Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Harold Anderson3 said:In a situation like this, I think a residential treatment center for adults with mental illness is likely the most viable option. There are several throughout the US, though I believe Key West is more focused on acute psychiatric hospital care rather than long-term residential living. The catch, of course, is that she has to agree to go, and those facilities aren't cheap—though that’s still better than letting her rack up a mountain of debt from unpaid utilities and other expenses.
My mother also struggles with schizophrenia, though her situation isn't quite as extreme as what you're describing.

Social services placed me with my grandparents, and my dad is a whole different story—he eventually moved out after a few years. He just doesn't want any part of dealing with her, so I'm trying to find a way through this. She flat-out refuses to go to a facility; she told me she'd rather end it all than have them come for her apartment. Thanks for the advice.

Robert Torres2 said:Social services placed me with my grandparents, and my dad is a whole different story—he eventually moved out after a few years. He just doesn't want any part of dealing with her, so I'm trying to find a way through this. She flat-out refuses to go to a facility; she told me she'd rather end it all than have them come for her apartment. Thanks for the advice.

I'm feeling pretty stuck on what to do when she refuses to move into a facility and starts making those suicide threats. To make matters more complicated, my mom is also resisting the idea of assisted living. Honestly, I think she'd be much better off in a place where she could get professional care 24/7, with regular meals and a level of comfort she just isn't getting while living all alone in her old house.

Robert Torres2, have you thought about reaching out to the USGS? They’re actually the ones in charge of handling cases involving legal guardianship and competency—it might sound pretty extreme at first glance, but it’s a process used for people who truly can't look after themselves, even with family or friends stepping in to help, and end up putting themselves or those around them at risk.

It’s honestly heartbreaking how easy it’s become to just dump someone into a mental health facility or a nursing home. It’s a disgrace. I feel like the world has lost its way; we just don't look after our parents like we used to. Honestly, if things were reversed, you'd probably be looking at an institution yourself. There’s just no way out of this mess. Your mother has lost her mind—likely from the sheer stress of life, though who knows what else. This doesn't happen for no reason. You can't just abandon her. Damn it. The only decent thing left to do is find some kind of care for her. If you can't handle it, maybe reach out to Social Services. Explain the situation to them. Tell them the truth: that your mom is sick, that she’s struggling with mental health issues, and that you simply aren't in a position to provide the care she needs right now. See what they say. They might not have all the answers, but they should at least point you toward the right agency or facility.

Jose Ward4 said:It’s honestly heartbreaking how easy it’s become to just dump someone into a mental health facility or a nursing home. It’s a disgrace. I feel like the world has lost its way; we just don't look after our parents like we used to. Honestly, if things were reversed, you'd probably be looking at an institution yourself. There’s just no way out of this mess. Your mother has lost her mind—likely from the sheer stress of life, though who knows what else. This doesn't happen for no reason. You can't just abandon her. Damn it. The only decent thing left to do is find some kind of care for her. If you can't handle it, maybe reach out to Social Services. Explain the situation to them. Tell them the truth: that your mom is sick, that she’s struggling with mental health issues, and that you simply aren't in a position to provide the care she needs right now. See what they say. They might not have all the answers, but they should at least point you toward the right agency or facility.

Jose, there is a massive difference between offering someone help and being expected to care for them as if they were a small child or someone completely incapacitated, when in reality, they are an adult who should be in their prime working years. My mom is 55, has been retired since she was 35, and currently, her monthly benefits are less than $567. That barely covers her utilities and groceries, let alone the $300-$$133 she spends on cigarettes every month. I personally chip in every single month, matching her entire pension just so she can maintain a decent standard of living. Even if she were in an assisted living facility, I’d still be paying the difference on top of her benefits, so this isn't about the money. I truly believe she would be better off in a professional care setting rather than living entirely on her own like this. I simply can't carry this entire burden by myself anymore because I have my own life to lead, and I live 186 miles away from her (she’s out in the Midwest while I work in Washington, D.C.). This isn't about trying to get rid of someone; it's about finding a way to ensure they are cared for without having to completely sacrifice my own existence to do it. You shouldn't be expected to do that, no matter how close you are to the person.

Harold Anderson3 said:I'm feeling pretty stuck on what to do when she refuses to move into a facility and starts making those suicide threats. To make matters more complicated, my mom is also resisting the idea of assisted living. Honestly, I think she'd be much better off in a place where she could get professional care 24/7, with regular meals and a level of comfort she just isn't getting while living all alone in her old house.

I get it. Totally agree. Plus, she might actually find some company, unless she starts picking fights with everyone there.

