Hello bluegirl,

I understand you might want to proceed slowly and sort out your feelings right now.

A person diagnosed with schizophrenia will need to take his medication every day as prescribed for the rest of his life.  Therapy and a support group could be effective adjuncts to treatment with medication.

A person diagnosed with schizophrenia will also need to have some kind of positive, productive activity to engage in on a daily basis.  If that person can't work full-time at a paid job, volunteer work is a worthy and respectable use of his time.

A person diagnosed with schizophrenia will have to make his recovery the number-one job of his life and commit to doing what it takes to stay healthy.  Your high school sweetheart seems to be well on his way in this regard with four years clean from drugs.  Each day is a new day and the chance to do a little better that the day before.

On your end: empathy and compassion will be the keys to making this relationship work.  To that I would add patience and non-judgmental support.  He will have good days and he will have not-so-good days just like anyone yet he will often face greater challenges in this regard living with the schizophrenia.

On your end: You have the right to expect a good level of emotional support from him and behavior free of acting out.  You also need to know that throughout his life he may have symptoms.  Some people diagnosed with schizophrenia are lucky in that with the right medication, their symptoms are kept under control so that they no longer have symptoms.  Others experience residual symptoms on an ongoing basis or from time to time the symptoms flare up in response to stress.

The challenges could be there in such a relationship however the rewards can be many with someone who has schizophrenia.  I say this because a lot of people diagnosed with schizophrenia are some of the most kind, beautiful, sensitive and loving people on the planet.

Let him know you'd like to know more about what it's like for him to live every day with the schizophrenia and how you could support him in what he goes through.  Like I said in any relationship the support needs to be mutual.  You will need to educate yourself about this medical condition so feel free to tootle around this web site.

Also know that schizophrenia has a genetic component so that if this relationship turns serious there is a risk of your children developing this medical condition.  That is a consideration for down the line.  Right now I would proceed slowly and get to know him as the person he is now.  I can't tell you what to do I'm only giving you this feedback based on my own life living with schizophrenia.

What I can tell you:

Go with what your heart tells you.

Regards,

Christina