Small steps to where though?

I am in the uk, so the USA system for MH is very different. My son has been diagnosed for 7 months whilst he has been in an acute psych unit. Tomorrow, he is moving to another unit which requires more independent living. That will be for 4 months. This is all due to drug abuse. I am still so cynical. I am sure he has just “played” the game to get transferred. Less security=better access to drugs.clever lad ? Or is he improving and I can trust the judgements of the doctor.? We have been fooled before. It’s out of my control as he is on section. Unit is amazing. I can never trust him again with the addiction. So destroying. Cannabis caused this apparently and exacerbated the schizophrenia. I am relieved to read your posts even though it’s far away. :disappointed_relieved:

It should still be pretty tough to get street drugs. Addiction is a tough situation, esp when its someone you care about. Have faith thet hell eventually see the light and quit. Life really is better without that shit.

Addiction is a terrible thing. You have my sympathy.

Yes, drug addicts can be pretty sneaky and manipulative at times. I got clean in 1990 and my life improved measurably in many ways.

Hi @Magicplz. Belated welcome to the forum.

I believe, cannabis triggered my son’s schizophrenia.

I struggle a lot with trying to tell the difference between symptoms and behavior as my son can be very manipulative.

It can be hard to put your trust into doctors when it doesn’t feel like they are doing anything to gain your trust. Sometimes though we need to try as there are not a lot of options.

It’s not easy however I try to separate in my own mind what it is that I’m not trusting. I love my son no matter what but I don’t trust schizophrenia or addiction. Addiction causes my son to lie, very easily and schizophrenia causes him to lose touch with this reality. Neither are trustworthy and they are both a part of my son so I can’t usually trust my son. I accept those feelings in myself as I believe that seeing my son and his actions/symptoms clearly does not diminish my love for him.

In hindsight I wish that my son had been a part of some sort of long-term facility for addiction. It’s hard to not think ‘What ifs’ but what’s past is past. I would say to hope because we can never give up hope, that even if he isn’t going into the facility for the right reasons that it will still help him in the long run. I don’t believe that every person who walks into a recovery program is doing it for the right reasons but after time… Walk the walk or talk the talk until it becomes reality.

Some links that may help:
Please look at these sites:
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

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://forum.schizophrenia.com/t/schizophrenia-substance-use/14459

http://forum.schizophrenia.com/t/anosognosia-article/12157

Ive had the same feelings about my son. It takes a long time to get that trust back. He has been doing that slowly but surely. Usually, the doctors can tell what symptoms are drug-related, or SZ related. It took me a LONG time to tell--and still not always sure. It would be pretty hard for him to get anything like that in the hospital. Everything is checked as it comes in. My son also admitted to " doing whatever he had to " to get out of any situation he didnt like.
In the end-he did what he wanted. +

Thank you for your support. I am so relieved to find this site. Everyone is in the same or similar boat. So glad I am not alone dealing with this life-changing episode.