My brother has the disease we were very close as small children, so much so the school principle said it would be a good idea to seperate us, as I was confident and outspoken and he was timid and shy. I would stand up for him not allow anyone to discipline him, I would make all of his descisions for him etc.   Being a small child I needed parents to take me aside and tell me that this was not acceptable behaviour but that did not happen, instead the behaviour was encouraged and I then became the person who would always speak for him. Family memebers would phone me to ask how he was, what I thought he should be doing etc. The sad reality of that is he too never developed enough confidence to ever be his own man.   He had and still does have huge difficulty sharing me with my husband he feels that he and I should just share a house together and it should always be just me and him, not in a perverted way but he has found it so difficult to let me lead my life, which of course you can understand because he has never had to.   With his disease which was diagnosed about 10 years ago, he is so good in taking his meds, and goes to see his dr regularly. I sat my parents down and told them that I am not his parent, I am his sister, I am there to love him unconditionally, not to make decisions for him, they are his parents they need to step up to the plate and decide when necessary what is best for him. BUT my mom especially will phone and ask what they should do, or can I speak to him etc if a situation arises. I have had to put my foot down and say I am sorry I don't know what to think or what to do......the more I have done this the more they have HAD to make the decisions.   I think it is human nautre that when there is someone else out there doing what needs to be done and it does not affect our life at all we would rather just leave it for them to do. This is the first time I have really ever shared with anyone and I really hope that it does help you make the decision that is best for YOU.