Eric Gray2 said:Robert Torres2, have you thought about reaching out to the USGS? They’re actually the ones in charge of handling cases involving legal guardianship and competency—it might sound pretty extreme at first glance, but it’s a process used for people who truly can't look after themselves, even with family or friends stepping in to help, and end up putting themselves or those around them at risk.

I'll look into that. Thanks.

Jose Ward4 said:It’s honestly heartbreaking how easy it’s become to just dump someone into a mental health facility or a nursing home. It’s a disgrace. I feel like the world has lost its way; we just don't look after our parents like we used to. Honestly, if things were reversed, you'd probably be looking at an institution yourself. There’s just no way out of this mess. Your mother has lost her mind—likely from the sheer stress of life, though who knows what else. This doesn't happen for no reason. You can't just abandon her. Damn it. The only decent thing left to do is find some kind of care for her. If you can't handle it, maybe reach out to Social Services. Explain the situation to them. Tell them the truth: that your mom is sick, that she’s struggling with mental health issues, and that you simply aren't in a position to provide the care she needs right now. See what they say. They might not have all the answers, but they should at least point you toward the right agency or facility.

Jose Ward4, first of all, it's easy for you to say "just put them in a home" when you haven't lived through what I have since I was a kid. Just stay out of it. My life is my own, and I won't let anyone, especially someone being aggressive, mess with it.

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Thanks, everyone. I'll see what the social workers suggest.

;73428027 said:I get it, and honestly, I feel the same way. She should at least have some kind of social circle, even if she ends up picking fights with everyone there.

I’ll look into that. Thanks.

Jose Ward4, first off, it’s easy for you to say "just stick everyone in a nursing home." You don't actually understand what I'm talking about or what I had to endure with her from the time I was a kid until I finally hit adulthood and ran for it. So, maybe just stay out of it. My life belongs to me, and nobody has the right to mess with it—especially not someone who's being aggressive.

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Thanks, everyone. I’ll head over to the social services office and see what my options are.

Hey Robert Torres2. Look, I was just trying to be helpful. Truly. And I feel for you and your mom. Well, mostly you. I won't get into all the heavy details, but my dad passed away from a really nasty cancer, and I was visiting an old friend today and saw something very similar happening in his house. When I thought about everything, I honestly don't know how he manages it all. His mom is also incredibly sick. Honestly, the best thing is that he doesn't complain at all. He has his own apartment and spends a ton of time taking them to doctors. But man, I was caught off guard. Once I got home, it all came rushing back, and if I had to go through that all over again with my own parents, I think I'd have a total breakdown. I guess I just conveniently forgot how hard it is. That's why I said what I said. Anyway, take care of your mother. No matter how difficult she is. Though, given that you already had to run away from her once before, maybe stepping back is actually the right move. I don't know all the specifics, but it doesn't seem like a lost cause. I really hope you can get this sorted out so you can finally have some peace of mind.

Has anyone else dealt with combining Depakote and Aripiprazole? Both have actually helped me—mostly because I can't stop complaining about my lack of focus. Now I'm starting to wonder if I should have just kept my mouth shut... especially since they were trying to scale my dosage down to the bare minimum.

I find myself at a complete loss regarding how to proceed.
Recently, my partner opened up to me, suggesting that he might be dealing with some sort of psychological issue.
He claims he can "hear voices" that are constantly talking about him.
It is difficult for me to take this at face value, frankly, because he is the type of individual who avoids any semblance of hard work and tends to dodge his responsibilities even when he's currently employed. To make matters more complicated, he has a colleague at his job who struggles with depression and is frequently out on medical leave.
He attempted to discuss this with his parents, but they don't seem to take him seriously at all; they argue that ever since he was a child, he has had an overactive imagination and a tendency to "embellish" the truth.
The reality is... life is never dull with him, as I seem to discover something new about this man every single day; he was quite the charmer when we first met, but he has been caught in lies far too many times.
There have also been instances of bizarre behavior and an intense, irrational paranoia regarding other men, which occasionally leaves me wondering if there is an underlying clinical condition at play.
Now, he is insisting on seeking professional treatment, but we are all deeply concerned that if he is simply manufacturing these symptoms, he will end up being handed a diagnosis and a heavy regimen of medication just because he insists he has schizophrenia—given that his grandmother suffered from the same thing. In my more cynical moments, I suspect he is inventing this illness merely to avoid having to work.
Does anyone have any advice?

Just so we're clear—hearing "voices" isn't the sole diagnostic benchmark for schizophrenia. It’s not like someone can just stroll into a clinic, tell a psychiatrist they're hearing things, and walk out with an automatic diagnosis and a prescription. If they aren't feeling right, they should go see a doctor. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be losing sleep over whether they're faking a mental illness—doctors have plenty of ways to spot a simulation—I'd be much more concerned about the actual relationship you're in, where he's lying to you and, if I'm reading the situation correctly, dealing with some pretty intense jealous outbursts.

