Strelitzia64Casual Contributor
Supporting a loved one who is experiencing psychosis
Hi, I am currently trying to support a very dear friend's daughter who is experiencing behaviours, attitudes, and symptoms of what I believe to be psychosis.
My own mental health journey includes trauma from sexual assault which occurred when I was younger (I will be 61 this year) anxiety and a period of time where I was agoraphobic, and PTSD as a result of the unexpected and extremely violent death of my father, at the hands of my mother. My father will have been dead for 10 years this upcoming June.
I have recently spent two days in the very close company of my loved one, and have come to realise that whilst they have been lucid at times, for the better part of the time we have recently spent together she was exhausting me by continually being focussed on things which were clearly extremely distressing for her. She has experienced violence (family and domestic violence) the imprisonment of two of her sons and their father, being involuntarily committed and treated for her schizophrenia in the past, and is currently homeless and living with her mother (who is my dear friend of 20+ years.)
She is refusing timely medical treatment for a recent physical injury which is causing her to deal with an enormous amount of pain and has restricted her movement. She self medicates (daily) with marijuana, and when she is able to afford them, harder drugs.
Recently she has been arrested, and charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and being an accessory to a crime.
She has an upcoming court date.
Most recently I accompanied her and acted as a companion, support and source of comfort while she attended court.
When she is lucid, we are able to communicate openly and freely, and have a deep love, care and respect for each other. When she is in the grip of psychosis, this falls by the wayside, and whilst I try my utmost to listen respectfully, acknowledge her concerns and fears, and don't offer my opinion or act any differently than I normally would, the beliefs and fears she holds are becoming more extreme and frequent. They cause her to behave in ways which have alienated her from the friends, family and loved ones who are so important to both her physical and mental health and wellbeing.
She is in danger of imprisonment, being attacked when she wanders the streets in the evening alone, and being influenced by her 'mates' (who are illegal drug users) to commit offences and antagonise police officers attempting to do their jobs.
I would like some guidance and advice from the members in this community who have undergone similar experiences, and what worked and helped them to support their loved one.
