[Kitarp1994]

I honestly know nothing about this website or how it goes. I just need anonymous advice because I truly have no one else to go to.

Starting about 6 years ago my mom got depressed. She would lock herself in the bathroom and not come out for hours upon hours. She started becoming delusional, talking about how everything around us was a lie etc. My dad did not know what to do, he just thought it would go away on its own and it did not. He took her to a psychiatrist one time and NEVER again and was prescribed risperidone. There was minimal improvement. I was much younger when this all started and I did not understand the situation. I am now 19, and need to know what I can do to make my mother feel better, or if there is any hope. She still hears voices in her head and claims some bizarre things. We give her the medicine and it does little, she completely rejects the fact that she is mentally unstable and continues to have manic episodes. She refuses to ever go out and has continuous delusions about our family and describes some very gruesome ideas. She does though cook for us and take us grocery shopping etc. She though is nowhere close to normal.

My father has given up basically, and he is never home. He supports us financially and gives us everything we need. I just do not think he took the right path in trying to help her and now does nothing except tell us to giver her the medicine.

She rejects to even go to a psychiatrist, what should I do? Shes only been on this one medication since it started and I don't think it helps at all.

I believe she is a bipolar/Schizophrenic and just need some advice on how to get her better. Can she get better.

Yes, she probably can get better with psychiatric treatment and therapy, but you have
to persuade your dad to see that she gets in to see a specialist. So many new things
have been developed in treatment since you were a child, and she might benefit from
them.

You're very alert to the fact that it could be schizophrenia or bipolar illness, but only
a psychiatrist can accurately diagnose that for your family. Please try to encourage
her and your dad to get help for her.

[Victoria'smom]

You may be able to find some one ( a psychologist) that will come into your house to evaluate her and Dx her. My psychiatrist does appointments on skype when need be. Maybe bring the help to her?

[Darth Bane]

You may be able to find some one ( a psychologist) that will come into your house to evaluate her and Dx her. My psychiatrist does appointments on skype when need be. Maybe bring the help to her?

i agree. and she needs proper psychiatric treatment. it is not late or anything, mental illness is not like bacteria/virus disease that it can be too late to treat it. just convince your dad to take her to hospital or have pdoc visit her. and dont worry about it, psych meds are advanced and very effective...

[faerie_moon_x]

The issue here is that if she refuses to go and is not a danger to herself or others, there isn't anything you can do. You can't force her into treatment if she doesn't want it.

I'm really not sure what to do in that instance, except to be patient with her and gently try to find ways she may accept some sort of treatment. Maybe convince her that there may be a medicine that is more helpful to her but she'd have to see the doctor, since she's okay with taking her meds.