Hannah Edwards12 said:I find myself at a complete loss regarding how to proceed.
Recently, my partner opened up to me, suggesting that he might be dealing with some sort of psychological issue.
He claims he can "hear voices" that are constantly talking about him.
It is difficult for me to take this at face value, frankly, because he is the type of individual who avoids any semblance of hard work and tends to dodge his responsibilities even when he's currently employed. To make matters more complicated, he has a colleague at his job who struggles with depression and is frequently out on medical leave.
He attempted to discuss this with his parents, but they don't seem to take him seriously at all; they argue that ever since he was a child, he has had an overactive imagination and a tendency to "embellish" the truth.
The reality is... life is never dull with him, as I seem to discover something new about this man every single day; he was quite the charmer when we first met, but he has been caught in lies far too many times.
There have also been instances of bizarre behavior and an intense, irrational paranoia regarding other men, which occasionally leaves me wondering if there is an underlying clinical condition at play.
Now, he is insisting on seeking professional treatment, but we are all deeply concerned that if he is simply manufacturing these symptoms, he will end up being handed a diagnosis and a heavy regimen of medication just because he insists he has schizophrenia—given that his grandmother suffered from the same thing. In my more cynical moments, I suspect he is inventing this illness merely to avoid having to work.
Does anyone have any advice?

If his grandmother had it, there's definitely a genetic predisposition involved.

Hannah Edwards12 said:I find myself at a complete loss regarding how to proceed.
Recently, my partner opened up to me, suggesting that he might be dealing with some sort of psychological issue.
He claims he can "hear voices" that are constantly talking about him.
It is difficult for me to take this at face value, frankly, because he is the type of individual who avoids any semblance of hard work and tends to dodge his responsibilities even when he's currently employed. To make matters more complicated, he has a colleague at his job who struggles with depression and is frequently out on medical leave.
He attempted to discuss this with his parents, but they don't seem to take him seriously at all; they argue that ever since he was a child, he has had an overactive imagination and a tendency to "embellish" the truth.
The reality is... life is never dull with him, as I seem to discover something new about this man every single day; he was quite the charmer when we first met, but he has been caught in lies far too many times.
There have also been instances of bizarre behavior and an intense, irrational paranoia regarding other men, which occasionally leaves me wondering if there is an underlying clinical condition at play.
Now, he is insisting on seeking professional treatment, but we are all deeply concerned that if he is simply manufacturing these symptoms, he will end up being handed a diagnosis and a heavy regimen of medication just because he insists he has schizophrenia—given that his grandmother suffered from the same thing. In my more cynical moments, I suspect he is inventing this illness merely to avoid having to work.
Does anyone have any advice?

Based on what she's saying, I think this guy is a very strange individual.

Hannah Edwards12 said:I find myself at a complete loss regarding how to proceed.
Recently, my partner opened up to me, suggesting that he might be dealing with some sort of psychological issue.
He claims he can "hear voices" that are constantly talking about him.
It is difficult for me to take this at face value, frankly, because he is the type of individual who avoids any semblance of hard work and tends to dodge his responsibilities even when he's currently employed. To make matters more complicated, he has a colleague at his job who struggles with depression and is frequently out on medical leave.
He attempted to discuss this with his parents, but they don't seem to take him seriously at all; they argue that ever since he was a child, he has had an overactive imagination and a tendency to "embellish" the truth.
The reality is... life is never dull with him, as I seem to discover something new about this man every single day; he was quite the charmer when we first met, but he has been caught in lies far too many times.
There have also been instances of bizarre behavior and an intense, irrational paranoia regarding other men, which occasionally leaves me wondering if there is an underlying clinical condition at play.
Now, he is insisting on seeking professional treatment, but we are all deeply concerned that if he is simply manufacturing these symptoms, he will end up being handed a diagnosis and a heavy regimen of medication just because he insists he has schizophrenia—given that his grandmother suffered from the same thing. In my more cynical moments, I suspect he is inventing this illness merely to avoid having to work.
Does anyone have any advice?

Unlikely he's making it up. Given the genetic predisposition... my modest opinion. Personally, people with Schizophrenia don't strike me as "sick"... I see it more as an expanded state of consciousness. Some people lean into the excess, others don't.

Why do People with Schizophrenia see Things (Schizophrenia Explained)?

