My son called me last night and I told him I have a cold and was going to bed early. He lives in a different province. About 45 minutes later, the cops were pounding on my door. He had called them to come and check up on me. He thinks there is a chinese man after me. My son is 35, so I have no say in his treatment. I am worried about him, because he just moved into a new house with roommates and I don’t want him to freak people out, and end up with no where to live. Any idea’s how I can help him?
My first thought is how your son tried to look out for you. Very endearing.
Do you mind if I ask how long he has been off his medications and if he has a history of being non-compliant? In the past I have had some luck with helping my son to be med-compliant by leaving schizophrenia out of the discussion. I try to discuss his medications in terms of anxiety relief and helping to regulate dopamine. It did work for a time. He still goes off medications, like recently, however for the most part we don’t argue over his schizophrenia.
I found using LEAP helped:
http://www.leapinstitute.org/ - under resources are free videos on using LEAP
LEAP is a way of communicating to build trust. Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner.
http://dramador.com/ - Dr. Xavier Amador is a clinical psychologist whose brother had schizophrenia. He is the founder of the LEAP Institute. Wrote the book: I’m Not Sick I Don’t Need Help! Can buy from his website.
Search Xavier Amador and LEAP on youtube.com and you should find some long videos
Being in another province makes it harder. My son is currently in another province however I will be going to get him soon hopefully.
Is he part of any type of early intervention or ACT/PACT program?
He was hospitalized 6 months ago and agreed to take 1/2 of the medical doze recommended. Once he left the hospital he stopped taking it. He has had periods of being very self aware and dependant on his medication. However over the past year he has no self awareness and will not be part of any help offered to him. He did have a community outreach team working with him after he left the hospital, but blew them off within a month.
I do not bring up his schizophrenia unless he does. I do however point out when he is showing signs of phychosis. He usually is greatful, and feels some relief. Oddly enough. Lately though, he is adamant his behaviour is rational. At this point I don’t feel he is a danger to himself or others around him, but am afraid he is vunerable to people who see is behaviour is weird, and feel the need to react.
I hope he finds more friends to support him. In certain places police are more understanding than others. I try to be lawful and mindful. I’m lucky that I’ve never had any issues in that regard. If I ever get pulled over I just stay calm and show them my registration etc. just being polite has helped me get warnings over tickets for things like a headlight. I don’t consider myself a danger, but I was harassed once with a group of people by a gas station. The cops were apparently called by this insane person who works there, and who claimed someone was loud or that I stole something. I’m so sick of that same woman accusing me of shoplifting I’ve never shoplifted! Then they interrogated us, we never went to the party we were going to. They shined a flashlight in my eye because I tried to move to a better parking spot and didn’t even mention I was being questioned because no one approached me. I felt like an animal. They talked to everyone, and then me. I felt violated because they called me the code for “erratic disorderly person” in front of me and everyone. I wrote the sherrif and complained and he responded saying that he had a talk with the officers on duty that night. A lot more harassment of people occurs when there is poor management, but I don’t know why I would be in their system anyways. I’ve never gotten a ticket or a citation in my life!!!
You could probabaly just try to maintain good relations with him. Texting is a good way to make a loving point.
As regards his illness, I wouldn’t force the notion of treatment on him. You might aggravate things. My mother nags me about taking anti psycotics and it pisses me off and just cause tension and arguments. Its best not to push these things.