I’m new here and just feel very helpless. It’s been 2 years now that my 17 year old son has been dealing with schizophrenia. I feel like my family is getting destroyed. I feel at edge at times . My son is suffering
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I feel the exact same way about my 22-yr-old daughter. This is the most horrible disease. All I can offer you is to say you’re not alone, and don’t let this ruin your own life. Easier said than done, I know. I try to stay positive but it’s a daily struggle. Hang in there! There is a community of people who understand and are in the same boat. We just have to deal with what life has given us and try to stay positive.
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Thank you for your reply, and telling me I’m not alone . I try daily to stay positive to support my son because I know he is daily fighting this illness. I hope that your daughter gets better , I’ll keep her in my prayers
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Im glad you found this resource 
Im sorry you are feeling helpless right now.
I can definitely relate to feeling helpless a lot.
I’ve been trying to remember when I cant help or what I’ve done hasn’t helped ,
to then try and help myself in some way (self care) Therapy or mindfulness personal chores, even simple like making a meal I want.
I do hope things brighten for you and yours and all of us .
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Thank you , I will try to do more self care. I hope everything gets better for you as well
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Try to maintain hope. Your son is young and there are promising treatments on the horizon (newer drugs being tested, medical keto, etc.).
Please educate yourself on the resources available (NAMI, Dr. Amador’s book and LEAP method) and the experiences of the many who have walked in your shoes. Wishing you courage and fortitude!
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Hi, I am dealing an unmedicated 29 year old schizophrenic son. I feel like his illness is the worst and always makes my life harder and causes me great anxiety. I try to tell myself that I am doing all I can. After more than a decade of this, it is hard to keep hopeful and cope, but I keep trying. Kind thoughts to all of us dealing with this. 
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Irene im sure you and all of us here are doing all that we can to help our love ones , I agree with the anxiety it’s always there I come home not knowing if it’s a good day or not . But I always tell my son and remind him that I’m here and that I love him . Keep pushing I’m sure you are doing a great job
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Hope7,
I’m so sorry that your son is still suffering after 2 years of treatment. I have been told by several psychiatrists that the gold standard prescription is called Clozapine. The medicine is helping my son where most other medications have failed or just helped a little.
Clozapine comes in a pill. It requires weekly CBC blood draws for the first 6 months, every 2 week CBCs for the next 6 months. After 1 year, it requires 1x month CBCs. Clozapine reduces the Neutrophils count (i.e., white blood cells).
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clozapine-oral-route/description/drg-20066859
I would offer that you ask your son’s psychiatrist about this medication if he is already not taking it. From what I am told, typical does are 100mg or 150mg, but can go higher.
Galaga
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Hello Hope07.
do not loose hope. he will get better with right combination of meds.
I have been dealing with this illness for 9 years. I wen through really challenging times and I had to chase after him in several states. he became homeless in CALIF for almost 2 years. He is now 32 years of age and staying at home with me. it is still not not easy but at least I managed to get him off the streets and he is on Monthly Injection and other oral meds. he still hear voices but hope the voices will get reduced with time… praying about it.
Hung in there and try him on Injectable even if you have to force him through Court./Guardianship.
Keeping you in my Prayers…
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I used to say that I felt like a bomb went off in my family. Your family is, most likely, not destroyed, it’s adjusting to the same terrible reality you are. Each member of the family will approach the illness and its impact on their lives differently. This illness is traumatic for all involved - the patient and family members. It takes time to process. In time, you’ll have a new normal.
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I understand your despair. My son is 25. After years of absolute pain and suffering for him and our family he has finally settled after treatment but I feel that he has been robbed of his personality and ability to enjoy life in any way. He simply exists from day to day and I don’t know how to help him. It’s the most awful illness!!!
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Yes. Despair. I feel it constantly. I don’t think there could be a worse thing for a parent than watching their child suffer with this disease.
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I have been studying doctor Almadors book. It is very helpful, but so far I have not been successful in getting my son help. He just continues to decline.
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I don t think most parents could understand how awful this disease is unless they have lived it. My son has been battling SZ for over 10
years. He is now 29, refusing to take meds and lives alone in a condo near me, that we provide for him. He functions terribly, doesn t drive, I have to bring him all foods and supplies. He currently barely speaks to me, which I think is due to paranoia. He has no friends or speaks to any other family members. He isolates all day, I have no idea how he spends his days now. He has been off meds since April and I am hoping that somehow he will get taken to hospital soon, so he can forcibly be put on meds. It is just day to day here. It is just so sad to see a young man decline and suffer so much.
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It’s just so sad to see our loved ones suffering this way. My so is 25 and is taking his meds but his quality of life is horrible. Very isolated, won’t go anywhere or do anything. I can’t imagine how painful his existence must be and feel so frustrated that I can’t help him.
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Hi Monica, I know what you mean, it is so painful to see them missing out on all the normal stuff of life. It is almost unbearable to watch. After 10 years of it, I am getting somewhat used to it, but the pain doesn t go away. I am just learning to accept it and try to live with it. I am trying to be hopeful for a miracle for all of us dealing with this horrific disease.
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I have just started researching and reading whatever I can. It can be overwhelming but I get some useful info from it. This insidious disease is horrible, my daughter is 23 and at home with us. Whatever we think is right and as a parent what we should do doesn’t always turn out right.
She’s off meds and happy in the comfort of her room , it is exhausting and heartbreaking.
17 is young, this changes their lives forever. Please don’t be hard on yourself, there is no rule book on how and what to do. We appreciate the little conversations and a glimmer of what she used to be x
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