A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:Hi I am looking for help with my brother who has bee diagnosed with schizophrenia. My brother has been very sick for about three years, but was probably sick before that. I would love to hear practical solutions from anyone who has experience or might know about this illness. My brother is 30 and lives at home with me and my family. My sister and I are currently preparing to move out and I worry that one day everyone will have moved out and my parents will be left alone to care for my brother for the rest of their lives. My parents are in their 60’s and I worry that all the stress and anxiety caused by my brother will take its toll on them. He does not wish to find his own place, get a job, exercise or even take care of his hygiene. He gets social welfare which is a substantial amount of money so he does not have any motivation to get a job. I would love any advice on how to help him make his own life and get out into the world and possibly make some friends because he has none. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading x
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 August 2009): take it from someone with the same condition.it will be hard to change him,if not impossible.
A
male
reader, softtouchmale2003  +, writes (15 August 2009):
 Unfortunately schizophrenia is a lifelong affliction. Few if any people ever suddenly get better though a few have.
Those schizophrenics who live with elderly parents are more likely to be abusive towards them. So it is not a good idea for him to live with your parents.
You should move him to a half-way house where he has the freedom to come and go while being monitored for psychotic behavior.
The other problem with schizophrenics is they are highly prone to suicides, clinical depression, and secondary problems like bi-polar syndromes.
I know you love your brother, but this is not a story with any happy ending. Mental illnesses in this part of the spectrum are never cured and only get worse over time.
Therefore I would suggest that your brother be moved to a professional facility such as a half-way house. Its there where he will be better off and your parents can have peace and quiet that they need at the sunset of their lives.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 August 2009): hi there, my brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 19 he is now 38. my mother is his full time carer and wouldnt have it any other way. my brother also does not wish to find his own place, but to be honest i wouldnt recommend it as forgetfulness is a big part of the illness, as for getting a job that too would be stressful on your brothers part, given that paranoia, and lack of energy (resulting from the medication) would work against it. not exercising and lack of hygiene are known traits of people with this illness.
your brother is a very sick person, right now he needs your mother and father, and i am sure they will be only too happy to give care. what i have learnt over the years of my own experience with my brother and others with the illness who i met from his visits to the hospital is this...
they tend to live in the past, talk of things that happened along time ago,they do not feel the need to get out there and make a life for themselves as we do without the illness,
they live each day as it comes with no view to the future, dare i say happy in there own world. a tendency to lock themselves away in there room is another thing.
tiredness is a side effect of the drugs they take so that needs to be taken into consideration, also the appetite is increased. sleep patterns differ to ours, sometimes they can be awake all night due to and over active mind.
in conversation they do tend to repeat themselves quite often so patience is needed.
often just little encouragement is needed to sort out the hygiene, but as for the exercise its best left to small walks.
it does not have to be stressful looking after someone with this illness, they are usually so laid back and easy going.
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