Help dealing with a schizophrenic (in the UK)

[Jariel]

I don't want to say too much about this as it's a very sensitive subject for me and very personal, but basically I am dealing with a family member who I suspect may be schizophrenic. He/She is taking up a lot of my energy, emotion and is restricting my life.

I have researched schizophrenia and I know somebody who was committed for it, and my family member is showing many similar symptoms. More recently he/she attempted suicide, has threatened to kill us and spends most nights talking to deceased family members and pets.

It's frightening me now and I can't cope with it. No matter how well my life is going and how hard I try to make something of myself, he/she keeps dragging me down. It's getting me depressed and I feel like I can't live my life without playing babysitter all the time.

I have contacted various organisations and they have offered no help at all and all say that my family member needs to seek help before they can offer it. He/she has allegedly been put on a waiting list for councelling, but we've heard nothing.

He/she has not officially been diagnosed as schizophrenic or anything because he/she has not seen a doctor in this field.

I was just hoping that someone in the UK could direct me to an organisation or give me some point of contact for getting help or getting this family member put into psychiatric hospital. Thanks.

 

[realsmoothie]

He/She has made threats to him or herself AND you?

I don't understand why the authorities don't move in. This sounds dangerous. I know if that happened here in Canada something could be done if there was implied violence.

 

[Jariel]

He/She has made threats to him or herself AND you?

I don't understand why the authorities don't move in. This sounds dangerous. I know if that happened here in Canada something could be done if there was implied violence.

We have literally been told that if he/she acts on those threats then we can call the police and authorities are obliged to offer help or commit him/her to a psychiatric clinic. But only if he/she acts on them (and the suicide attempt didn't count apparently).

It sounds ridiculous doesn't it, but this actually seems to be the only real option for us. This is the sad state of the UK, where schizophrenics, MPD victims and alike (known as "outpatients") are allowed to roam free and even live alone. All part of the government's attempt to cut costs!

 

[lookyoung]

I feel for you man. I was dating a girl that was depressed and it had an emotional burden on me also. I know this may be hard for you to do, but the key is to just let it go. Don't let it ruin you or don't be overly concerned with it. A good option may be to move away from that person.

If you want to know if he or she is Schiz then pick up a book at library and see what it says.

 

[penkitten]

the usa isnt much different.

talk of suicide or threat of it, is nothing.

health insurance agencies wont pay for you to be institutionalized unless you attempted it!

my aunt has this , and so far , her symptoms are some voice asking her who killed her loving undead husband, in which she follows him to work to make sure he is ok and blacks out and she thinks she can levitate in her sleep (rolling out of her body and floating) i only heard her have one conversation or argument with her head voices (it was about chapstick)

my baby brothers old gf has it too. she also has manic depression and ocd.
she thinks others can hear her thoughts, she thinks she can levitate in her sleep also, she hears her brothers talking distortedly in her head about things they never really would talk about, she dreams of really bad creatures coming to hurt others, and she stopped eating when she imagined all food was aborted babies. she is now in an institution, and just sits and cries and takes her medicine wondering if her loved ones are ok.


neither of them would ever hurt a fly, they would rescue the fly and set it free outdoors. they are the most sensitive people. if they saw someone be mean to you, they would cry for you. they are too sensitive for this cruel evil world in my opinion.

 

[DJDamage]

I don't want to say too much about this as it's a very sensitive subject for me and very personal, but basically I am dealing with a family member who I suspect may be schizophrenic. He/She is taking up a lot of my energy, emotion and is restricting my life

Who is this family member? can you be more specific?! (its not like we know you, so I don't think you need to hide that fact and it will be easier to find a solution).