Speaking of Vincent van Gogh, there was actually a wonderful film made quite recently featuring Willem Dafoe...
The movie is truly excellent; it depicts his time spent at a psychiatric hospital...

Despite their extensive education, their direct work with people, and their vast experience, psychiatrists can often turn out to be incredibly egotistical individuals driven by a thirst for power; they cling to the notion that their recollection of your session is the only absolute truth, and when you attempt to question why they said or did a specific thing during a previous appointment, the mere act of seeking clarity can inflict profound emotional pain.

I find myself unable to stop ruminating on the words and actions of my ego-driven therapist from our last session, and I am convinced that attempting to seek any explanation for her behavior regarding our recent encounters will only serve to deepen my suffering. Therefore, I believe the most prudent course of action is to sever ties with her without offering any explanation whatsoever.

Furthermore, when one finds oneself expecting a meaningful dialogue with such an egoist—someone whose function is paramount in my life and whose conversation is vital—one might consider secretly recording the interaction and creating a transcription, which could then be password-protected; thus, when I return to them with a question and they claim they never uttered certain words, I could simply present a large-print transcript to them so they may read it easily and immediately, thereby preventing them from hiding behind the excuse of "context."

It sounds Orwellian, does it not, but is it not also utterly terrifying? And precisely because it feels so daunting, I never developed the habit of secretly recording conversations, and now, in light of these circumstances, I feel a deep sense of regret for lacking that precaution.

And yet, psychiatrists still have the audacity to feel victimized, sorrowful, or indignant when they observe a patient cycling through several different doctors over the course of many years.

I headed in for my regular monthly checkup today, and I just got my next injection of aripiprazole after letting a month slip by.
My doctor mentioned she’s noticed things have been sliding downhill over the last week—mostly some brain fog, pretty intense mood swings, and a general sense of losing my grip on reality—all because I haven't been sticking to my medication schedule. She also decided to scale back my antidepressant from nearly the maximum dose down to something more moderate, since she thinks having that much Zoloft in my system might just cause total chaos in my head and makes me way too drowsy.
I'm hopeful that things will start to level out in a few days if I can actually stay consistent with everything, especially the Seroquel.

Ever since you and a few other key players left, this entire discussion has completely lost its spark.

I truly hope you’re staying busy with steady work, and that your paycheck arrives on time and reflects the actual value of everything you do.

A friend of mine living with schizophrenia receives a monthly injection of Depakote.

P. S. That figure in your profile picture looks incredibly familiar to me, almost as if he were a famous painter. If you don't mind my asking, who is he?

Nicole Barrett76 said:Ever since you and a few other key players left, this entire discussion has completely lost its spark.

I truly hope you’re staying busy with steady work, and that your paycheck arrives on time and reflects the actual value of everything you do.

A friend of mine living with schizophrenia receives a monthly injection of Depakote.

P. S. That figure in your profile picture looks incredibly familiar to me, almost as if he were a famous painter. If you don't mind my asking, who is he?

Yeah, I'm working, though I suppose the pay could be a little better; then again, maybe I should probably be more careful with my budget since I tend to blow too much money on things I don't really need.

Harold Anderson3 said:Yeah, I'm working, though I suppose the pay could be a little better; then again, maybe I should probably be more careful with my budget since I tend to blow too much money on things I don't really need.

Is it not possible that those dealing with chronic conditions—whether mental or physical—are actually less inclined to waste money on frivolous trifles?

Perhaps they only spend on things they genuinely believe might aid their recovery. And honestly, isn't that just part of life? You try something out, hoping it offers even a modicum of relief, only to see if it truly works. Ultimately, so much of this comes down to more than just scrolling through medical forums; it requires a bit of personal experimentation.

So, I am not entirely certain... perhaps you are worrying far too much about what you have already spent.

The most vital thing is to avoid squandering your time. No one can truly know how much time they have left, and if there is any resource that is truly irreplaceable, it is time wasted in vain.

You can earn money over and over again, only to lose it all. You can become a millionaire, fall into poverty, and then climb back to wealth once more. But time? Time is the one thing no one can ever get back.

nimblemaker5 said:Why do People with Schizophrenia see Things (Schizophrenia Explained)?

Speaking of Vincent van Gogh, there was actually a wonderful film made quite recently featuring Willem Dafoe...
The movie is truly excellent; it depicts his time spent at a psychiatric hospital...

Speaking of Vincent van Gogh, there was that great movie made recently starring Willem Dafoe...
It’s actually a fantastic film; it really dives into that period he spent staying at a psychiatric hospital...

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Basically? They haven't got a clue.

They don't really have a handle on how to classify these mental health disorders, let alone define them properly. And don't even get me started on their actual understanding of what these conditions entail...