My Friend is Schizophrenic, and Uses it as an excuse.?

Question

I know this girl who is clearly schizophrenic. Her family refuses to accept she has a condition...a condition the whole name suffers with. They are all in denial. The mother of this child is constantly being arrested for doing horrible things, and going in and out of institutions.

This child knows and understand there is something wrong with her mental state. Even though she realizes it, she refuses to act on it. She allows her condition to get worse.

When she is mad, she does things outrageous, such as burning pictures in the middle of her room. Something not only heartless, but dangerous. And after doing horrible things, instead of apologizing, she blames it on her condition.

I'm sick of this ****. She is completely out of control. She thinks everyone loves her one day, then is out to get her later. She is completely obsessed with starting fights for no reason.

I wish she would stop doing this and get help.

I have not told her how I feel, cause one of my friends did and she lost it. (screaming and banging her head on a post)

What can I do to help her? On this path, she is clearly going to end up in jail, or even died. Hurting people in the process.

Answer 1

During no part of your story do you mention anything that is actually a symptom of schizophrenia. Perhaps you are mistaken? Perhaps she has some form of personality disorder, or mood disorder? All you can really do is distance yourself from her. It is like a drunk or junkie, if they don't want to change you can't make them.

Answer 2

I had a roommate who was bipolar (she had one minor episode before, which her parents neglected to tell me about). She had a major psychotic attack and barricaded me in my room until the police managed to get it open. With UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS, there isn't much you can do--if you're around anyone who is honest-to-goodness bipolar or schizophrenic, it's like being strapped to a time bomb (THIS ANALOGY REFERS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING TREATED). You can do nothing but try to get her to seek professional help. If she realizes that she's unwell, you might be able to work with that--confront her with, but slowly and in a non-confrontational way. If you are around her and she becomes psychotic, call the police (which will at least get her to the hospital and under someone's care). Good luck--and remember, your safety comes first.

Answer 3

Talk to a counselor at your school.  If she has symptoms and the school is concerned, they can intervene with her parents and/or call social services.  

Btw, ppl with bipolar or schiz who are med responsive and med compliant are not ticking time bombs.  We are like pretty much anyone else.