mrdespues said:

You are coolness!! :hug;

Paranoid? Why do you ask?

ian said:

DUDE...
WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME???

This topic hits home!!!

My sister had kids with someone who is schizophrenic. He's not diagnosed as one but his actions and all the conspiracy shit he comes up with definitely confirm it. He didn't seem crazy in the beginning and his illness is compounded by the fact that he is also on drugs.

I wish I knew what to do. In my case, the guy is not only ill but he's violent and out of control. He's been terrorizing my family for the last 10 years. In my opinion, there is nothing you can do for your friend.

The frustrating thing about the father of my nephews is he obviously needs help but how do you make him get it? He claims that everyone else is crazy, not him. He has a brilliant mind which only compounds the issue. He knows so much and therefore thinks that he's right about not being sick and that everyone is conspiring against him.

Not too long ago we had an incident in which the cops were called. Across from his house was parked a van and in the van was someone who was sleeping. The neighbors have so many people living in their house that this person actually lives in their van. So Bob (father of my nephews), broke into the van to dismantle a video surveilance camera he was convinced was there. When he broke into the van he discovered that someone was sleeping in there and assaulted them and accused them of spying on him. He took off in his car, the neighbor called the cops.

The cops pull down one of the culdesacs and while they waited Bob comes back home. The cops approach him as he's getting out of the car and he starts flipping out. He started saying stuff like "just kill me, I have nothing to live for anyway" and the cop said that it sounded like he might need some professional help. To that he replied "Oh great, just give me more drugs. So in essence, he admits to breaking into this van and admits to being on drugs and within 15 minutes he has the cops laughing and they shake his hand and let him go!!!

The thing that is so frustrating in our situation is that even when this guy is breaking into cars and admitting to being on drugs, the cops don't do a goddamned thing! How are we going to be able to do anything about it?

Bob is convinced that surveillance camera's are positioned in front of his house, in back of it, inside the house. He has accused the police, the government and even my family of taping him. He is convinced that my family is in on these plots and there is no reasoning with him that it's not true.

I'm just as frustrated as you X, believe me. If we forced him into the hospital he'd not only never forgive us but he'd come out to exact revenge. This is a person who has threatened to kill people in my family, who has poisoned my mom's dog to death and has physically assaulted members of my family and threatened to burn the house down. How do you deal with this effectively? Some people say that he can't help his actions because he's ill to which I say bullshit. He's smart enough to live his life exactly the way he wants to live it and when under the gun can behave himself to save his ass. I wish he were dead already...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

So you're saying anyone with psychosis is beyond help? That's a load of bullshit, sorry.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

He IS obviously very ill, but not beyond help. The answer seems obvious to me. You need to call up your local hospital's mental health department and ask them to come and have a look at him, and give an explantion of his erratic history. This person should not be locked up, he should be taken in to professional care.

A person who imagines conspiracies against them CANNOT help these thoughts. It is a chemical imbalance which brings about disordered and delusional thinking. I know because I have been there personally although not to the magnitude of the person whom you describe. I used to put tape up on the windows of the apartment I lived in so nobody could see in...and I couldn't stop hearing the noises I heard in my head whether I wanted to or not. You need to stop this man from terrorising your family and the way to do it is to contact a professional...not the police...a psychiatrist or related mental health professional...and help him and your family out once and for all.
[This message was edited Wed Feb 5 17:38:31 PST 2003 by mrdespues]

mrdespues said:

Co-fucking-sign. There are a lot of very effective drugs out there. Clozaril for one.

Slip some in his alien burger one day then sit back and watch the magic.

