Son (22) with schizophrenia

I just finished writing to the ABC about that article. Didn't like the incorrect terminology "acute schizophrenic breakdown" instead of "psychotic episode" thus reinforcing the common view linking Sz with violence as if all people suffering from the illness are violent. Later the journalist mentions "long term canabis use" linking Sz with drugs as if all people suffering from the illness take drugs. Certainly a sad and worrying story but they could have also highlighted the lack of support on all levels, cutbacks to funding (local CAT team is no longer available all hours), lack of hospital space, lack of residential facilities for those unable to manage themselves, and so on. The usual list of web links is provided but no mention of seeing a GP, CAT teams, involuntary admissions or more direct approaches. @Former-Member, yep... I just finished a coffee.

Hi @lapses

I believe that statistics show that people with schizophrenia are more likely to be a victim of violence rather than a perpetrator. The prevalence of violence in psychiatric patients is similar to that of the general population, substance abuse and childhood conduct disorders can increase a patients risk of aggressive behaviours.

Hello @patientpatient

Thank goodness someone has taken that step.

About 2 hours ago I wrote a huge rant about MI and the public health system and etc etc etc

I was too frightened to post it in the end thinking that everyone will think that I have finally lost it.

I just feel so angry about the apathy.

then i read about this!!

need to simmer before posting anything else

thank you

Sorry @Former-Member about what happened with your tooth.

I'm glad that you were happy with your treatment at the Dental Surgery though.

Personally,I've often found Dental Surgeries and Doctors Surgeries to be like chalk and cheese.

I just wanted to remind you that you are doing a great job with your son and it's a terrible situation that family members are left in as there is often little support from healthcare workers apart from lengthy (and sometimes fruitless) assessments and antipsychotics which usually only target the auditory hallucinations but have no effect on the cognitive loss,problems with reasoning and perceptions,and inability to regulate emotions.

Unfortunately there seems to be excessive emphasis purely on the "hearing voices" part of Schizophrenia by many Psychiatists and they often place no focus on helping the patients "functional abilities" in everyday life and helping them with empathy,cognitive skills,communication skills etc.

It sounds like your son is sensitive and also has problems "grasping all the information" which then leads people to be able to make informed decisions (as shown by the example of him passionately believing in holistic treatment for cancer instead of being able to weight up both options of orthodox treatment and alternative treatment in a level headed way and looking at both pros and cons).

Im guessing that your son doesn't have much of a BS meter either and perhaps blindly believes what he reads on any websites etc without being able to filter it?

The next time,he states something you disagree on,instead of saying "I don't have to agree with you on everything" (which he may misperceive as a criticism or angry) could you try something more "neutral sounding" such as "it wouldn't be an easy decision for that person with cancer to make,ive heard of people who have passed away from using either choice"?

Hello @Grasshopper3 xx

how are you today

hello @ivana @Grasshopper3

thanks for response

yes he believes holistic way for his own health too ignore underline am on iPad!,,

he sent me a text message about healthy food meditation exercise watching comedies (nice surprise)

he is intelligently following a path for what he believes will keep him safe and his new home under surveillance as he believes people from his past are after him.

i read everything he texts me I listen to everything he tells me. I then piece it all together and it all fits and tells a story. This helps me talk to him and I am able to have brief conversations with my real son .

at the moment we are in contact now almost daily. So he trusts me. He has told me such and stated that I must not betray him. So I have reassured him that this will never happen.

he has for the moment agreed to Skype whilst I am overseas which is brilliant.

would you believe younger son has said no just texts. He isn't in to computers.

so for now this is the relationship I have and savour.

i hope things are reasonable in your worlds. You get to see them, touch them. Dothey let you hug them? That is what I miss so much.