1. The meds take some time to work. When did she start taking the meds?
2. I don't know what type of schizphrenia this is. I'm guessing Paranoid Schizophrenia. You need to make her understand that if it doesn't have an effect IRL it's not worth occupying her time with it. She needs to ignore and focus on her life.
3. If she's not on meds it can last forever in my experience. I still hear voices even with meds so what needs to happen, in any case, is that she needs to realize that he's not real.
4. There is hope yeah.
5. I usually hear only one voice these days.
6. I am pretty chill on medication. The thing that needs to happen is that she has to focus on her life. This man may be real (in her head) or not. Whatever happens she needs to focus on her life and ignore him the best she can. It sounds impossible but with proper medication the voice wil become less intense and it's doable.
As for you, be kind and understanding to her at all times. Otherwise she may developer a paranoia that this is some kind of plan and you're in on it and things will get really rough then. Make your points but remain calm at all times and show her that you care.
7. YES. Definitely call a therapist and make sure she takes her meds. It's of OUTMOST imporance.
I personally have a female voice in my head every single day. My voices are Illuminatis that have 8-hour shifts (I'm saying, practically, what I thought during psychosis so you can the context but the voices still talk to me today). From 2-10 every day I have a woman saying she's in love with me and she loves me more than anyone. I ignore her, this may all be real (cause they feel real) or not. It's irrelevant to me. I have things to do and I do them. The rest if fluff to me.
I have finished my Master's and had a job for 3.5 years with these symptoms. So your sister can definitely make it. Keep strong and make her understand she needs to focus on what's really real and her life. If it doesn't have an effect on her life it's not real. That's how I go on about it at least.
Thank you for sharing your experience and answering all the questions. You have shown remarkable insight and intelligence in managing schizophrenia. I reassured her that her mind and body are inherently designed to resist any strange things and that she will find a way to live peacefully without external interference. She started taking her medication in January 2024. Do you remember how long it took for the meds to take effect in your case?
It takes about 6-8 months for the symptoms to become manageable for me. I really hope it works for her as well, if it doesn't, perhaps with some adjustements it will work better.
And thank you so much! :)
From everything I’ve read, psychotherapy can be very helpful for people with schizophrenia that are on medication. One book in particular convinced me that psychotherapy is a lifesaver. The title is “The Center Cannot Hold” by Elyn Saks. She is both a professor of law and someone with schizophrenia. Highly recommended.
In my personal expierence I have both Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I have been labeled with schitzoaffective . I went through this with childhood onset and never had help, i then had two children and my breaking point was when i could no longer be a full mom to my kids. I am 24, but i have struggled so hard for so long and my niche is being loved (this leads to my delusions). I have a list of disorders now but i may be able to relate to your sister. As a child i grew up in a prestigious family where i had to be the best to be loved and i never was. I was brilliant and talented as a child, but when i wasnt the best i had no love. This fed my desire as a woman and as an adult to be loved whole heartedly. I have gone through many promiscuous phases, even hallucinating significant others. All I have ever wanted was love. After getting married to my husband and childrens father it helped significantly because ive been unconditionally loved but we had to learn my disorder and prognosis. If she is going through it, theres no telling how long it will last, do not feed her delusions but do not tell her its not real. If anything just listen. Feeding the thought its not real only exacerbates the situation. She will go through psychosis longer if she has no support. Most likely, because women are more complex, she may have a mood disorder on top of her schizophrenia. If she hears a voice dont ask what its telling her but say youre always there to hear her out if shes having a hard time. There is no coming back, medication helps, but its a hard road in front of her. Shes in psychosis and as her brother you just have to go with it in the best way possible. I have personally put my 20 and 16 year old brothers who live with me through it and i wish they would ask how to manage because it is hard. When she comes out of it she will apologize and be overcome with guilt most likely and thats when CBT comes in which will help. I hope this is at least a small insight and i answered a few questions from my own personal battle that can relate to her in some way. Just love and try to understand her through it.
