Hi @burntsalad - you sound frustrated with your brother, its so hard to have compassion for someone who struggle holding their own and cause parents so much heartache. I have two brothers with drug induced psychosis / schizophrenia - taking antipsychotic medication. Both are on involuntary community treatment orders CTO) as deemed a harm / neusience to community. One bro is on antipsychotic tablets (not schitzo drugs 😏) and the other forced to have monthly antipsychotic injections (or be readmitted to hospital). Its very sad. Both brothers continue to smoke dope, gamble and are constantly broke, always spongi g off parents. Parents often feel guilty, like they did something wrong, so they dont know how else to help. Part of this diagnosis is the lack of insight and empathy. Debating issues is pointless. One of my bro has his entire house and smoke detector lined with foil (to dull the lazor beams targetting him, he says ). Both my brothers with schizophrenia diagnosis have strange interpretations of the world / delusions. They are often aggitated, restless, can't sit long, argumentative, defensive and absolutely don't handle stress - especially that required in most paid employment. Pressure to "just get a job" would not help - they need support walking through it, and staying there and all too often have breakdowns (because of this illness) and lose their jobs which is crushing and yes - he would see it as 'impossible' Not to mention the 'stigma' working against him. They often suffer depression. Their state of mind is faulty, they can't help a lot of it. I have not found 'support' out their, apart from the local chemist (pharmeceuticals) - but blind freddy can see they need more than that. And the side effects of these pills are horrible - obesity and lethargy are two big ones.
Have you read the factsheets (homepage) on schizophrenia? Learning all you can would be extremely helpful. Better to just be caring toward your brother and supportive of your parents. I use to get so angry with my parents always handing them money, but really, it just created more conflict.
Also NDIS might be able to help. Carers Australia have a support line for your parents. Would your parents come here on sane forums?
Keep talking with us ❤
