a schizophrenic on their meds? I can't bare seeing him in such a condition ever again.

Answer 1

It is normal for schizophenics to do odd things.  However, he may have some coexisting disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder also.  The main reason schizophenics are readmitted to inpatient care is the fact that they won't take their medication.  When they are in the hospital, staff makes sure they take their medication.  They also have the incentitive of getting out to take their medication while they are there.  However, when they get out and their symptoms are decreased, they sometimes think they are cured and stop taking the medication.  Also, some of the medications have undesirable side effects, including sexual dysfunction.  They will stop taking their medication if the side effects are too disruptive to their lives.  However, this brings back their symptoms.  Sometimes if their symptoms include delusions that the medication is poison or that they are not sick and dont need the medication, it becomes a downward spiral.  Maybe you could ask his doctor if he could prescribe deconoate injections for him.  Of course, in order for the doctor to discuss his plan with you, he/she will need your fiancee's consent.  Decanoate injections are injections that a person receives at two, three, or four week intervals.  This eliminates the need for them to take all or some of their oral medications.  They are injected deep into the muscle and are released over a period of time.  He must accept that he has an illness that requires the medication.  If not, he will not take it.

Answer 2

It isn't normal for a schizophrenic.      It isn't normal to BE a schizophrenic---that in itself is abnormal, and abnormal behaviour is a characteristic of most mental illnesses.

You need to think twice about this situation.   While he's your fiance and you love him, I don't feel that it's fair to children to be exposed to this type of individual.    

There isn't any way to really force these people to take their medication.      They begin to feel better, and think that they don't need it, and then it's another episode.          

Answer 3

you may need to force the meds down his throat if he appears not to be taking them....just ikeep an eye on him and make sure he visists the doc if he starts having really bad episodes

Answer 4

:[

It's what they do...they can't really control it very much, and the most you can do is try to monitor her..him... ( im confused..fiancee is a female, but you say him ...so i'll assume him )

well the most you can do is try to monitor his taking of the meds...but you can't force or make him take it:[

like someone else already said, you should decide now if you want to put up with this for the rest of your lives together.

i dont know what hes like when hes not having an episode

for all i know, it could totally be worth dealing with

but then you have to think, sometimes they dont always get out of those episodes

but since youre not asking if you should stay with him, i won't go into a little sermon about that.

but yeah, the most you can do is monitor him, and ask him and encourage him to take it

:[ other than that, i'm sorry for what you two have to go through.

it's gotta make life tough :[

i wish the best of luck to youuuu

and illl prayyy

Answer 5

I don't have personal experience of schizophrenics but yes they do suffer major delusions and paranoia. I do have experience of a close relative with bipolar disorder though, the other great psychotic illness. I am sure the things you describe are caused by his illness. Sometimes people with a serious psychotic illness become stable on medication and are able to lead a normal life but others are in and out of hospital all their lives. Our whole society tells us not to take drugs but the only way you can deal with this sort of illness is to take the drugs. All you can do is encourage him to take the medication and support him through the bad times.

Good luck,

Geoff

Answer 6

You need to keep your eyes wide open. Is this what you want for the rest of your life?(only possible answers are "yes" or "no").

No way to make a sick person take medicine. It's up to the patient(that's the law!). No way to make them go to the hospital either(that's the law) unless the patient is a danger to himself or others.