Any ideas on how to get my adult son to go out?

Hi,

Do you have to be on a ITO to have a case worker? My daughter is exactly like your son but is not on medication. She has only been scheduled once but I know she will never live a normal life unless I continue to seek help for her. Everytime we have felt the need to ring the police and/or ambulance she either runs away or presents as completely "normal" when they arrive. She has guarded delusions, won't go out and won't go to doctor. She is 21 and a gorgeous soul. I miss her.

Get the inital help your loved one needs is definiately the hardest step. Calling the ambulance/police is one way - it is very emotionally draining as your loved one can see it as betrayal - but you are right, they must be presenting as a threat to themselves or others at the time.And they can hide it very well. Initially, I talked my son into going to the GP to claim the disability pension for depression (he thought he could fake depression but he didn't have to because he was depressed but in denial as he always been with his illness - he has schizophrenia) but shortly after, he had a very bad episode and was presenting when the ambulance was called. There is another way which requires a court order and a mental health assessment team come to the home and speak to the loved one at length and hopefully long enough to pick up on clues. I wish you well with this process because it is heartbreaking and very difficult but take it from someone who has been there, done that, having my son cared for and on meds is the best decision for both of you. And please, please, please take care of yourself.

ITO? Soundsgret. Treatment team?I'm envious.

In any case, interms ofgoing out, my 31 year old stopped going out countless years ago. The only time I managed to get him to goout was in 2009 when he had more hope. He always dremed of making films and I encouraged him to enter some work that he made at home (animation) and try to get accepted into a film cours. He did and went to film school, suffering and missing classess and taking medication.Since then,downhill.I lookfor reasons that I can't get something he wants so that he has to goto a shop.That's the main reason he leaves the house. Getting him to leave his room, well, that's another story.

I came across this forum while trying to find out where to turn, seeking somewhere after 2 years of not sharing it or talking about it to anyone else but my husband

My son has only recently been diagnosed schizophrenic and also has the social anxiety. It has taken a couple of years for this diagnosis!

He is on his third ITO and also does not believe he is ill and hates mental health. I can't help think it is something I have done to cause this illness, somehow, and I am so afraid he will get to the stage where he won't recover

It breaks my heart to see him so ill and he is so angry I have put him in hospital

I miss my son who I know is within him somewhere, he just needs to find his way out of his confused thinking and back home, but I don't know how many more times I can go through putting him in hospital

I too would like to know when I have my son back, how I can help him make new friends and enjoy life