Tuesday, August 12, 2008 onemill555 asks

Q: My son has never led a normal life with sz. He had to be committed. Once he is out how do we help

My son had to be committed nine months ago, he was off his meds, homeless, dirty and became violent. He was self medicating with alcohol and abusing drugs. We ( his father and I) committed him. He is alive. He is getting better. And we are trying to get him to see the benefits of getting a two year degree once he is out and back into the community. I have two questions: What cities offer the best care and programs?

Is their grant money for him to attend school that will not intervere with his SSI benefits he now receives? How do we convenience him or get him to see that there is a decent life he can live, and that he can have a normal life with SZ? How can we show him others are or have been successful with SZ? He always goes through this vicious cycle, of being well, taking his meds, then not taking them and slipping into darkness again and needing to be rescued.

Answers (3)

Notify me when there are new answers

Christina Bruni

8/13/08 8:40pm

Hello onemill555,

I suggest you read the Xavier Amador book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help and try to build a relationship of trust with your son so you can suggest to him that staying in treatment would enable him to achieve his goals.

Your goal of his going to school for a two-year degree is all well and good if that is what he wants and it would enable him to find the kind of job he wants. Otherwise, any goal has to be one that he sets and works on.

I live in New York City. Even here, I've had a pdoc who treated me poorly. Though now I have a great psychiatrist, I'm unable to recommend him because he told me he doesn't want me to use his name via the Connection. So wherever you live, you could find a good doctor. Start by researching local hospitals where you could get a referral.

As you know well, when someone lacks insight that he has an illness, homelessness ensues too often. Again, I suggest reading the Xavier Amador book.

Regards,

Serenity

3/ 9/10 12:23pm

Dear onemill555,

We must communicate. We have the same story. Except my son is a world traveler. He spreads the word of God in some of the worst environments ... I received a call from the Cairo, Egypt police stating that they had "removed" him from an 'assassin's' village witnessing to the ones "that needed it the most." He has been in and out of 8 mental institutions in 6 different countries. Presently, he is in an Amsterdam hospital and he's been there for one year. If anyone lives in Amsterdam and is familiar with this disease, it would be nice to have someone visit him. The Sad thing is he has no desire to come back to the United States. He disagrees with our freedoms and believes in "free education to all" and "free medical to all" so he is in a place that offers some of that. Even in his most manic state, he is an excellent traveler.

Serenity

3/ 9/10 1:26pm

Dear onemill555,

If anyone lives in Amsterdam and is familiar with this disease, it would be nice to have someone visit him.

The Sad thing is he has no desire to come back to the United States. He disagrees with our freedoms and believes in "free education to all" and "free medical to all" so he is in a place that offers some of that. Even in his most manic state, he is an excellent traveler.

I agree with the other respondent, education has to be HIS will. I recommend calling the college and getting in touch with the Disabilities Vocational Office. They would work with him, test him for his strengths and weaknesses helping him to find the right program for school and/or work, and this way, he's making the decisions for himself. They also will help fund the education, not taking away from SSI. They even give funding to those that want to start their own little businesses, etc.

What a blessing this site is!!!

Q: My son has never led a normal life with sz. He had to be committed. Once he is out how do we help

Related Questions

Ask a Question