Replies to '11/23 Schizophrenia'

After I read those posts, I felt very angry and insulted that people who have had no experience with this particular disease could write such things. I'm sure they're well-intentioned, but their comments come off as very ignorant. Your reply totally hits the nail on the head. You have developed some amazing coping skills. Thank you so much for your appearence on the show! I think it really helped educate a lot of people on the daily struggles with the disease. 

My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 22 (and I was 18 - I'm now 30). The years that preceded his diagnosis were extremely difficult for me and my family. My brother was very kind, smart (honor student), and very musically talented (playing the piano from a very early age). Within a period of a few years, everything in his world changed. He suffered from hallucinations and thought birds talked to him (among other things). He was very paranoided about everything. Part of his paranoia was that the entire medical community was after him, and he refused to seek any treatment. He even stopped bathing, brushing his teeth and washing his clothes. I think he was paranoid about the "chemicals". Conversations with him were almost impossible, because he couldn't focus on anything that was being said and continually made outrageous claims about stuff. He became extremely violent and had a feeling that he was "all-powerful". Everyone feared that he would kill someone in the family. On one occasion, he came after our dad with a fire-poker and ended up breaking some windows with it. My aunt ended up having to call the police on him after he broke into her house.  

Having him arrested was the only way we could have him committed long enough to get a diagnosis and treatment. He went into an institution for a period of about five months. It was very difficult for everyone to see him on the different medications as the doctors were trying to find the right ones.  

He was finally permitted to come home for a two week visit. He seemed very happy, peaceful, and clearer in his thoughts during that time. I actually was able to have somewhat normal conversations with him, although I could still tell that he had problems with his focus. Everyone thought he was finally on the road to being able manage his disease, but at the end of those two weeks, while alone at my dad's house, he took his own life. My family has struggled with his death ever since. 

I really hope more research is done on this disease. I also think something should be done with the institutions where people seek help. Funding for either of these, unfortunately, seems to be extremely anemic. If you know of any political action groups to raise awareness on this disease, please let me know. I feel I should get involved in something like that to help cope with my brother's loss. You're proof that people can, with the right medical help and support system, successfully managed this disease. God bless you and your family!