Reply to BIL schizophrenic -- wwyd

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, get some books from the library about the disease and educate yourself
[b]You are being cold.[/b]
Oh, this disease is genetic, just because it is your husbands brother, does not mean that your husband or children could not have it in their genes.[/quote]

No, PP, she's being protective.

OP, I have a sister who has paranoid schizophrenia, and a cousin who also has it. He's incarcerated in a mental hospital. Most people who suffer from the disease are only harmful to themselves, if at all. Some can be dangerous to others. Given that your BIL is still experiencing hallucinations and has not regulated his medication, I would be cautious about bringing your young children around him. It can be very disturbing and frightening to be around an adult who is erratic, delusional, and argumentative. If your children don't already have a strong relationship with him, I don't see the point in trying to initiate one now.

It's admirable that your husband wants to reach out to his brother and help his mother, but I think it's also reasonable for you to shield your children from the situation. Hopefully, your husband will respect your feelings on this one. Once (and if) your BIL sustains treatment and shows improvement, then you can initiate more family contact. In the meantime, lend a compassionate ear to your husband and MIL. Their hearts carry a heavy burden, so offer your support in other ways. After all, your BIL is a son and a brother.

If your BIL moves locally, suggest that he seek disability benefits. Also, while some assistance programs have cut back, there are resources for food stamps, housing, part-time employment, mobile phone access, etc. Your MIL should not have to exclusively support him.

If you're not already aware, one of the recurring issues with schizophrenics undergoing treatment is that they frequently stop taking their medications or alter the dosages. There are drugs that can be delivered intravenously on a monthly basis. My sister must go to her doctor's office every month to receive the medication that helps to control the psychosis. Since she's been doing this, her treatment has been much more successful. She's never 100% back to "normal," but she definitely functions better. It's better than the alternative. She lives on her own, volunteers, and has some social interaction with a couple friends.

Good luck to you and your family. I'm sorry you're going through this.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/paranoid-schizophrenia/DS00862

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