"How Can I Help My Son with Schizophrenia?" | Tips for Caregivers

[@ccc0123]

Great video! I made some timestamps about the points talked about in the video. 1. 2:32 Your impact is gonna be low. 2. 3:53 Everyone has a different journey. 3. 5:00 Find where your loved one's at. 4. 5:44 You can't do it for them. 5. 7:17 Prepare resources in advance. 6. 10:30 Don't be a barrier. 7. 13:10 Find someone who they trust. 8. 15:03 Understand the mindset of the other person. 9. 17:00 What to do if they don't want to take their meds. 10. 22:00 Finding and understanding medication. 11. 32:10 Support Groups and organizations. 12. 34:37 Medication is not the only thing that matters. 13. 37:58 Learn about the illness. 14. 42:42 Advocate for them, you can make a difference. 15. 44:55 Take care of yourself too. 16. 50:00 Conclusion

[@SchizophrenicHippie]

Amazing! Thank you!

[@samanthahernandez5105]

Thank you for this. It’s people like you who speak out that help us understand the mental illness so much more. My brother has schizophrenia and it’s been quite the journey. At the moment he does not want to seek treatment, he’s severely depressed, but we are still here ! And will always be here for him!! We’ve learned so much, especially how this is not a sprint it’s a marathon! Our faith is big and it’s conversations like these you two are letting us hear that give me and my family hope. Blessings to all who are here on this journey as well. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@user-bn9se1qn4d]

The journey is a difficult one, most importantly keep a eye on him and you can always have him picked up and brought to hospital.

[@breeanneosuileabhain2036]

This video is great! I'm not technically a caregiver, but a close family member. My SIL has DID and my late mother did as well. I realized that I didn't know much about it, despite growing up with a mother with the same disorder. She hid it and protected me from it, especially since I was very young when she had a diagnosis and it was under control by the time I really would have known what kinds of things to ask her about it. My SIL as well as her alters, particularly the little ones, have thanked me more times than I can count for doing the research. We have a pretty large family, and I probably know more about it than the rest of my family combined, with the exception of my parents and my brother. Knowing about it, makes helping them cope, and feel loved and valid is so huge!

[@PatriciaWilson-fy3co]

I love this! My bro has paranoid delusional and I suspect my mom has been hiding having disorganized s., my whole life. I like the idea of the gentler approach to get them to get help.

[@SchizophrenicNYC]

My favorite people!

[@darbyvon7159]

I really liked the conversation about "med compliance". that part was really important and relatable to me as a schizophrenic who has struggled with finding the right meds. what a great video, thanks guys!

[@Deenice81]

Great episode guys! 😭 thank you!

[@Person1onewon]

You're explanation of how a caregiver should respond actually made me cry ❤️ That was beautiful

[@gabehoward29]

Great info -- I couldn't have said it better myself. :) (Oh Wait, I did!) ~Gabe

[@psalm25c]

This video was so unbelievably helpful! Thank you so much I can't tell you what it means to me to get such honest direct information! Please continue your helping so much! Thank you

[@daisymei-oy3xs]

Soooo helpful. Thank you, guys, for taking the time to make and post this!!!

[@nicoleta1882]

Informative and insightful discussion - thank you for making this video, please keep it going! (From someone who sees mental changes in my younger sister and in preparing myself to support her best when the time comes)

[@missyr.4455]

Loved seeing this video this morning. It touched on alot of important notes. I've had schizophrenia for about 5 years now and continue to learn new things about it and I love that these tips were shared with others. I wished you guys maybe touched on trauma a bit more and how traumatic symptoms can be for patients suffering from illness. I don't think many people realize that it is an issue. You guys are doing great though. Love seeing advocates for mental health

[@gregdescant4121]

I enjoyed and learned something

[@PatriciaWilson-fy3co]

My mom wants me to talk to her in a slower pace so she can understand me. I suspect s. patients also need the volume turned down a bit and might be light/sound sensitive on a regular basis...????

[@ChrisaHickey]

Hello my friends! As a caregiver of over 20 years, I have a different perspective on answering those questions, I think. I'd love to do a follow up with you about it!

[@laurawhitewing]

I’d love to hear your perspective. Maybe a good show concept would be a round table type of thing with caregivers in the trenches, so to speak, asking you questions directly? My loved one’s onset was too fast and the damage done when he went missing was life destroying. We later learned he was so sick because when he relayed to us what he had been doing like climbing trees and mountains naked on cape cod in February to hear the voices in his head clearer, he said it like that is what everyone does.

[@laurawhitewing]

We tried lying to him too to get him to the ER (we said his lawyer wanted him to go). It backfired. The head of the ER psych team sat in a room alone with him, and when she came out handed us a note that said she doesn’t do forensic evaluations, and stop wasting her time. Anosognosia needs its own video for caregivers, speaking about how to work around it to get their loved one care when the policies are not written with them in mind. The leap and MI method only work with time and practice. Some families don’t have that luxury. Nevermind the fact that the professionals in the legal and medical system of care are clueless about anosognosia, delusions and THc induced psychosis disorders, exacerbating the dopamine levels instead of blocking them for more balance to activity in the prefrontal cortex. I guess we need a THC warning video as well.

[@aew234]

I love your content ! Thank you for all you do The only point of contention I have is when you say that weed can help with symptoms specifically anxiety there in massive science continuing to emerge of the direct pathway from heavy weed use to psychosis spectrum disorders Over time it actually creates the same changes in the brain and neurochemistry that organic psychotic disorders causes once one has a SMI it’s only going to exacerbate symptoms could it be you still experience hallucinations due to continued use ?

[@elleno3757]

Is changing antipsychotic med really risky? My loved one (22 year old) is on Olanzapine and he’s always sleeping or tired. It’s possible he has hypersomnia but I’m thinking this is common on these type of meds. Plus he has gained a ton of weight. We have told the psychiatrist but he said it’s risky to change meds. It’s his first antipsychotic and works well for him but he hates it. How risky is it if he switches? I’m scared he will get stuck in psychosis if he changes meds. He’s doing really well now. In school and works. Has a good social life. He also takes a lamictal as a mood stabilizer. He has schizoaffective depressive type. I know you can’t give medical advice. Just wondering what your thoughts are.

[@krillrule99]

Sending you so much empathy right now. I am a bipolar 1 patient and I’m going through this myself right now. It’s so hard. I wish you all the best in communicating with your medical professionals and getting any right med changes Edit: olanzapine works very well for me for mania but the need for extra sleep and feelings of fatigue, even at the lowest dose are overwhelming to me. That’s super valid. And I’ve heard about the weight gain from all over - I have physical problems that cause weight gain and I think mine might be from those so I can’t quite comment on that