[Fififjonka]

I've recently found out my friend is suffering from schizoaffective disorder. He lives pretty isolated from the world, only with some relatives. Due to the isolation he's quite lonely and friendless. He confessed to me he hears voices ("thought broadcasting"). Sometimes there are ups when he feels well and we talk just fine. Then there are downs when he's disordered and needs time to even recognize me. I can see when he's struggling and I believe it must be more than tough to battle this illness, therefore I'd welcome some tips from you suffering from it as well.
When he's down again, what should I do? Should I leave him be until he's better or should I try to talk to him?

How often should I meet him? He doesn't have a phone and it's always me organising it, usually once a week for a couple of hours.

Besides other pills, he goes for an injection every two weeks. What do you think that drug could be? Risperdal?

What are the best ways how to support such a person? Or what works the best for you?

Some common tips you can think of, just anything that can help?

Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it in advance!

[philbee]

hi. i am also schizoaffective. i get alot of support from my wife karren, and i support her. i also see a psychiatrist, and go out with my case manager and mental health support worker. i think so far you are doing the best possible job in your support of your friend.

i am familiar with "thought broadcasting"! used to happen to me all the time on the bus until i got the right combo of meds and married karren and moved here to virginia. it is definitely scary.

i've been taking risperdal and other anti-psychotics for many many years. i didn't know risperdal came in an injectable form.

i used to belong to a psychosocial clubhouse in los angeles, which i liked very much. i tried the one here but didn't like it much. friends and groups are very important. i am glad you are a good friend and listener to your friend with schizoaffective.

[Fififjonka]

Hello, thanks for sharing! It's really great you have such a good and supportive relationship with your wife. I can't provide the wife though but at least the friendship :-)

Yes, he talked a lot about thought broadcasting, admitting he somehow knows it's not possible but right at the moment he's not able to simply say to himself it's irrational. I gave him a mp3 player and afterwards he gratefully told me how it helped to quiet the voices down.

I worked as a postwoman, that's how I met him. I've recently quitted so being in touch is much more difficult. But I want to stay in contact in any way possible. I think he was very lonely before we've met and firstly he was like completely astonished who I am and why I talk to him and bring him books about art. He kept staring at me with this puzzled smile. He was actually pretty overwhelmed when I said I ended that week and asked if we could still see each other. I even took him out by car twice, he was evidently happy to get out as well, he even managed it in a restaurant as I was afraid how he'd handle more people than just the two of us.

Yes, and as small the village he lives in is, supportive groups are out of reach for him. But at least he takes his medication and goes to see his doctor every two weeks, I'm grateful for that. Is it normal the drugs he takes make him slow and numb sometimes?

Also, it's always me who suggests another getting together. Do you think it's OK to do so? I feel he's really happy to talk and so, only I don't want to be too intrusive. He's probably too insecure to do it himself. I find it a bit funny as I'm 23 and he's 10yrs older (I was actually surprised when I found out his age, he looks much, much younger as he's quite subtle and thin) but I can't expect he'd show up just like that.

Thanks for your help and support!

[Sometimes psychotic]

First, yay for wanting to be helpful. Second I think the best thing you can do is ask your friend what he wants. When I went into inpatient psych I had to fill out a questionnaire about how much I wanted people to talk to me or whatever because everyone is different even if they have the same diagnosis. Its a much about personality as anything else. Good Luck!

[krzyk101]

Originally Posted by Fififjonka

I've recently found out my friend is suffering from schizoaffective disorder. He lives pretty isolated from the world, only with some relatives. Due to the isolation he's quite lonely and friendless. He confessed to me he hears voices ("thought broadcasting"). Sometimes there are ups when he feels well and we talk just fine. Then there are downs when he's disordered and needs time to even recognize me. I can see when he's struggling and I believe it must be more than tough to battle this illness, therefore I'd welcome some tips from you suffering from it as well.
When he's down again, what should I do? Should I leave him be until he's better or should I try to talk to him?

How often should I meet him? He doesn't have a phone and it's always me organising it, usually once a week for a couple of hours.

Besides other pills, he goes for an injection every two weeks. What do you think that drug could be? Risperdal?

What are the best ways how to support such a person? Or what works the best for you?

