prayer and advice request

[crokett]

You may have to risk your relationship with this person and have them get involuntary help though I am not sure how much the law can do until the person actually does something to harm themself or others.

Several years ago a good friend flew in to see me on his way home from a wedding.. He stayed overnight. I put him on a plane the next morning, when I got home from work he was sitting on my doorstep. He told a very crazy story about being followed and someone out to 'get him' and how he'd flown home, then got on a plane and flew back. I talked him into flying back home. Took him to the airport that night, then told the first cop I saw about the situation. My friend called and woke me about 3:00 AM from a hospital, they were holding him. He was paranoid that the FBI was out to get him. His parents called me in the morning. Thanked me for doing what I did.Turns out my friend was manic-depressive, something I never knew. He'd stopped taking his meds and had an episode - the wedding was the stressor. I still talk to his parents 1 or 2 times a year but he hasn't called me since.

[Knottscott]

Thanks for all the outpouring of support and advice. Even though this is a woodworking forum you are also very helpful and genuine people. I appreciate all the advice.

I am no expert in psychology so you should take what I am saying in that perspective. From all the behaviours I have observed over some months and many hours reading various symptoms, etc. it looks like this person may suffer from schizophrenia. Consistent with what others have said and all the symptomology (I think I just made that word up) there are other concurrent symptoms too: paranoia, depression, flattening, mood swings. It's the sudden change in behaviour, paranoia, "voices", and possible hallucinations that really concern me.

This person has been to a medical doctor for a checkup recently but nothing came of it; although I am not sure the doctor really got a complete picture of the various issues. It seems like some days this person is close to accepting that they should talk with a professional but then something will happen that sets them off and they become very resistant.

I also wanted to mention that I hadn't thought about how much worse it might actually be for them compared to how they explain it (2x or 4x worse). Now I'm really worried.

The symptoms you described sound very serious and advanced. Some of the more severe illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder tend to become progressive over time without medication....not to mention that the suicide rate is near 20% in untreated cases. Your "patient" needs to know that this is not their fault, not their doing, and not poor judgement on their part...there should be no shame or blame....they are a victim of a disease and it's definitely not a choice....no more so than MS or cancer. There's nothing to be gained by waiting. Modern medicines can be a Godsend for people with serious disorders, and life can take on the appearance of being normal when properly diagnosed and medicated. Have as many heart to heart chats as you can to help this person realize that they need help, and that without it they're likely to get worse. I'll be praying for you.

[ChrisD]

Jay, I can't really offer much more than prayers. I know you will make the right decision for this loved one.