What is happening?

By myson Thursday, November 13, 2008

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I am searching for any help I can find. My 17 year old son has been acting differently and it seems I am going to have to figure this out on my own. He has stopped going to school, is not working, and has little social activity. His thoughts seem confused and he is unable to speak clearly or communicate effectively. It started in an obvious manner about 2 months ago in what I have learned was a psychotic break. He spent 2 weeks in a psychiatric center and hasn't been the same since. I cannot get a diagnosis and therefore don't know how to help him. It is breaking my heart and I would appreciate any help anyone has to offer. Is it schizophrenia?

Comments (11) | Add comment

cokes

11/14/08 4:04am

Hi There

Im sorry to hear story and for the obvious distress the situation is causing. Doctors diagnose conditions based upon a few different criteria. I am aware that symptoms need to be present for a longer period of time to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and there may be other criteria that need to be met, that is why at present the docs can only say it is a psychotic episode. Please understand that Schizophrenia and psychotic episodes can be just episodes and do not necessarily mean that your son will be showing such symptoms all of his life. I believe 6 months is the time span that the schizphrenia criteria ask for. Just to make you aware I am currently in a similar situation to your son and do not have a "longer term" diagnosis. I hope you find your answers soon x

myson

11/14/08 7:51am

thank you for replying. this is the first time i have asked for help and appreciate you taking the time to respond. i especially appreciate it from someone who is going through a similar situation. good luck and God bless.

Donna-1

11/15/08 4:41pm

You said your son was in a psychiatric facility for a couple of weeks and "hasn't been the same since." He may be feeling down because he had to go there and may feel disappointed in himself as well as wondering if he has disappointed you. Depression can be a part of many different mental illnesses. Be sure you son has access to a psychiatrist and proper medication. If you can afford it or your insurance covers it, also consider helping him see a therapist once a week. The symptoms could be those of schiozphrenia or several other mental illnesses. If he is still 17 is he considered a minor? Would he let you go in with him to see the doctor so you could have some access as to what the doctor thinks is the diagnosis, and what he thinks can be done for your son. I was 37 when I started seeing a psychiatrist and I often took my mother because the doctor too what she had to say more seriously than what I said. She could provide him with another set of eyes and ears and might value your input. Carolyn

maria

11/15/08 6:45pm

Thanks for your advice. He came out of the hospital on Risperdal, but immediately refused to take it once he came home. He was only medicated for 2 weeks, but it only made him look and feel sedated. I have to say that I disagree with medicating someone without a diagnosis. He is a minor, but apparently when you are 14 years and older you have a legal right to refuse hospitalization and medication. I have had to get my son to sign release forms for me to get the records from the hospital. It is very frustrating because he is old enough in the law's eyes medically, but I am being held responsible by the court system because he is a minor and has not been attending school. He has been seeing a therapist weekly for about 3 months and the therapist is very good about keeping me up to date regardless of my son's rights. Next Friday, he will be tested by a neuropsychologist. It is an 8 hour test and hopefully will give us a diagnosis in about 3 weeks. Thank you so much for your input. I will post again once I receive the results of the testing.

Donna-1

11/15/08 8:20pm

Just to let you know that sometimes the side effects linger for a few weeks then gradually go away. Whenever I go off the Zyprexa (I don't always take it like I am supposed to) there is always a period of a few weeks when I have to get used to it again. And sleepiness is one of those side effects -- I told my psychiatrist that I felt like a zombie.

When discussing things with your son, see if he has any goals he wants to accomplish in the future and try to help him see that he is more likely to reach his goals if he is on a medication that makes him feel better. It took me years to finally do what my doctor told me to do, and because of that spent more time than necessary being psychotic and depressed. The bright spot is that now I am taking the medications and have eliminited unnecessary stress from my life, I have substantially recovered and am able to make an enjoyable life for myself.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a psychiatrist is supposed to observe a patient for 6 months before making the diagnosis of schiozphrenia. But the symptoms can be medicated despite the absence of a hard and fast diagnosis.

I am praying for the best for you, your son, and your family as you deal with this difficult illness.

Carolyn

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

11/16/08 7:46pm

Hello,

From what you've told us, your son needs to be in treatment now, and that could include medication. A diagnosis could change over time, so don't get hung up over the type of diagnosis, lack of it, or change in the diagnosis down the road. What the psychiatrist treats is a cluster of symptoms, and if your son is having symptoms, he needs to take meds because the longer someone goes without medication after a psychotic break, the greater the chance of a loss of functionality and the harder it is to recover.

Please, gather the courage to ask yourself some honest questions: Is he better now that he's come out of the hospital? Do you want to risk his having the kind of life most people with schizophrenia or a psychotic disorder have if they don't take meds? Up to 50 percent of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia refuse to take their meds because they have a symptom called anosognosia, which is the term for the lack of awareness that they have an illness. If you didn't think you were sick, you would refuse medication.

