Hello, concerned frustrated father endorope,
I can relate to your feelings here and the 'catch 22' of the job/home/illness/ financial support dilemma, but my gut feelings would go with believing your son is sadly left coping with the 'negative' symptoms of schizophrenia,(is he on treatment?) rather than being 'lazy'... think the disordered home surroundings he allows around him, go along with this. (Possibly also positive features like internal voices etc, may be sapping his energy and keeping him 'busy' making him 'absent' from his surroundings? but feeling exhausted) It could feel like constant sleep deprivation!
These things are not visible to bystanders...(Who knows our internal world ,thoughts/dreads/nightmares?) Would that fit possibly?
You ,as concerned father, with your unimpaired mental function and brain pathways working well see it as ludicrously inappropriate to tell a potential employer about a serious illness and its likely consequences (time off etc)!! But to 'pretend' like this, surely in your son's state of health would be deluding himself , and set himself up for failure.
So I do feel your son is being honest here and showing important insight recognising and admitting with truth how he sees difficulties functioning reliably at the present time for gainful employment. A good sign.. but with considerable implications for the need for focussed treatment,support and directed targets to improve his function in small steps. And that's the challenge....shared here by our family in Uk.
Good luck and keep posting
Chris
Mother of untreated ('am not sick') son with schizophrenia, 28,
also unemployed and being financially supported at present.