I am new to this insidious disease. My daughter was the most stunning girl, her body shape and face shape has changed completely. I know it’s not about the looks, but it’s amazing how this illness can change one’s body and looks. I know she is still in there somewhere, it’s a little hard to get the hang of your beautiful daughter looking nothing like she did 12 months ago x
We were told she may not recover and maybe get back to 70% of her normal self. It just seems so much more than that.
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Is she having psychosis? That has to take a lot out of a person. Meds helped my son.
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My son’s facial expressions, his gestures -even the way my son walked changed. We noticed the change in his walk right away.
At first all we could see was the differences, later it was much better when we could see the similarities.
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Thank you for responding. Yes it’s amazing of all the changes, I guess we are only 6 months in, she is 23 and it’s all very new to us x
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I didnt notice those things as i was noticing he was losing all his personality and interests…
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Yes I’ve noticed appearance changes and facial expressions fluctuating over the years , and different styles sometimes(clothing)
Used to be very social as a teen young adult very isolated now
A Nami principle is to remind ourselves to separate the illness from the person I do this one a lot
Glad you found this space thank you for sharing
My husband let himself go, he wasn’t showering brushing his hair or anything and his eyes looked evil like he was possessed. He because zombied and glued staring at his phone posting demonic stories on instagram.
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From what I understand, those dark, black eyes we see during their psychotic episodes are their pupils opening wide. When people are in fight, flight mode from extreme fear our pupils dilate, it’s an actual physical response to what they are experiencing.
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That’s so sad and I’m very sorry. I am all to familiar with this and I regret that I don’t know the solution. But you are not the only person to experience this heartbreak from a loved one’s deterioration.
Syd Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, and arguably the creative force behind the band. He was very talented, handsome, popular, and much loved. He was a brilliant person.
Syd did a lot of drugs, especially LSD. After a binge it was noticed that he wasn’t the same. Syd had contracted schizophrenia and the changes were permanent. He could no longer keep it together for the band and sadly he was fired because he was completlely unreliable and just impossible.
Look up pictures of Syd, before and after. The pics say it all. He went from handsome and trend setting, to fat with a shaved head, slovenly clothes, and a hollow madman’s stare. That is schizophrenia.
When my brother was very unwell, he would shuffle. He let his hair grow long down his back. He’s cut it now and walks with a more normal gait. He doesn’t take care of his teeth or wear deodorant. He’s not pleasant to be around. I’ve also experienced his pupils getting really small and having a distant, unfocused look in his eyes.
I feel like I lose him again and again every time I see him.
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I feel like I lose him again and again every time I see him.
This part !
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