Hello.
I have a few questions in regards to a close friend of mine who has schizophrenia.
He is male, I'm female & we have gotten close over the last year. We have a lot in common & have enjoyed each other's company.
What I am struggling with is this. He got off his meds about 4 months ago & has bipolar & schizophrenia. Actually he was Much calmer off of the medication & functioning overall at a higher level than on them. They do Not have him medicated properly.
The time he was off he has had multiple meltdowns, run in's with the police, and has now moved a few times. He is homeless but in a shelter he can stay till he finds a home (it's part of the mental health system shelter).
I am beside myself as to how to move forward with our friendship. He is on only 2 medications & they make him very manic & he is delusional. He seems to think he can function in a regular apartment at this point & I would say, "kudos," & WONDERFUL but he doesn't seem to be doing well at all. I think he needs to be in a group home setting where he has support.
It's not so much that as I typically try to be supportive & on occassion with voice my rathers..
He is high functioning as to exercise, eating healthy. He doesn't isolate.
BUT I feel that in ways I am, in the way, anymore..
It has taken a toll on me as I have had to go through these losses by being his friend, it has upset my own stability, getting used to seeing him here, then there or that he will cut me off for days, weeks at times.
The last 3 or 4 weeks I haven't been able to sleep. I feel it has sent me into a depression.
I Really care for him.. but I also feel I am needing to take care of myself as well & it's getting more difficult..
He seems to have mania on the meds, this is how he reacts to the medications he takes.
No matter what they won't work with him to fix this problem.
I guess my question is this:
As much as I care about him & enjoy being a close friend; I'm beginning to think that what he is needing more than myself there (often) is the people he is around, where he is living, the groups he attends at mental health center, etc. I feel in a way I am becoming overly needy by my own struggles & in all of these changes of which have taken a huge toll on my own psyche. It has affected me/ everytime he cuts me off, moves, checks into hospital, on & on.
He is not stabilized in his environment.. I'm lossing ground.
HOW do I be his friend?
Can anyone give me ideas on how to deal with this? I want him to know how much I care about him.. I DO CARE DEEPLY for & about him. But too I am struggling right now, falling into a depression due to my lack of supports in this & my own cross I bare..
Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
Claire