Yes, I can relate, and there is valid reason to be beyond irritated by this disease. I find myself angry – then realize it’s not so much at my son, but at the demands this disease places on caregivers, myself included. There’s no reason to deny our emotions – they are real! Perhaps focusing on some self care – refilling your cup – may help ..read more

Of course I have felt that irritation, almost on a daily basis. I think it is part of the grief process at losing forever to schizophrenia the independent adult that my daughter was before she got ill. And in addition, I sometimes still get surprised at her regular criticism of me for seemingly insignificant things. My life would have been totally different now if she hadn’t gotten ill. However, I chose to help her get better and to help her stay better at my own cost. That includes having her live with me as otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to survive ..read more

First I just want to say that I’m incredibly sorry that you’re dealing with this it’s a lot between your children and your partner and your own health as a fellow parent I just want to reach out and give you a a hug. I don’t have really specific advice for you about your partner, but as a parent who doesn’t have a lot of family and a partner who suffers from a different mental illness, I know it can feel very alone and overwhelming! I would say take any and all resources that are being offered that’s great that the hospital has noticed and hope that that can be really good starting point for y ..read more

Dunno where to start. My partner of 10 years suddenly started to change rapidly. Never seen hardly anything in last 10 years, i thought he may be on spectrum but never thought this We have children together with additional needs one very medically complex. One just had a kidney transplant he had my kidney end of april so im still not fully healed… My partner is struggling started with twitching and constantly hearing voices he says he dont know what they are saying, he twitching alot saying hes turning to the voices plus hes hallucinating he has also cut himself hes had an emergency appointmen ..read more

Daughter doing very well, but suddenly I’ve lost all patience with the level of attention and support she still requires. It could be because, after completely focusing all my energy on her for eight years, I thought i could focus on my own needs, passions, training, and starting up a business. I work out of my home and she lives with us. The interruptions are constant, even though i have made my boundaries clear. Her meltdowns anger me. I wasn’t like this before. Everything was about getting her better. I’m feeling jealous about this being “my time.” Shes not in crisis, but the nature of the ..read more

I had a therapist for a while after my loved one was involuntarily. The best thing i learned was to be normal when they are able to come back home. Dont ask them if they are ok all the time or if they need stuff. Just be like i would normally be around them. Take Care ..read more

oldladyblue: I had to overcome my own nasty attitude towards her acting out MANY times, reminding myself it was the illness talking and not really my daughter… This has been one of the greatest challenges for me. Please do not put yourself down in any way. It really is the illness talking as you said. I have also noticed after a period of time where things are going well i just plain forget which is probably supposed to happen. Take Care ..read more

Hi, This is an embarrassing topic to address, but it is good to know I am not alone in dealing with this situation. My 28 year old son with SZ has made many passes at my daughter and myself over the last 5 years. He was diagnosed about 8 years ago. He does it off and on. He has grabbed my butt once and he was yelling sexual things he wanted me to do to him in the car once. I was so shocked and upset that time that I called the police, who couldn’t do anything cuz he stopped. He has numerous times told his sister how attracted he is to her. He had also sent sexual pics of himself to us on our g ..read more

Greetings, Hope this finds you well! I’m writing on behalf of a dear friend of mine who is yet undiagnosed with any particular disorder but who has, over the past two years, had a series of… what I, to the limits of my understanding, would call nothing-short-of psychotic episodes accompanied by extreme religious overtones which culminate in suicide attempts. One was very close to successful. The person in question is within the 28 – 32 y/o range. The family is unwilling to face the potential realities of the situation and writes it off to depression/confusion and proceeds to hope things would ..read more

lhead55: I cannot get over the fact that Kansas has allotted up to $41,000 per the developmentally disabled individual for housing, food, jobs, transportation, etc. and $0 for the chronically mentally ill. Our family members are SO much more difficult to help, it’s frustrating. A Houston area group set out to create housing for people living with schizophrenia - they had private funds but couldn’t get any help from Texana. Texana asked them for help with a daytime clubhouse. Who attends the clubhouse events you might ask? Developmentally disabled individuals love the clubhouse events. Some ..read more