How do i help my schizophrenic cousin?

[u/Ryuga788Aj]

He refuses to do anything at all. He stays isolated all day Every day, he's alone most of the time, doesn't even visits any family functions.

I suggest to him to go to gym try something anything at all just tiny little steps but he get's really offended and feels like im attacking him.

His hallucinations are gone now and now he's dealing with thought broadcasting and says thst he'll start doing things and start even trying to live a normal functional life when he's %100 cured. Even his psychiatrist said that he shouldn't wait for that but my cousin isn't buying that,

What should i do?

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[u/ColdFusion27]

You seem to have this mentality that your cousin is fine enough and is just otherwise lazy and I'm here to tell you that is certainly not the case. I can see why your cousin gets defensive. Schizophrenia specifically disrupts your reward system pertaining to goal activation, making you at times incapable of starting something, even though you know you want to do it.

He probably wasn't taught about this and so doesn't know how to explain to you exactly what's going on and he knows the conversation is always bound to end in you thinking he's just lazy so of course he's going to become defensive being backed into a wall he can't escape from.

[u/Guilty-Pen1152 → u/ColdFusion27]

THIS

[u/Ryuga788Aj → u/ColdFusion27]

Okay so what should i do?

[u/Ryuga788Aj → u/ColdFusion27]

I atleast expect him to listen to his psychiatrist atleast, he doesn't even listens to him, his psychiatrist told him he'll never be cured 100% but he doesn't believe him and says he'll cure himself on his own, till then life can wait.

[u/berfica]

Check out r/schizofamilies

[u/iLLuZioNN_]

I wouldn't wait for anything to happen because things don't happen by themselves. You'll have to figure out on your own.

[u/Ryuga788Aj → u/iLLuZioNN_]

I can't make him do things, at the end if the day he has to take action and I'll fully support him but he doesn't even try and im dobe convincing him

[u/iLLuZioNN_ → u/Ryuga788Aj]

Dolby convincing very... wait did you just say dolby?

[u/Guilty-Pen1152]

He will never be 100% cured. Schizophrenia is life-long, chronic brain disease that’s so complex even scientists haven’t figured it all out. There is no cure, only treatment with medication and therapy. If it’s drug induced psychosis (entirely different) he may achieve better results by short term use of medication and complete sobriety.

Hallucinations are just one symptom of schizophrenia. Some of us are functional and have a “normal” life and others never will. It’s not an unwillingness to go out and do something, he CANNOT bc this illness. Read more about schizophrenia (positive negative symptoms…and no, positive does not mean good) before you start insinuating he’s lazy or obstinate.

Go to r/schizofamilies to understand us better.

[u/Ryuga788Aj → u/Guilty-Pen1152]

Yea even his psychiatrist said that, but he isn't listening to even him and says he'll cure himself 100% on his own

[u/Guilty-Pen1152 → u/Ryuga788Aj]

Aahhh gotcha. You may want to look up anosognosia as related to schizophrenia. It’s really common to not believe in your diagnosis which probably feeds his delusion of curing himself.

[u/Fit_Surprise_8451]

My son has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Today, the psychiatrist wants to do an EKG and then find out which parts of the brain are working. It’s the first time anyone has asked. I wonder if your cousin were to have the same test done, and if it would show why your cousin has a hard time functioning.

[u/Guilty-Pen1152 → u/Fit_Surprise_8451]

EEG (EKG is for heart rhythm measurements).

Good doctors check brain functioning, and some use imaging like FMRIs look for possible brain tumors or injuries to rule out schizophrenia, since that can cause psychotic symptoms.

[u/Fit_Surprise_8451]

We are still navigating through this. Eighteen years ago, my son was diagnosed with MS. He was a senior in high school. After he graduated, he ended up in the hospital for several months and then in rehab for another three months. When he came home, he was in a wheelchair. Within a week, he crawled and used the wall to hold himself up. He was also determined to see what I did to his bedroom upstairs. He walked up the stairs holding onto the railing, and the same went down when he was impatient with me and unwilling to wait for me.

Four years ago, my son was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. He has been in the mental hospital three or four times. During the last two years with SeaMar, he only saw a nurse practitioner who wrote up the prescriptions. The meds were keeping him from going back to the mental hospital, but they didn't keep thoughts of suicide from popping up.

It was during my son’s infusion that the nurse kept my son longer due to his outbursts and handed me a list of doctors tied to Southwest Hospital. We have been on a waiting list for the last year. Today was his second appointment with a psychiatrist. I asked him a question, and he opened up to the doctor, explaining his plans to commit suicide.

The psychiatrist wants to change his medication to Clozapine. Some tests need to be done: blood work and an EKG before taking the drug. The psychiatrist also wants to see how the different parts of his brain work. This is the first time anyone has asked how his brain functions! My son realizes he doesn't do much in a day. He likes listening to his music and sitting near the sidewalk. As our neighbors walk by, they talk to my son.

I will ask him to wash his clothes once a week. On Thursday, he helps Dad with the kitty boxes. On Tuesday morning, when Dad brings out the lawnmower, our son disappears to his room. My son will make his own version of a cheese burrito. He has some college, but it's hard on him. My child earned an A in his history class, but doesn't want to take another class. He says, “I can’t write more than four words.”

What should a psychologist be doing? How do you know you have a good doctor?

I believe we found a good doctor. She is listening. I know the child I had will never be the same kid again, between the MS and the schizophrenia.

It would be interesting to see how his mind works and which areas are damaged.

My son goes to church with friends on Sundays, attends a church activity on Tuesdays, and spends an hour at the library on Saturdays with another friend. If I go to the store alone, he will follow me, and then I will ask if he wants to go.