I really enjoyed that caregiver course and I learned so much more than I ever thought I would. Some of the attendees have remained my friends and that was 10 years ago. I am glad you are connected with them now. Best wishes.
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There are lots of good responses already to most of your questions so I wonât repeat what advice others have already offered⌠I will add that I have found the Xavier Amidor book âI Am Not Sick, I Donât Need Helpâ to be very helpful in understanding how to communicate with my son. I know itâs difficult, but try to have courage. Iâm sorry that I donât know that area of the country at all so canât help with recommendations of doctors, but even here where I know that we still went through a number of doctors until we got someone who seems to be working well. Donât give up no matter how discouraging things may seem.
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I havenât taken Family to Family, but I hear itâs helped a lot of folks. You might also want to see about First Episode treatment programs in your area, they are really changing the trajectory of the illness!
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I will look into the book, I always like to read more. My sister has some care, the issue is that she is alone by choice. She refuses home health care workers, case managers. anyone that could be sent to help her organize and stay on track with a recovery program. Many have tried. My younger half sister once took my ill sisters guardianship. Sadly she herself was an alcoholic with all of the emotional drama that goes with that so that fiasco did not end well. I accompanied her a couple of years back to her doctor and her psychiatrist and I saw where they allowed her to âwear them downâ with her constant talking and redirecting the topic at hand (her health) âŚI would hope professionals would be experienced with this and be able to deal with it more effectively but in this case they did not and eventually would just refill whatever she was on at the time and shuffle her out the door. All of the medical staff encountered wanted me to take guardianship of my sister but I have guardianship of my sz son and I am being treated for PTSD myself so I know my limitations. I want the best for her but I wonât be able to get her there. I can just remind her that I love her, make subtle suggestions and keep my door open to her to visit. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I appreciate them.
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Wow, hearing personal stories like yours (or just a little insight) really hit home and are encouraging. I sit here and ponder why life for me is getting rugged and then I read of others as yourself who have multiple family members battling the same fight as well as your battle. I have to realize it could be worse. Alot of my family are flying down and it was too much for my sister to be around so she asked to sleep at my house even hinted moving in. I donât mind, as a matter of fact, I would love her in my home. I just worry⌠I keep asking her âdid you take you meds, did you take your meds?â she replies that she has but I want to be able to actually see that she does. She already told us she feels like a child the way we are all on her back about things. She wants to go see this guy she went to college with she also wants her car keys back and as my family make up different excuses I try to be blunt with her. âBecause of your condition,âŚâ She isnât accepting the diagnoses yet but I hope she does⌠no rush however⌠Maybe Iâll take over her medication and distribute them to her myself. Like I said she is 25 years old and feels like we are controlling. But its out of her best interestâŚ
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