my friend was diagnosed a year ago with depressive schizophrenia and is on medication. recently he seems to be relapsing and is very depressed and withdrawn. how can i help?
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Q: dpressive schizophrenia relapse
Answers (2)
10/23/09 8:40pm
Hello,
I will echo Carolyn.
Sometimes just sitting in the room with a person and not even saying anything and just being there can do wonders.
And yes, the medication may need to be adjusted.
He can get better. He may be too depressed to get out of the house so as Carolyn said, offer to pick him up and drive him to the doctor.
Regards,
Christina
10/21/09 5:57pm
It has been my experience, and I have heard from other people who have this type of depression, that they think no one understands. I have a bipolar friend who always tells me that I am the only person she knows who understands what she is going through and what she is talking about, because I experienced it myself.
I bet your friend could use a listening ear. And if you can't understand, ask him to share with you what's going on and help you understand. Just being there for someone can help a lot.
He may need a medication adjustment. Tell him to share his symptoms with the doctor who prescribes his meds. Offer to take him or go with him to the doctor if he needs a little encouragement/motivation.
Carolyn
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my problem is that im working away at the moment and find it hard to get in touch with him. he used to be online all the time and we could chat but now he never comes online. he wont answer the phone but does reply to the occassional text. he wont tell me exactly how hes feeling, unlike previous times where he has been feeling down or low, and just puts everything down to being busy at work. he runs his own business and i know that there he s functioning well but he has completely closed off from all his friends. myself and a couple of his other close friends are trying to keep an eye on him and one friend in particular has said she will call into his shop and try to get him to open up.she has told me that the last time she spoke to him he was almost back to the same condition that he was in 2 years ago before he was diagnosed and put on medication. i feel so useless here. i send him a text message almost everyday with a light and friendly message to try to let him know that im here if he needs me and that im thinking about him, but i dont know if im doing the right thing. however, it seems to be the only thing i can do.