2the9s said:

well, there's other stuff about him i didn't describe here, things he's told me in confidence about his past, which do kinda fit the symptoms of PS i read on the website. besides that, there's the fact that he's been wearin the same pair of pants for like, four years, (hygiene) talks about how he alone is living in a "pre-civilized" way, eschewing the rest of the world's trivial social rules and behaviors, the fact that he enjoys being mistaken for someone else and does nothing to correct people's misimpressions when they form them. i used to just think he was simply eccentric as he's extremely bright.
but you're right, i have only his word that he's been diagnosed as he says. he might not be telling the truth, i guess.

mrdespues said:

I really didn't mean to offend you. I was just expressing the serious frustration of this whole ordeal.

I understand he cannot help his thoughts etc... However whenever it benefits him, he can and will behave himself. He just got kicked out of his house by his mom and my sister has moved back home with her 3 kids (he and my sister lived in his mom's house and his mom is selling it). Now that he isn't in the position of controlling my sister, he's acting very nice and isn't stirring up trouble. Because he knows if he does, there aint gonna be nobody to help him. If he can control himself now, he can control himself at all times.

This really is his responsibility to want to get help. Even if we had him forcefully committed, who is going to insure that he takes his medication? I'm telling you, his mom just tried to have us commit him and I told my mother to leave that to her. She is after all his parent. I didn't want my family getting involved in committing him, especially with his violent tendencies. Who's going to protect my family from him when he is released from psychiatric care? Don't you have to have money to pay for his care? We can't afford that.

When I said that there is nothing that X can do for their friend, that really is the truth. Even if Xs friend and my sisters boyfriend are forcefully committed, it's still up to THEM to stay on medication... How do you insure that they keep on the meds?
[This message was edited Wed Feb 5 17:56:09 PST 2003 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]

2the9s said:

Right! And then you think of the mathematician...John Nash! That wasn't just a movie, god dammit!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Well I know the health system isn't that great in America, but here in Australia, the government helps to support people with a mental illness (so money is less of an issue). I don't see any harm in calling someone from the mental health department of your local major hospital and asking for some professional advice at least, if not an eye-to-eye evaluation.

I really sympathise with you, though. Living with someone with a mental illness can be hard.
[This message was edited Wed Feb 5 18:22:40 PST 2003 by mrdespues]

2the9s said:

What he was trying to say (i believe) is that he is tired. They tend to wear out those around them. It's difficult! There are times where you feel so worn down...

Hang in there XxAxX, and never underestimate the power of love.
The only experience that i've had with someone with PS proved that a little TLC can go a long way. Ultimately, the person suffering must 'desire' to be healthy before being receptive to suggestions of medical care. But if someone feels loved and appreciated then they'll be more likely to seek help.

Muse2noPharaoh said:

I know Muse, believe me. It is both emotionally and physically exhausting. I was just being humorous with my alien-burger comment. Humor was an important way for both of us to deal with this illness...

2the9s said:

Alien burger

MrBliss said:

I second that emotion...(but, I'm not scratching my ass )

2the9s said:

Clozaril is a wonderful medication -- especially for those who have tried other meds that haven't been effective. I work for the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences (and its practice plan) at a university and I've seen what Clozaril has done for our patients. Some of them have gone back to work and to school!
Here's a press release I wrote on it -- I think it contains some useful info:

