Hello,
My friend was just diagnosed with schizophrenia. I am so devastated and heart-broken. Sadly, I no longer know how to talk to her or what to do when I am with her. I sometimes even feel scared of being with her alone since her behavior is so unpredictable.
I don't want ...
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Advice
catty
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 04:40 PM -
Stay Friends
Christina Bruni
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 07:30 PMHello carmen,
Your friend could possibly not be able to tell you this now, however, as she gets better, she will appreciate your friendship.
People who develop schizophrenia who have family and friends active in their lives and their recovery go on to do much better than those who are abandoned.
Be patient, see it through. If I got sick again, I'd want my friends to be there. Living with schizophrenia is often scary and frightening, and the person feels isolated from people who don't have the illness.
Feel free to write SharePosts here to share what's going on, at your comfort level.
Best,
Chris
replyre: Stay Friends
carmen
Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:08 PMthanks Chris for your advice.
How should I treat my friend? as if she is normal? or as someone who needs extra attention?
Should I try to keep listening to her? Or should I try to divert her attention from 'the voice' that speaks to her?
Should I tell her to keep fighting or avoiding 'the voice'?
I really don't know what to do.
replyre: Stay Friends
Christina Bruni
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 01:58 PMHello carmen,
Treat her as a friend who needs support.
Please refrain from the tag "normal" or not normal. I know what you're trying to say, however the word "normal" has such a loaded meaning.
From what you've told us, I don't know how old your friend is, whether she went to college, what her functioning level was before she got sick. I also don't know if she has plans and dreams for the future, and how she is exploring them.
When I first got sick, I attended a day program which included daily group therapy, ceramics, cooking and life management and goals sessions.
So I would suggest to your friend that she research going to a good day program where the staff (should be a therapist, art therapist, music therapist, social worker, etc.) will work with her to give her tools to manage her illness and her recovery.
Of course you should listen to her, I'm not sure if by "listen to her" you're inferring that she is telling over and over what the voices are saying, or is she having a conversation. In any conversation, actively listening to the other person is a way for them to feel understood, and heard and valued.
Does your friend have a therapist? When I first got out of the hospital, I also attended weekly one-on-one sessions with a therapist. You may want to gently suggest she see one, if she's not already doing this.
Lastly, she needs to work with the voice. Does she tell you what the voices are saying? Do they tell her to harm herself? Are they friendly? Or an annoyance?
Write back and let me know more and I'll drop you a replay.
Regards,
Chris
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My best advice is to visit as much as possible. I know that just knowing I had family and friends who still cared about me helped alot and I loved it when they brought me things it took my mind off of what I was going through. I know it scary to know someone with schizophrenia but it's even worst for the person going through it to be left alone.
Good luck
catty
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