My Family Member Needs Help
My 51 year old sister-n-law has been hospitalized and diagnosed with paranoid schizorphrenia. She was released from a hospital within months of her Mother dying of
cancer. At first she was taking her medication, and seemed able to cope with the situtation.
All family members who had rallied are now back to their respective lives. My sister-n-law
on the other hand has stopped taking her medication, and has sunk into deep depression.
She has reportedly turned off her phone, and sits in the dark so that the "people" who
are out to get her can't see or hear her. We don't know where to begin to help as we are
1200 miles away. Please advise.
Sincerly,
S.G.
Dear S.G.
I am sorry to hear of what your sister-in-law is going through.
The criteria for admission to a psych ward is that a person is a danger to herself or someone else. While she isn't violent, you could make the case that she's in danger because she isn't taking care of herself.
Up to 50 percent of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia have a symptom called anosognosia, which is the lack of awarenss that they have an illness. That is why someone could take meds in a hospital, and then upon release, stop taking the meds. I urge you to read the Xavier Amador book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help because although you might not be able to get your sister-in-law to see how staying in treatment could enable her to achieve her goals, it's a good start in understanding what's going on and how to deal with it.
I believe your best option is to contact the hospital and make the case that she is a danger to herself, possibly because she's not eating or sleeping well (you could say this, even if it wasn't true, it might be possible) and mostly because she has turned off the phone so lacks contact with people and isn't thinking rationally.
Now, your sister-in-law may not have anosognosia, and she may be going through the grieving process compounded by her illness, so I suggest that if she doesn't have a relative near by, you consider finding a day program for her where people with psychiatric diagnoses go for support and therapy five days a week. Convincing her to go might be a problem, however, sometimes people are court remanded for this kind of treatment. It's worht it to see if she can have this option imposed legally.
The Xavier Amador book uses the technique of motivational interviewing to develop the person's trust by getting him or her to talk about their life goals, and when the trust is validated, suggesting that taking meds will enable them to achieve their dreams. It may seem like your sister doesn't have any goals, however, I want you to remain hopeful. She has gone through a lot of stress (the death of her mother, and also the diagnosis of schizophrenia is stressful itself0> It will take time, so keep hopeful. Recovery doesn't happen quickly, and she may not turn around immediately, yet this is possible.
I hope things work out and wish you and your sister-in-law the best.
Regards,
cb
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