My sister is reluctantly taking drugs for schizophrenia. when do I start telling her that she is sc

In my personal experience, it depends on the person, your relationship, and the degree of illness. The longer someone goes without treatment, the less effective it is. The illness is "bad for the brain." Maybe talking to her about it with the therapist is a good idea. When my father heard the diagnosis he disappeared, but my younger brother trusts me and has fully accepted his illness and medications. The difference may be how soon they receive treatment after the onset of illness. You could look up the description or signs of schizophrenia and share them with your sister to guage her response before going further. I found that it's a sensitive issue and mistrust and fear can be created when we label. (Also make sure she isn't "cheeking" the medication to dispose of later; it's fairly common) I hope I've been helpful. Tread lightly and ask the doc.

Hello,

I suggest you read Xavier Amador's book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help because it coaches you on how to talk with someone who has schizophrenia so that he or she will take the meds and stay in treatment.

Motivational interviewing can be done by anyone and is simply the process of gaining someone's trust and then asking what her goals are, and suggesting that staying in treatment and taking the meds could enable her to achieve those goals.

Her recovery won't happen overnight.  The good thing is, she trusts you, so I believe if you read the Amador book, you'll get an idea about how to approach talking to her.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

cb

When I first started having symptons I didn't believe there was really anything wrong with me either and because of this it was several years before I went to a professioal.  In my case it was the paranoia that kept me from going.  I was on the fence as to whether the things happening were real or not. 

Recently, i came across a book called Schizophrenia for Dummies.  One of the things it said was that sz's usually have irrational fears or become paranoid about things to such a degree that no matter how much you try to show them logically that what they believe doesn't make sense or is irrational they will not believe you.  If I had known that this was a truth about schizophrenics way back in the beginning or even in the midlle I can't tell you how much that would have helped me.

Your sister's reason for thinking there is nothing wrong with her could be different from what mine was,but I recommend getting this book, reading it yourself (it's actually written for people who know someone who has it) and then showing her the pages that explain the syptoms and asking if she realizes any of them are true of her or you could ask her if any of those things are true of her without explaining why at first and if they are then you might want to show her the list of symptoms and the definitions/explanations in the book.  Sometimes seeing them all laid out and in writing can make it more real or believable.

In any case, I wish you and your sister the best.