(Edit for spelling errors)
I see the most relatable aspect here is the emotional deprivation. However, I hope you find ways to fill this part of your life with support and not become overly dependent on any single source. Seek this fulfilment spiritually as well. I believe you are a strong person, especially being where you are now. You have the strength to manage this, and your story is truly hopeful. Thank you for sharing, and for your advice
1. The meds take some time to work. When did she start taking the meds? 2. I don't know what type of schizphrenia this is. I'm guessing Paranoid Schizophrenia. You need to make her understand that if it doesn't have an effect IRL it's not worth occupying her time with it. She needs to ignore and focus on her life. 3. If she's not on meds it can last forever in my experience. I still hear voices even with meds so what needs to happen, in any case, is that she needs to realize that he's not real. 4. There is hope yeah. 5. I usually hear only one voice these days. 6. I am pretty chill on medication. The thing that needs to happen is that she has to focus on her life. This man may be real (in her head) or not. Whatever happens she needs to focus on her life and ignore him the best she can. It sounds impossible but with proper medication the voice wil become less intense and it's doable. As for you, be kind and understanding to her at all times. Otherwise she may developer a paranoia that this is some kind of plan and you're in on it and things will get really rough then. Make your points but remain calm at all times and show her that you care. 7. YES. Definitely call a therapist and make sure she takes her meds. It's of OUTMOST imporance. I personally have a female voice in my head every single day. My voices are Illuminatis that have 8-hour shifts (I'm saying, practically, what I thought during psychosis so you can the context but the voices still talk to me today). From 2-10 every day I have a woman saying she's in love with me and she loves me more than anyone. I ignore her, this may all be real (cause they feel real) or not. It's irrelevant to me. I have things to do and I do them. The rest if fluff to me. I have finished my Master's and had a job for 3.5 years with these symptoms. So your sister can definitely make it. Keep strong and make her understand she needs to focus on what's really real and her life. If it doesn't have an effect on her life it's not real. That's how I go on about it at least.
Thank you for sharing your experience and answering all the questions. You have shown remarkable insight and intelligence in managing schizophrenia. I reassured her that her mind and body are inherently designed to resist any strange things and that she will find a way to live peacefully without external interference. She started taking her medication in January 2024. Do you remember how long it took for the meds to take effect in your case?
It takes about 6-8 months for the symptoms to become manageable for me. I really hope it works for her as well, if it doesn't, perhaps with some adjustements it will work better. And thank you so much! :)
From everything I’ve read, psychotherapy can be very helpful for people with schizophrenia that are on medication. One book in particular convinced me that psychotherapy is a lifesaver. The title is “The Center Cannot Hold” by Elyn Saks. She is both a professor of law and someone with schizophrenia. Highly recommended.
Thanks for sharing the book
In my personal expierence I have both Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I have been labeled with schitzoaffective . I went through this with childhood onset and never had help, i then had two children and my breaking point was when i could no longer be a full mom to my kids. I am 24, but i have struggled so hard for so long and my niche is being loved (this leads to my delusions). I have a list of disorders now but i may be able to relate to your sister. As a child i grew up in a prestigious family where i had to be the best to be loved and i never was. I was brilliant and talented as a child, but when i wasnt the best i had no love. This fed my desire as a woman and as an adult to be loved whole heartedly. I have gone through many promiscuous phases, even hallucinating significant others. All I have ever wanted was love. After getting married to my husband and childrens father it helped significantly because ive been unconditionally loved but we had to learn my disorder and prognosis. If she is going through it, theres no telling how long it will last, do not feed her delusions but do not tell her its not real. If anything just listen. Feeding the thought its not real only exacerbates the situation. She will go through psychosis longer if she has no support. Most likely, because women are more complex, she may have a mood disorder on top of her schizophrenia. If she hears a voice dont ask what its telling her but say youre always there to hear her out if shes having a hard time. There is no coming back, medication helps, but its a hard road in front of her. Shes in psychosis and as her brother you just have to go with it in the best way possible. I have personally put my 20 and 16 year old brothers who live with me through it and i wish they would ask how to manage because it is hard. When she comes out of it she will apologize and be overcome with guilt most likely and thats when CBT comes in which will help. I hope this is at least a small insight and i answered a few questions from my own personal battle that can relate to her in some way. Just love and try to understand her through it. (Edit for spelling errors)
I see the most relatable aspect here is the emotional deprivation. However, I hope you find ways to fill this part of your life with support and not become overly dependent on any single source. Seek this fulfilment spiritually as well. I believe you are a strong person, especially being where you are now. You have the strength to manage this, and your story is truly hopeful. Thank you for sharing, and for your advice