Some common tips you can think of, just anything that can help?

Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it in advance!

Hi you are a good friend to reach out to others who have the same or similar illness to find out whats best for you to be supportive to your friend. I would imagine since your friend is very symptomatic as you stated that you organize the visits and if the visits are working how you have them organized then I would continue that way. I know for me I have health care and support workers who come to see me on a weekly basis and it is much easier and relaxed if there is some type of regular routine about the visits, same day, same time, same duration. That makes it easier for me to remember that someone is coming to see me on the same day and time and also gives me something to look forward to and is not as confusing for me as different times on different days of the week. I have a lot of disorganization in my life and schedules so it would probably be best for you to continue organizing the visits.

The injection your friend gets once every two weeks could be one of different type of long acting medications the best way to find out is simply ask your friend the name of his injection, that way you are not being nosy but showing interest in his life and medications are part of the life of a person with severe mental illness.

I would just keep doing what you are doing and maybe take your friend out of his home if he feels comfortable and plan things or activities that are low stimulus too much stimulus can be harmful to someone with schizoaffective disorder and make more symptomatic. Learn by observing your friend and his or her body language what are his or her triggers and what is his or her comfort zone. It is important to not go out of a persons individual comfort zone.

I hope you continue to be supportive of your friendship sometimes just being there can make all the difference in the world.

I am only speaking of what I would as a schizoaffective want in a friend and all since I don't have any friends but if I did have a friend this is what I think would be important to me in a friend.

Best of luck to you in your friendship.

[Silent Void]

Listen and don't judge. For a schizo the input is overwhelming. Go with the flow.

[Fififjonka]

Originally Posted by krzyk101

Hi you are a good friend to reach out to others who have the same or similar illness to find out whats best for you to be supportive to your friend. I would imagine since your friend is very symptomatic as you stated that you organize the visits and if the visits are working how you have them organized then I would continue that way. I know for me I have health care and support workers who come to see me on a weekly basis and it is much easier and relaxed if there is some type of regular routine about the visits, same day, same time, same duration. That makes it easier for me to remember that someone is coming to see me on the same day and time and also gives me something to look forward to and is not as confusing for me as different times on different days of the week. I have a lot of disorganization in my life and schedules so it would probably be best for you to continue organizing the visits.

The injection your friend gets once every two weeks could be one of different type of long acting medications the best way to find out is simply ask your friend the name of his injection, that way you are not being nosy but showing interest in his life and medications are part of the life of a person with severe mental illness.

I would just keep doing what you are doing and maybe take your friend out of his home if he feels comfortable and plan things or activities that are low stimulus too much stimulus can be harmful to someone with schizoaffective disorder and make more symptomatic. Learn by observing your friend and his or her body language what are his or her triggers and what is his or her comfort zone. It is important to not go out of a persons individual comfort zone.

I hope you continue to be supportive of your friendship sometimes just being there can make all the difference in the world.

I am only speaking of what I would as a schizoaffective want in a friend and all since I don't have any friends but if I did have a friend this is what I think would be important to me in a friend.

Best of luck to you in your friendship.

Thanks a lot! Yes, I've been trying to make my visits as regular as possible, coming every Friday at the same time and so... I'll try to ask about the meds at the right moment. Great post, been very helpful, thanks again!

[avlady]

I think it's great you're looking out and getting to know someone who has mental issues, being myself as one, i sometimes wish someone would do the same or me!!!!!

[Fififjonka]

Originally Posted by avlady

I think it's great you're looking out and getting to know someone who has mental issues, being myself as one, i sometimes wish someone would do the same or me!!!!!

Hello and thank you:-) I stumbled upon him by accident and now I'm really glad that happened. It's just wonderful to explore the person he is. As many people think of him just like "the weirdo", they can't be more wrong. He's smart, sensitive and funny. It's a shame a lot of people avoid such people. But too bad for them, I guess. Wish you good luck!

[eliralena]

Keep doing what your doing. I know as myself I tend to act like a loner but mostly I just don't pay attention to the world as others might. I don't call people all that often and I don't leave the house. People have to kind of drag me out of the house or I have to be in a somewhat hypomania mood to leave. Keep visiting him you're supporting him better than some of my friends support me =)