Your son is young, and what happened to him may be only the beginning of how whatever illness he has, plays out in the years to come. Hopefully, it will get better for your son, and you and he won't go through the heartache that a lot of families do when their loved ones have a mental illness. However, in the cases where someone with schizophrenia or another mental illness is doing extremely well, it's often because he or she had early intervention to alleviate the symptoms.

Please don't get hung up over the lack of diagnosis. If your son is exhibiting a set of symptoms that are psychotic in nature, even after his having come home from the hospital, he needs to be on medication. It may turn out the medication isn't the right one for him, and he may have to try various meds to find ultimate relief from his symptoms.

If I were you, though, I'd press the psychiatrist for a tentative diagnosis. Read the hospital records if you're able to get them. Find out what symptoms he was exhibiting, and take it from there.

I wish you the best.

Regards,

Christina

Anonymous

11/16/08 8:13pm

My son has not seen a psychiatrist since he left the hospital, which was the end of August. He has been seeing a psychologist weekly and we are having the neuropsychology test done this Friday. I have been observing him closely for the past few months and was hoping he would get better, but unfortunately, things seem worse. He is extremely anxious. He can't sit still and he eats constantly. He has little emotion and laughs or smiles to himself all of the time. He has become a complete slob and lacks any manners, although his hygeine is very clean. We actually have to get after him about the number and length of showers he takes. I have tried to talk to him about going to the doctor and getting some medicine to help him relax and he immediately tells me he will not take medication. I have not scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist because the psychologist told me he wanted to try to find a diagnosis and then send him to the psychiatrist for medication, which he could not prescribe. I guess after reading all the comments, I need to contact a psychiatrist immediately. Thank you so much for your comments.

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

11/17/08 5:09pm

Hello,

I am happy to help you.

I would like to bring up something that I'm not sure I mentioned in my first reply.

Up to 50 percent of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia have a symptom called anosognosia, which is the lack of awareness that they have an illness.

So you have to be careful in how you say what you say to your son.

The book by Xavier Amador, PhD, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help will show you how to couch what you say to get your son to consider treatment. I've read the book and recommend it to everyone with a loved one who refuses to take meds.

Regards,

Christina

Anonymous

11/19/08 11:08am

Hello, I have never replied to a blog before, but I have experience with my brother who actually does have schizophrenia. It started in 1999 when he was 30, however he showed very small signs our family didnt pick up well before then. I just wanted to share with you why I am responding, and thats the amount of showers he is taking, that is an integral part of my brothers behavior when he is not taking his meds. That raised a red flag for me as my brother takes five or six a day again, when not on his meds. ( he too, refuses to take or stay on them). He also shaves his head when he is off his meds and acting strangely. After to talking with NAMC (National Assoc. of Mental Health) and many of his case workers, that behavior is typically associated with trying to rid themselves of the abormal thinking and feeling which they are aware of. It sounds as if you have gotten some wonderful advice, I just wanted to share my experience with you, and to let you know that my brother is being treated with the drug abilify for his condition and it works very well when he is willing to take it. Its been ten years with a lot of misdiagnosis, so I would suggest caution, with several different opinions by professional mental health services. Caution, and time. It really depends on what kind of behaviors if any have yet to develop. Hopefully none, and he will return to normal. It may be something easily treatable with proper therapy. God bless you and your son, I will pray for you both. :)

Anonymous

11/19/08 3:33pm

Thank you for responding. Does your brother live on his own? Does he hold a job? I am concerned that whatever this is cannot be fixed as it continues to get worse. When they do prescribe medicine and my son refuses to take it, will he be able to function in society? I know I am getting ahead of myself. I am trying to be really patient and get through one day at a time, but on days like today, my mind gets the best of me and I worry about the future. It is so sad and scarry! He is/was such a sweet, smart kid and all of the sudden something went wrong.

shelley

11/29/08 10:19pm

Happy thanksgiving, I wanted to let you know that no, my brother is not able to live alone because he "wanders away" after not taking his meds for a period of time, and he has tried several times since this all began in 1999 to no avail. He has been in and out of jail for stealing food and in and out of hospitals as well. He has not been able to hold down a job since this began. No coping skills whatsover, however, he is very intelligent and kind and warm hearted. As long as he is not placed in any situations which cause stress he is as normal as you and me. I would try not to see to far into the future, the mind is very powerful and sometimes plays tricks that straighten themselves out on their own. I know its hard as hell to watch someone you love and care about decline like they do when their mental capabilities are compromised. The most recent news regaring my brother is that hes been in jail since july for stealing food (he had a home and money, he wandered away again) and they finally have him back on the meds. he will be released january 6th, and after long discussions with my brother and my family, he is going to come and live with me, and I will be monitoring his meds. That is the condition of him living here, so I hope, as his sister and someone that loves him dearly, that he will use this opportunity to find some hope in his future. :) I talked to him about 2 weeks ago for the first time since last christmas, and we have always been extremely close.

Keep your chin up

Shelley

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