I was just reflecting on how terrible my dad was in this regard. He could be okay in other ways, but damn, zero compassion for a severely ill son.
I had my first psychotic break in early 2003, which chased me out of med school. When I came home to live with my dad, still terribly ill, he told me I had to get a job if I was going to live there. I took a kinda low stress job, but even that pushed me to a second psychotic break that fall. After just a few days in a unit I was discharged and immediately had go back to work, just a couple days post-discharge, was given no choice. It was â– â– â– â– â– â– up.
It was like that the rest of the time I lived with him, which was a couple years.
After my worst-ever psychotic break, in 2008, the one that destroyed my marriage, I had to come back to Michigan to live with him again. Same â– â– â– â– .
When I was doing poorly in 2012, he informed me that I would be a “loser” if I ever ended up on SSDI.
Tbh I hate when people on here say things to me like “at least you’re able to work” or “you’re lucky you can work.” I just want to scream every time. I work because no matter how severely ill I have been I received zero compassion from family. Since my early twenties my options have been to work or live on the street, for real.
I received tough love at a time when I desperately needed compassion and time to rest and heal. I suppose that’s why I never cried over my dad’s death.
My mom did, for sure. My step dad acted like I needed to solve it somehow and then acted like I was cured after I stopped suffering delusions. So now I’m fine in his book and my brother is the only sick one. Which is fine, he needs help more, but I’m still sick.
My dad and mom were very compassionate. They visited me often when I was in group homes and the hospital. In fact they were the ones who were behind the scenes getting me into those places. At first I denied I was ill and then when I realized I was ill I blamed my illness on my parents but as soon as I realized it wasn’t their fault and they were just trying to help me our relationship got very good.
In my first group home my dad would come over at night and pick me up and we would go somewhere and talk for a couple of hours. He did his best to understand and help me and told me about his own life experiences and how he struggled and overcame hardships and that would help me.
When I was hospitalized for 8 months my parents visited me every night and brought me treats and puzzle books. My mom found a nice group home for me and I would take the bus home on weekends and visit my mom and dad and we would go out to eat or to a movie or something. They both gave me great support until they died several years ago.
Always encouraged me, always proud of me. I had a very caring family and they even attended family group therapy with me for a year which meant they drove up to my city every Tuesday night and sat with two other families and their children while two counselors tried to do things to help us. Now that’s dedication.
When i first got sick, my parents visited me every day in the hospital, and when i was 200 miles away in Florida State Hospital, they drove 3 hours to visit me at Christmas when i was there 5 months. They always tried to find the best hospitals (until the insurance ran out) and they were the leaders at the support group for family members at the main hospital i went to. My family is still compassionate, even tho they’re 5000 miles away. We talk every day on the phone and, if I’m ever in a bind, they will give me emergency funds. They have ALWAYS supported my recovery.
My dad had schizophrenia. My mom took care of him…it was hell she said. He wouldn’t take his meds. He was also epileptic. When he was 40 he only had half his brain operating from all the seizures. My mom raised me by herself. I visited my dad with chaperoned visits per the court at my aunt’s house. My dad was out of it all the time. He was also on powerful meds my mom said. When I became a teen I stopped visiting until I was 16. I went to my dad’s apartment by myself to see him because I so desperately wanted a father relationship and a father’s guidance, but he was totally out of it. That was the last time I saw him. He died when I was 17. My aunt got in an argument with him and didn’t see him for a few days. She went and checked on him and the apartment had a rancid smell. They said he had a seizure and choked on his tongue and died. Now that I’m older I can understand his struggle, but not fully because I’m not that bad. I only got schizophrenia and I refuse meds that will mess me up, so I play it safe. So yeah my mom is very understanding. I take care of her. She has health problems. We’re a good team.
I’ve been one to say it’s good you work; for that i have to apologise
My father is the same but nowhere near as vocal about it. Because I usually erupt in anger when my parents say stupid ■■■■to me, same with my siblings. It’s why they mostly give me the cold shoulder because they don’t want to accept there’s difficulty in me functioning
I don’t think my family would believe me, let alone try to understand. I’ve given up trying with them. I keep my distance most of the time. I’m sorry your dad was a dick.
My parents were and are supportive. I kinda took the illness into my own hands though. I don’t ask for anything and handle my business myself. I get some inheritance each month though and do odd jobs, mow, and clean my dads office. This extra income is a new thing though and I didn’t ask for it. It was all offered. They’ve never forced anything on me and have helped me a lot in the past. My dad actually bought me a mattress the other day and his excuse was that I don’t cost him any money. My sister is great to talk to and my other sister is there to help in other ways though I do a lot for her. I just kinda live my life and my family has stayed kinda close in a way.
I dont think my mom believes negatives are real. I didnt bother trying to convince her about all I know about sz, until recently.
When I did, she said, “yeah, but you take medication for that”. I tried to explain to her that medication doesnt help much, if at all , with some of the negative symptoms, but I dont think she gets it.
My mum is caring. When I have been very unwell she would take me out for a walk etc and make sure I am doing okay.
But she doesn’t really understand SZA as much as I wish she did. When I have issues with motivation she often just thinks I’m being lazy
My Dad just thinks that I should be able to get over it and is very ignorant on the topic.
without my family (mother and sisters) i could be homeless or in jail due to my first episode of schizophrenia.as they sent me to psychiatry hospital and get treated well.and here i am stable and have insight about my mental illness.