I am the parent of a son 22 with “possible schizophrenia”…He is not on any medication. No hallucinations but some paranoia and delusions and “non-functioning…no school, work, friends”. At times he gets very angry, shows his fists, says “you’re pissing me off” (I just walked into the room) and says some very horrible violent things that he would like to do to me … or sometimes his dad. Last night I was kinda scared. I don’t think he’d do the things he says but he is clearly agitated and in pain. He will not take Latuda 20 mgs which is what was last prescribed.
Usually we have a great relationship. Any advice? I try removing myself from the situation but he follows me. Thanks.
Ive been very agitated and angry before, yelling punching and all that, and im paranoid schizophrenic once he is medicated that may change.
It may be a result of bullying, domestic violence such as loud arguments while he remains in isolation (his room), older parents, several factors. In any case, if you feel he needs help speak with him about seeing a professional. I would advise you to be polite and listen carefully. It may also help to include him in your conversations from time to time. Let him know it is not his fault. Avoid teaching hatred of others because it eats at the soul. Hate begets hate. Any form of hatred is self-hate for it is hate within oneself. It doesn’t help to blame everyone else for one’s mishaps. Music is nice, best of luck with all due respect.
Violinist -
I am sorry to be welcoming you to the club nobody wants to join.
My son does that too. I usually try to ignore, but I think it is normal human response to want to either fight or flee in the face of angry and violent speech. That talk of what he would like to do to you - it just tears me up when my son does that. I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to object - ‘this is not how I raised you!’
While it is unlikely he will act on these things, I suggest you do keep your phone with you so that you can call for help if necessary. If he lives with you, you might have to draw the line that he must keep on meds in order to remain in your house - you should not feel fearful in your own house. I am not saying just put him out, but making other arrangements might be necessary.
I’ll add that with a recent med change, this behavior has been greatly reduced. I am not doing a happy dance at this point, but at least we are both feeling some relief.
More likely PTSD with paranoid delusions and possible bipolar in DSM Axis I, and paranoid personality in DSM Axis II… but those notions are based on very sparse – and second hand – evidence, of course.
I strong suggest getting a copy of this book, regardless of the precise diagnosis, though.
Mental health pros agree it’s the best “jungle guide” around.
Sadly, what I have found is that when they are hurting or feeling the best thing for them to do is try to verbalize it. Sometimes this comes out in random shouts of anger. My daughter was diagnosed about 5 years ago and I have been through a lot of these. The best advice I have been given is not to take it personally. However, you do have to protect yourself and your loved ones. If it comes to a place where you might see him acting out. Call the police. If you tell them that he has a mental condition and needs to go to a hospital they will take him. Here in the small town I live in, the police already know my daughter and have had to deal with her several times. When I call now they listen to me and just take her to the hospital on a 5150 hold.
sounds like he is in the whole “Me vs. everyone” mode. That can be pretty bad. He needs to be taken to a firm clinical shrink to talk sense into him. I was firmly told “You’re very crazy” by one and it changed my life, was probably going to either kill myself or drop out of school at the time if it werent for being clearly diagnosed, read my MMPI-2 results and sat with the shrink and looked at my results. I was studying neuroscience in school so he invited me to look at my profile with him. It’s hideous, it says I am a cluster fuck. Well, it also says that I am very intelligent and very determined. I got my shit together and got on meds (now I take what like ten pills a day, no lie) and I rebuilt social skills, joined a powerlifting gym for health and because it helped me with agitation and confidence, also a need for structure (heavy lifting is a strict lifestyle) and now I lift for fun and health and am into research in psychology at school.
The key thing is invading his psychological personal space and revealing to him that his perception, his entire grasp on reality is insane. Once he realizes that he is insane, he will immediately become sane again and slowly come back to normal, if all goes well.
Yet he must be willing to change. I was so dependent on alcohol that I just gave up and took meds instead.
Yep. @violinist Is he a boozer? Or a drugger? You didn’t mention that. If he is, that will have to be dealt with first in a treatment facility specializing in “dual diagnosis” recovery. (That’s that catchphrase.)
My son never used to be so aggressive. He seems to get worse as he gets older. Of course, he is off meds, but I suspect there may be some drug abuse going on.
Cannot tell him anything without getting verbal abuse spewed at me-or anyone else for that matter. A while back he did actually hit me. I had to call the police, and he was arrested.
At this time ( he doesn`t live with me ) my sister has been coaching me. She deals with autistic children and teens, and all sorts of behavioral problems.
She tells me not to listen to his abuse. To calmly get off the phone with him. if he is with me, stay calm and take him back home.
I have to say this is helping me, but not my son.
I would think that drugs or alcohol ( or withdrawals from these substances ) could be the hostile culprit
Sorry-but i would also like to add that you may have to have him live in a place of his own.
You may have to call the police. Ask for a CIT trained officer to come ( Crisis Intervention Team ).
i have a werewolf 
anger/rage aswell…from child abuse.
certain food groups calm the mind e.g
unhulled sesame paste…tastes a bit like crap peanut butter.
omega 3
krill oil
probiotics
take care 
I was like that to my mother and pretty much everyone until I accepted my mental condition and realized that I may have to deal with this all my life.
Have a doc talk to him and help him accept his lot in life.
God Bless and good luck.
Another family member on this site recommended these sites a lot so they can hopefully help you:
Please look at these sites:
http://www.leapinstitute.org/5 - under resources are free videos on using LEAP
LEAP is a way of communicating to build trust. Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner.
http://dramador.com/1 - 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
Treatment Advocacy Center - under problems you will see anosognosia
Anosognosia looks like denial but is different.
Bayes for Schizophrenics: Reasoning in Delusional Disorders - LessWrong - helped my understand delusions
http://www.nami.org/ - National Alliance on Mental Illness.
http://www.schizophrenia.ca/ - Schizophrenia Society of Canada
Can also find some very useful information here:
http://schizophrenia.com/
I think he was taking b vitamins and fish oil.
He seemed to think it was helping. He was eating pretty healthy for awhile…
I was wondering about (Crisis Intervention Teams) I was wondering if I could call them instead of the police when my daughter has symptoms that put others in danger. As it is now, I call the police, but I’m always afraid of what they may do if she fights them (which she will) She is a tiny thing only about 100 pounds but she can fight. Would you know how I can get the number for a Crisis intervention hear in San Bernardino county?
I have had to hear the same thing from people, give up, just let her figure it out etc… I feel like you, "Moms never “give up”. even when we know it is out of our hands.
West Valley Region
Phone: (909)-458-1517
Pager: (909)-535-1316
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
East Valley Region
Phone: (909)-421-9233
Pager: (909)-420-0560
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
High Desert Region
Phone: (760)-956-2345
Pager (760)-734-8093
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Morongo Basin
TeleCare Inc. 24 hour Crisis Response Line
(855) 365-6558
thank you 
If I were his dad threats would not be allowed in my (our) home. He would have to stop them or move out regrettably.
No my son doesn’t drink or do drugs.