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My very good friend told me the other day that her Aunt was diagnosed as schizophrenic. She was calling her at all hours of the night, talking about monsters coming to get her and that people were looking in her windows. After several trips to her home, to help her with the intruders, she suggested that she go and see a doctor. The doctor said that she has paranoid schizophrenia and that she most likely will have to be on medication the rest of her natural life. She is 42 years old.
After a long conversation with my friend about the new diagnosis, we were trying to obtain information on how to deal with family members or how to help the family member deal with this disease.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder and the cause of it is still unknown to physicians. There are several theories such as depression, stress, traumatic issues, but there is really no known cause. Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic (long-term) brain disorder which interferes with your ability to think clearly, separate fantasy from reality, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to other people.
So what does one do to help someone that is clearly removed from reality? Patient Health International says that antipsychotic medicines can help to treat many of the symptoms of schizophrenia. Counseling, social and family support and rehabilitation are also vital to successful therapy. With antipsychotic medications, the patient may be able to function in real life although; many schizophrenics are prone to relapses if not medicated and are at a high risk to develop substance abuse issues.
Since there is no clear cause for schizophrenia, there is really no way to prevent the disease. It usually occurs in middle aged men although, as my story indicates, it also occurs in woman.
The Mayo Clinic provides some information on schizophrenia and that link can be found here http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/paranoid-schizophrenia/DS00862/DSECTION=coping%2Dand%2Dsupport.
Do you have any family members that are dealing with this disease? Do you have any suggestions on dealing with a person diagnosed with schizophrenia?
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The progression of the disease was just that, a progression. About a year ago, she began acting strangely as if there were people following her down the street or shaking here and there as if she was afraid of something, and even muttering things to herself. All of these things were pretty mild at the time and the family thought that she was maybe was experimenting in illegal drugs at the time.
As the disease progressed, she began calling my friend in the middle of the night and talking about strangers trying to get into her apartment, she argued with my friend that she was involved with her boyfriend, she threatened her with violence and even threatened my friend's children. Her Aunt lived alone in a one bedroom apartment, had no children or boyfriend so her accusations were a bit far fetched.
For a few months, she stopped receiving her Aunt's telephone calls and even changed her telephone number to stop the threatening abuse. After the short separation, she stopped at her house to visit. When she walked into the house, there were ripped magazines (newspapers) all over the floor, there were stacks of toilet paper up and down the walls of her apartment and it was clear that her Aunt was no longer working at this time. She told me that her Aunt was talking gibberish and made no sense in the real world. At this time, my friend called her Mother to take her Aunt to the hospital. This is when she was finally diagnosed.
It has been a long ordeal for the family. She was placed on medication to try and stop the delusions but she apparently forgets to take them on days and she is seen wandering the streets at night. They are out of sorts about how to deal with her for the rest of her life.
Institutionalize? They fear for the life of their children to take her into another family members house. Does anyone have any suggestions?
January 4, 2009 - 3:21pmThis Comment
Thanks for sharing such great information. Had your friend's aunt displayed any type of behavior in the past that would indicate that she may be at risk for schizophrenia? Or was this a sudden onset?
I also found it fascinating that the condition affects middle-aged men. My impression was always that it occurs in young women. Thank you.
January 4, 2009 - 11:02amThis Comment