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Friends, families and carers

Living with a Schozophrenic

Living with a Schozophrenic

My wife is 53 years of age and suffers from Schizophrenia. We have been married for 23 years and she has been in and out of acute psychosis more than thirty times. Two times hospitalisation and the rest I have managed at home with medications. Recently she changed her medications and now I don’t have the acute episodes but I have an emotionless, un motivated, disconnected wife. I am at my wits end . I don’t know what to do. I want to love her but where has she gone.

i feel bad but what about my needs

7 replies

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In response to: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

@Mikee hello and welcome.

Your post touched me deeply. I've experienced it from the other side. I saw the despair in someone previously close, at my personality change . Some have called it a "chemical straitjacket". I lost the chance of pursuing the relationship - my decision, when put on the spot. I attended his funeral many years later, and was saddened to hear of his lonely life's trajectory.

Has your wife been on the new medication long? Would it be possible for her prescriber to taper down ("titrate") the dose to a lower maintenance level? That's helped me a bit. I've continued to be monitored and can increase the meds under supervision when needed. It feels as though my longterm affect has been ongoing depression but I went about 20 years without significant psychosis.

I think it's important to talk about what's happening as the emotional and behavioural changes can be profound. And there can also be significant metabolic changes affecting general health and wellbeing.

It's also important for you to have support - family, friends, other carers. It must have been a huge effort to care for your wife as she cycled through psychoses, and there must be grief and loss at present.

I'll tag my friend @Shaz51 who's a carer herself, and she'll be able to tag you into the carers' threads and social groups.

Take care. I'm glad you reached out.

In response to: Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Hello and welcome @Mikee

This is a thread you can click onto and have a look

Coping Toolbox ( what is in yours to help you cope )

@Lapis_Anteater , @moderator can we move this to the family and carers space

@Dimity

In response to: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

@Mikee , I am interested in what you said about " what about my needs "

Love to hear more if you like to share about you

In response to: Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Thanks for the suggestion @Shaz51 The post has been moved now. 🙂

@Mikee Thanks for posting. 🌱

In response to: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

hi @Mikee

thank you for posting and sharing some of your story.

your needs are important and self care is crucial.

In response to: Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Yes thank you 😊 @RadAcceptance20

In response to: Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

Re: Living with a Schozophrenic

@Shaz51 🎆 Success

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