My husband has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been hearing voices for the past two years (I didn't know until recently). He attempted to kill himself, but was stopped and is now on Abilify. What types of symptoms should I look out for in case of a relapse? I'm scared becaus...
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What options does my family have re: a paranoid schizophrenic adult son/brother?
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Hi ruger79:
I think you need to talk to your husband's psychiatrist about the kind of behavior you should expect from your husband as a normal course of his illness or that might signal a worsening of your husband's condition. It is very important to seek professional assistance. If your husband's psychiatrist won't talk to you because of confidentiality issues, you should seek the advice of a consulting psychiatrist of your own.
I think is important that your husband not have access to firearms in the near term. As for the long term, again, you need to seek professional advice.
I have had schizophrenia for over fifty years and have been recovery for forty of these. I am also a family member, so I've been down both sides of the street. I think it will be very important, if you are to be your husband's caregiver (or not) for you to seek assistance for yourself, otherwise the changes that are taking place in your husband's life and your own can be overwhelming. Do two things: 1) stay in touch with other caregivers on this website and, 2) find your local NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] Office and sign up for their next "Family to Family" class. This class is chock full of information about schizophrenia and many other mental illnesses. You own it to yourself to do both of these things.
You can find your local NAMI on their website - www.nami.org. If you have trouble finding their office e-mail me at my SchizophreniaConnection website - robin.cunningham1@gmail.com and I will find out where and when the next class will be given in your area.
We're all in this together to help each other any way we can.
Robin
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