My family hasn’t done research about schizophrenia. They don’t understand it and they just get uncomfortable whenever I bring it up. They ignore my triggers. They make no effort to assure me that they are not, in fact, out to get me. They think “exposure therapy” is the answer to all the negatives (not that they even have taken the time to understand the differences between negatives and positives). They push me in all the wrong ways. They just don’t get it or make an effort to get it, and being in the earliest phases of recovery, I kind of need that from them.
I’m scared of it going badly if i bring it up.
I love them and I don’t want to offend them. They have done so much for me, and I don’t want to start any drama.
I just don’t know how to even hint that they aren’t handling it properly and how hard it makes my recovery to lack their support.
Anyone else have this problem?
How should I handle this?
My family isn’t fazed by my diagnosis. They get irritated at me and threaten me but they’ve always acted like it’s out of love. Maybe your family is just adjusting to the news and will learn how to deal with it better with time. Tell them you want to do things with your life and maybe they’ll warm up to you more… I’m too scared to try to achieve anymore.
In the way back machine, I had a psychiatrist with whom I spent a lot of time. We sat down, my two parents, my psychiatrist, and I, and he explained to them that a study showed that schizophrenics who lived in a critical environment didn’t do as well as those who lived without constant criticism. I was so grateful to the doctor for doing that!
Jayster
When I was younger I lived in a terribly abusive household. I was diagnosed, but no one gave a damn. Hell, the Army even waived my psych history and let me in. I only lasted through basic training before I got an honorable medical discharge because I had a bad left knee. Now I only talk to my younger brother and his wife, and they are very supportive. My brother doesn’t treat me like an alien - he treats me like a brother, and I love him for it. I don’t talk to my mother or my older brother anymore because they are both psychopaths. It’s always about them, and it’s always someone else’s fault. And they never ask for forgiveness or say they’re sorry about anything they do to hurt others. They know it’s wrong - they just don’t care. They presume forgiveness.
Sometimes you can make peace with family, and sometimes not. It sounds like your family loves you, and you love them. If that’s the case, maybe a gentle talk with them wouldn’t hurt as long as there’s no railing accusations. I hope their attitude is one of helpfulness and not laziness or worse - contempt. I’ve experienced both, and it sucks.
If I bring my father to any psychiatrist to explain the course of illness,he would say the doctor is crazy.
If your family is willing to do some reading, the book Surviving Schizophrenia is supposed to be really good at explaining everything
Maybe you could bring your parents to a therapy session with you, or maybe they could go to a NAMI support group in your area.
I have a dreadful family. I mean really dreadful. They are blind to anyone else’s problems other than their own. I’d rather bang my head against a brick wall than attempt to get any kind of support from them.
I actually do too, generally. The family i address in this post is just the family I’m staying with. My other family is either dead or evil. Hell, my mother sold me when i was younger. I don’t expect an any of them to blink an eye, and they would never do as much. But my uncle’s (who I’m living with now) are amazing people with good hearts and I’m not used to that and it makes it hard to know how to bring things like this up, you know? (sorry i went off there. But yeah, my family sucks too lol)
Sorry, I forgot you live with your aunt and uncle for a moment. They might be willing to go to a therapy appointment with you too. You could start approaching it like this, “Hey, I know taking care of someone with schizophrenia can be very difficult and confusing. Thank you for being willing to do it. I think it might help all of us if we went to group counseling together. That way, we could understand the best way to work together as a team.”
You’re good.
That’s really good.
I’m happy you’re living with people who are well intentioned. That can make a huge difference. @Ninjastar gave some good advice. Also, That book she mentioned is apparently quite good, but I’ve never read it.
I am in the same boat as U…???
i dont know how to convince them…!!!