How would you deal with a family member suffering with
schizophrenia? Would you live with them? Send them to live in a mental hospital
and visit them once a year? Or would you truly care and take care of them like
if they were just a sick baby?
Family is the main support schizophrenics receive, whether
it’s emotional or financially. 75% of schizophrenics are in regular contact
with their families, and still enjoy their memories together. But, what happens
to the others? Who is there to support them? What happen to their parents stepping
up and always being there for them?
Most of the time, parents with mental ill children will live
every day grieving the loss of the child they once had before the diagnose. They
are embarrassed to go out in public and have everyone wondering, starring, and
questioning their child. All of this leads to profound isolation. One third of
schizophrenics are lucky enough to be still living with their aging parents
taking care of them. They face day-to-day problems, including loss of income
and disruption with basic household routines. The parents are forced to take
extra care of their adult child, and protect them from anything they are
facing. Family burden varies and really depend on the relationship that is
within the patient and caregiver.
A diagnose of schizophrenia can take a major downfall on a
healthy partner when they start to realize that this illness is becoming
threatening or assaultive during his/hers symptoms. They are faced with more
responsibility than they bargained for, and can cause them to become depressed,
angry, and very emotional. When a patient is living with their aging parents,
sibling are now taking over the spot, and can assume a primary role. They become
more involved with the ill relative when the parents are unavailable.
Schizophrenia creates issues with the sibling bond that can cause feelings of
guilt, avoidance, and grieving. They often create a fear of becoming mentally
ill or passing on “bad genes” to their children and future family members.
The family experience of schizophrenia is not restricted to
burden and challenges. It sometimes become rewarding, particularly as the
mentally ill relative makes progress in his or her recovery. Furthermore,
sibling, parents, and caregivers, have gained personal qualities and strengths
from having a mentally ill relative.
My question for you guys now is, would you stay or leave?
Is it worth it? Knowing
that they will never be the same person they were once then, knowing that they
will be medicated or just have times where they will neglect all the time and
support you are giving them?
I say yes.
Would I leave or stay? First of all , it depends on severity of the illness and my relationship with the person. Say, I have a close relative who suffers with schizophrenia. If it became dangerous to be around him or her, I think I'd prefer her/him to be hospitalized. Say, I have learned that my husband is a schizophrenic.. I think I'd divorce him. I also heard an opinion that if one is a schizophrenic, others can "catch" the illness from him/her if they live with this person for long enough.. I don't know if there's a scientific proof to it, but I am not taking any chances..
ReplyDeleteThere is no way that you can "catch" schizophrenia from someone who has it. Its impossible.
DeleteI would have to agree with you that helping someone with schizophrenia is worth it completely. The only reason I can think of for hospitalization is if you believe they are in danger or if you believe you are in danger. Other than that, I believe that unconditional love and support can provide incredible amounts of comfort to a person. I had a friend who suffered from schizophrenia, and they would often talk to me about their condition and the struggles it brought. I was happy to help, and they were incredibly relieved to have someone who tried to understand them and who listened to them without judgement. I believe that even if no one learns anything about this horrible disease that this blog is well worth your time, and I thank you for writing it.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you here as leaving hospitalization as my last resort if I am no longer able to take care of them or they are in danger, other than that i will be responsible for my relative. That's what family is for, right?
DeleteI'd also like to add that even in the case of hospitalization you can still provide a lot of care and support, and I've personally seen hospitalization produce profoundly positive results for those who suffer from schizophrenia, especially when they have family and friends who support them.
ReplyDeleteWell to answer that question you asked I would of stay and hire a caregiver part-time or full-time to help out. My family would've put the one into a care-giver facility where he or she could be taken care of and we would come for the weekends to visit plus catch them up on what is going on in our life.
ReplyDeleteIt's a difficult question, but clearly one that engages your reading audience. Good job.
ReplyDeleteHaving temporarily lived with family members with schizophrenia, I found this post to be very relatable. Although I was only living in company with them a short time, I found myself constantly on the edge of my feet. However, I had many rewarding conversations with this person and I'd like to think that, if I were in a position to assume responsibility for a schizophrenic family member, I would.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I heard today on Public Radio that those who suffer from schizophrenia/DID can tickle themselves, whereas the rest of us can't. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI actually have a relative who is somewhat schizophrenic. He grew up with symptoms of it and we didn't know what it was for sure until he was about a teenager. He takes medication for it which helps tremendously and lives a normal life just like anyone else I know.
ReplyDelete