Son (22) with schizophrenia

@eudemonism@Shaz51@Former-Member@Libra@Former-Member

Welcome libra and eudemonism!

I havent got a lot of time to write so just a quick note:

My son has started these anxiety tablets and I am starting to see a difference!

He has packed his suitcase already, he has been talking to his sister, asking her what to pack (he asked if she had coffee and towels there lol) he has cleaned the fish tank and.... he sleeps like a baby! He falls asleep within an hour of taking his medication, and he says he feels less doped up during the day!

He said he had also walked to the shops and bought 2 packets of tobacco with filters en papers. He said he didnt want to overpay for it in QLD lol

He said when he walked out of the shop with the tobacco in his backpack, a homeless guy asked him for a smoke, and he replied "I don't smoke" - now when he told me this he laughed and laughed I havent seen him giggle like that for such a long time....

@Libra I hear you about the stuff that your son says and does, it just breaks your heart, so much suffering in their minds. How do you cope?

The only tip I can give you is, it is your sons reality, be patient and understanding and empathetic, but also have your boundries.

If all else fails, and you feel threatened in any way, or he tries to harm himself or others, ring the Police.

It is too hard to deal with that behaviour yourself, then YOUR safety is a must. I hope never to be in this situation myself, but I am well aware someone suffering a psychosis is capable of a lot of destruction if left untreated.

Looking after yourself is not easy, I would love to have some time out, go for a break without him and knowing he is in good hands, but there is just nothing and nobody else he is interested in living with, definitely not wanting to be part of this society with money, greed, wars, starvation, him paying rent or bills.

So it'll be just me for now, and I take him with me where ever i travel to. I think it does him good, seeing other people, I sort of wish I was home more with him and work a bit less, but on the other hand, work can be so therapeutic for me and it pays for our home, car, and it enables us to see our family interstate and overseas.

@eudemonism

thanks so much for what you wrote. I am very interested in how you see the world, yourself and others.

I hope you write to us more as people like yourself have very intelligent minds, just so very misunderstood by mainstream.

My son has family members that dont want to know him anymore, and he has spent a lot of sleepless nights thinking about it. What is your advice I can give him?

He is meeting an aunty and uncle during his sisters engagement party and he wants to be prepared and dont stand there like a stunned mullet if they all of a sudden do decide to say something to him.

Specially the aunty is adamant she wants an apology from him for something he has said years ago.

I think its going to be more of a matter of them giving him the cold shoulder.

I have asked him, what would you like to see happen, would you like to have a conversation with them?

He said he is absolutely not interested as they live different lives.

I said well, there's your answer and support you all the way. But it doesnt seem to be that simple. His own dad deserted him and I think thats where the anxiety comes from, he is scared to say something wrong, do something stupid so he just shuts up but his mind is going 100 miles an hour. He has also spent time with his mental health worker going over this, so time will tell how the engagement is going to turn out.

I'm signing off now, I spent too much time on the forum again, and I have a suitcase to pack!

Love to you all!

Grasshopper3

so pleased to hear that medication has provided such relief for him...

of course sleep being so very important..

love the humour .."I don't smoke"

as for apology for aunty...aunty is the one who needs to dig deep within herself and resolve her own fears not project them onto others..

your son has every right to say hello and walk away if greeting not accepted graciously...

we do not need judgemental people in our lives and definitely have the right to not associate with them

good luck on your big trip xx

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@eudemonismwrote:
@Grasshopper3accepting people for who they are is important. Also feeling valued is important. Others boundaries are just as important as an individuals. Eude.

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spot on @eudemonism

I know that your son would relate to this response from Eude @Grasshopper3

I also seem to remember the first time that you posted about the issue with his aunt...that it was some petty reaction on her part...

Hi guys,

First of all, I'd like to say that I find it hard to navigate these pages...how to reply to a certain person, or just post something, any tips?

Thanks for all the kind words and support. I have seen my son a few times since I last posted and he was very distressed about his Centerlink payments, we tried to log on and report and it wouldn't work, so he kept telling me that my phone had been "intercepted". Apparently he is not due to report till next Wednesday...

He was panicking about not being able to pay rent and buy food. He has a case manager, and I've yet to find out what they do for my son. I tried to call him but was told he was off sick.

I've been continuing with my counselling, and made a break through this week... that this is the situation now, that my son may never be without the voices and delusions, so this is what I have to accept. It has helped, and all I can do now is support him, care for and love him. He has told me that the doctors are pumping his body with drugs and trying to damage him. I told him that they are just doing their jobs and want to help. My counsellor has suggested that I back off a little and let my son try to manage more by himself, and to stop running eveytime he demands it.

When he had trouble logging on to Centerlink and it wouldn't go through, he said, I'm so over all this, it makes me suicidal...which he has said many times before. I try to tell him that we will work it all out, just relax and and I'll make some calls. (I have never made so many phone calls in my life, looking for help and assistance!)

I realise now that many many families are dealing with similar s**t, thanks for reading,

Cheers Libra xo