[Squirrel1983]

So at my last session somehow my mom and her strange religious beliefs came up. She (mom) does mission work and believes she can do what Jesus did in the Bible (heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, and teach others to do the same). I am of the stance...heal the sick...maybe, but raise the dead...no way. T seemed to agree with me. My mom is very open with this as it is her job description on Facebook.

Then T asked if I ever asked my mom if she heard voices or was suspicious of people. I said no and that I doubt she would tell me if I did ask. T replied with, "She openly tells people she can raise the dead, she could be open with that too, you should ask her." T is thinking my symptoms might be heriditary and that if they are I should make sure I let my pdoc know becuase it could change my treatment plan.

I just don't know how to bring it up to ask my mom. I mean it would be pretty weird just to come out and ask "do you hear things" or "are you ever suspicious of people". How do you go about asking something like that?

As you may have read in previous posts by me, I am finding a pdoc closer to home. I see the "new" pdoc at the end of the month and should probably know if my mom has similar symptoms to me so I can tell him if he wants to know.

Any advice on how to ask my mom about these things?

[gma45]

If your Mom is that religious, I am just guessing that she would tell you yes she here's from God or Jesus, and she is suspicious of non-believers. Just my guess! I would let your new pdoc know though what your T thinks about it being hereditary. My advice for what it's worth is to just take care of yourself the best you can, sounds like you are doing pretty good. sending you hugs!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Squirrel1983

How do you go about asking something like that?

I would make it all about me so my mom didn't think the focus was her or her mental health. I would say something like, my doctor is concerned about X, and wanted me to ask my closest relatives if they had ever experienced such and such. This might help give him some clues about my treatment. I'd even have a list of objective, clinical questions to ask her, so it didn't seem personal. And if she did answer yes to any questions, I wouldn't delve into it with her but just note it on my list. The family history can be really helpful in psychiatry so this is well worth doing, I think. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Squirrel1983

I see the "new" pdoc at the end of the month and should probably know if my mom has similar symptoms to me so I can tell him if he wants to know.

You might even wait until you see the pdoc and ask his advice on how to proceed and what he would find most useful to know. That way if your mom asks about why you want to know you can say your new doctor requested you get the information to help him. I think I would probably wait until I saw the doctor so I wouldn't have to go back to mom for more questioning in case I hadn't thought to ask something the new doc wants to know.

[Squirrel1983]

Originally Posted by sunrise

You might even wait until you see the pdoc and ask his advice on how to proceed and what he would find most useful to know. That way if your mom asks about why you want to know you can say your new doctor requested you get the information to help him. I think I would probably wait until I saw the doctor so I wouldn't have to go back to mom for more questioning in case I hadn't thought to ask something the new doc wants to know.

I never thought of that. He (new pdoc) may want to know more than T suggested I ask my mom. Thanks for the advice.

[capecodfish]

I'd bring it up casually. Something like, "Hey mom, you seem to have a great relationship with God. I was wondering, does he ever talk back to you? Like do you ever actually hear his voice in your head telling you what to do?"

[ECHOES]

I really think that what you posted, what you know now about your mom, is enough for your pdoc. She isn't diagnosed and it isn't your responsibility to know her symptoms, beyond what you have observed. I think it will be enough for your pdoc to consider that it might be heredity or biological. I agree that it would be best to wait and see what your new pdoc has to say.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Squirrel1983

Any advice on how to ask my mom about these things?

"When God talks to you, do you hear actual words or do you just feel it in your heart?"