Program improves lives of severely mentally ill
DETROIT – Sept. 4, 2002 – A program at [my workplace - ed.] is helping to improve the quality of life for some severely mentally ill members of the community.
The staff of the Comprehensive Approach to Psychosis and Schizophrenia clinic has worked diligently in creating a well-rounded, all-inclusive treatment program for its patients.
The success of the clinic is a direct result of the successful treatment of the patients themselves.
“One patient, who improved with treatment, started working at a job through recommendation from the clinic staff and another patient is eligible for work. The patients as a whole have responded well to the stability of the staff. They are more conversant, better groomed and talk to us about the problems they encounter day to day,” said Suzanne Manji, R.N.
“They love the individualized attention they receive. We have celebrated holidays with them, visited their homes and plan to celebrate their birthdays. They have reported that they like coming to the clinic and that they feel safe here,” she added.
The program is unique in that all aspects of treatment are housed in one clinic. Patients are examined, given their medications and receive therapy, as well as much needed social interaction and activities.
“This lends itself to a high patient compliance rate. Also, it is ideal for the patients’ caregivers who otherwise may need to arrange for transportation to several different locations for the various aspects of the patients’ treatment,” said R.P. Rajarethinam, M.D., director of the program and assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neurosciences at [local university - ed.]
Most of the clients are on the drug Clozaril (clozapine) -- an anti-psychotic medication for those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia are those who haven’t responded to at least two approved anti-psychotic medications or those who can’t tolerate the side effects of other anti-psychotic medications.
A typical treatment regimen begins at 8:30 a.m. when a transport service brings the clients from their adult foster care homes to the clinic.
The clients then undergo a nursing assessment after which their blood pressure, weight and temperature are recorded. Next they meet with the doctor for a medical review. The nurses draw their blood and a pharmacist dispenses the Clozaril.
They are given a two-week supply of the medication and receive a refill upon returning as long as their blood tests and other evaluations are satisfactory.
One of the reasons the clients are monitored so closely is to avoid the most serious side effect – agranulocytosis.
Agranulocytosis is a drop in the white blood cell count due to blood marrow suppression caused by the medication – the bone marrow is where white blood cells are created. If the white blood cell count drops low enough it could leave the patient open to infection and illness -- approximately 1-2 percent of those who take Clozaril experience agranulocytosis.
If the white blood cell count drops to a certain level the treatment is stopped and blood tests will continue for about four weeks afterward.
Adverse effects aside, Clozaril has helped many who suffer from schizophrenia experience a more productive and enriched lifestyle.
Clinicians are available for comments on this story and other related issues.

###

You could call some local mental health organizations to get some advice on how to get your friend in for treatment.
Good luck to you
[This message was edited Thu Feb 6 7:25:08 PST 2003 by applekisses]

WHY DO YOU ALL KEEP HOUNDING ME???
ALL I WANT IS TO GET SOME SLEEP...
PLEASE STOP LAUGHING AT ME!!!

applekisses said:

apples!

Sometimes I think Ben should put some in the Org water supply!

im schizophrenic and so am i

[/quote]

apples!

Sometimes I think Ben should put some in the Org water supply! [/quote]

It would probably stop all of the multiple accounts around here...

shausler said:

Sorry Shaus, but I'm gonna use your posting to correct a big misconception in our soceity. Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder are two completely different illnesses. Schizophrenia is a psychosis, while MPD is a neurosis. Schizophrenia is often mistaken for MPD, since the victim can seem to have a split personality (they often seem fine, but then suddenly flip out and start behaving erratically). This is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, which causes these personality "shifts".

MPD, on the other hand, is almost universally caused by a traumatic event in childhood. The victim creates various pesonalities in order to protect themselves from painful memories and events. This is a form of dissociation, and does not appear to be brought on by any sort of chemical imbalance. The victim is deflecting trauma away from them, quite simply.

The two illnesses are oppsite ends of the psychological spectrum. One is an actual physiological condition, while the other is purely psychological.

Sorry I don't know anything.

Who said that?

JediMaster said:

That is a great explanation!

Clear and concise. Well done

00769BAD said:

Now I see why we had a war...

JediMaster said:

thanks for clearing that up

im very up on the multiple persona thing

a kind person hooked me up with a link to a great website http://www.nami.org/ which is very helpful. gives detailed definitions and such. learning a lot

ps thanks everyone !!

XxAxX said:

NAMI is great! I should have thought of it, XxAxX. I'm sure they have a local chapter too.

Good luck!

shausler said:

Actually I was talking to two psychologists today and they told me that Multiple Personality Disorder is actually more of a fiction than a reality. I was surprised, but they said it doesn't exist in the real world and no one gets diagnosed with it. It is a product of Hollywood.

applekisses said:

Thankyou, too, applekisses.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 6 20:43:55 PST 2003 by mrdespues]