Topic : 11/23 Schizophrenia

 Thank you for airing this show.  On Monday 11/21/05 my step father committed suicide.  In Ocotober, 3 weeks ago he was diagnosed with Chronic Delusional Pychosis.  He attempted suicided 2 times,  was in the County mental health for 4 days and was sent home.  He died on his 3rd attempts 3 weeks later.  This show today has helped my children understand a little more what their papa was going through. Although it is very hard to accept it did bring them a better understanding of mental illness.   I thank you for bringing light to this subject and hopefully our health system will step up their care of the mentally ill.  I applaud your guests today for their courage and information on this horrible disease that is affecting so many people.

Please seek a support system within your community. It's so important for your mental and physical health that  you to have others with whom  you can speak to about the daily stressors of having someone that you love be diagnosed a mental illness. Please don't think you can do this without anyones help. I't's ok to ask for help and not be ashame. Society has changed it's views about mental illness and there have been more strides made in this area, since the dark days of electric shock. Reach out for support. I wish you peace and strength. 

Mona59 

While I thought todays who had some interesting parts with regards to the way a Schizophrenic feels and thinks, it was lacking on the legal issues.  The bit from the lawyer from Wisconsin was laughable, I have had to deal with a Schizophrenic parent for over 20 years now.  The truth, at least in Illinois, is there is little you can do to help mentally ill people get help.  You first must realize that part of being schizophrenic is refusing help!!!  Part of being schizophrenic is thinking there is nothing wrong with you.  You can not force anyone into seeking medical help without a court order.  To get a court order and force someone,  the police come and get them, and take them to the hospital,  the person must be a threat to themselves or others.  You must go to court and prove this to a judge.  I had to do this multiple times over the years.  You must also realize that a schizophrenic will get to this point when they quit their meds eventually and as a loved one you must watch them slip and slip and slip into a complete state of craziness until they are carrying knives and making threats until you can go to court and force help on them.   You must also realize quiting meds is part of being schizophrenic so it will happen.  My parent was very high funcioning, as the gal on the tv is.  My parent worked 2 jobs to put me through college.  Eventually the degenerative, yes it is degenerative, disease takes it's hold and your loved one loses almost all sense of reality and there is nothing you can do but listen to them tell you about Nazis and peole trying to get them, the secret service, etc.  Our society should be ashamed of all this.  It is wrong that we do so much to protect the rights of people to the point they have to pull knives on someone to get them help.  Check you health insurance policy, what is your mental health coverage compared to your medical health coverage.  We also put mothers on trial and convict them after they kill their kids, though they are known to be mentally ill?  We are to blame, we have laws that protect the rights of very sick people and keep help from them until they threaten someone or in many cases already have hurt someone.  This is the show I'm waiting for!!!!  Schizophreniz is a circle, meds, quit meds, get sick, get worse, threaten someone or self, court order (If you are lucky enough to have a very caring loved one)  hospital, back on meds, over and over and over until you don't recover with meds any longer.  If there is no loved one watching over you and loving you then the result in the circle is no court order for help but a crime is commited and you go to jail. 

Thank you and bless you for encouraging me today. I wish Michael had the insight that you seem to have. I hope you have dreams as well:)

My 36 year old son in law had a paranoia attack when he thought the CIA and Mafia were after him.  He thinks his house is bugged.  He has a masters degree in education.  Very smart man.  How can we help if he thinks nothing is wrong with him?  He doesn't believe my daughter or his father when they tried to explain that the things that he thinks are happening...aren't happening.  He turned to religion going to church every day...saying the rosary....reading the bible...etc.   

Now he dreams of demons.  Is there anyone out there feeling the same way? 

BTW.  His first attack happened when he found out his parents were divorcing.   

God Bless All who have a mental problem.  I pray for all of you every night. 

They run on a fee schedule by monthly income.  

  

I am not sure how the meds work however MOST doctors if you cannot afford them will give you samples. But they only know what you tell them. I would also try to apply for diability or medicaid. Disability is usually denied the first time but be persisitent and if it is denied always file an appeal. 

  

It is a process but very much worth it if you need medication that you cannot afford. 

  

Your best bet is to start with the county mental health. Look under local government agencies in yrou phonebook..  

  

Another place to look for advise on where to turn would be a support group. They are usually held once a month and are free. They have a wealth of information.  

  

Hope this helps, my email is mommaoof2@yahoo.com if you need help locating any services. 

I am the mothe rof a bipolar daughter so I have alot of information to share on where and how to get help. 

  

Tammy 

 Today's show was one of the most educational ones I've seen.  Mary is such a beautiful and well-spoken woman.  I understand the challenges and realities of schizophrenia so much better that I did before seeing it.  She and the other guests did a wonderful job of shedding light on a subject that is rarely discussed.  Thank you.

im 28 years old and just 16 weeks ago i have relized i have this im trying to deal with it and have told no body im a single mom and live a normal life but i hear voice from the time i wack up untill the time i go to bed im so glad dr phil has talk about this it makes me fell like im not alone

 I just want to make a little clarification to what you are saying here. People do not develop schizophrenia due to taking medication. I am not disagreing with you that someone may develop temporary symptoms that resemble schizophrenia due to a medication they are taking. ( I really don't know enough about that to comment.) But just because someone has some schizophrenic symptoms does not mean that they are schizophrenic. What you are describing would be considered adverse side effects to a medication (very extreme adverse side effects at that) not the psychology disorder schizophrenia.

People need to realize that these mental illnesses are REAL and hard enough to deal with, without someone trying to throw evil and possession into the mix. 

  

I ask anyone who reads these views to not do anything without consulting a doctor. The doctor who diagnosed you is far more educated and that is why he/she carries a degree. A laymen throwing out advise may be harmful so please please anyone reading this that does have a mental illness, do not do anything without talking to your doctor. 

  

Thank you Tammy