[gwenh]

How would you tell a friend or family member that you have Schizophrenia?

[January]

Hi,

I don't have an answer for you, but I want to welcome you to PC. We're glad you found us!

Cheers!

Jan

I might give them some info to read.

Maybe you can search the web for free literature that might help them to understand.

You might find this website helpful.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/index.php

[abbidy]

Hi! When I had to tell my husband and my parents I was so worried. What would they think of me? Would they understand? I know you are worried, but you have to understand that you didn't ask for these things. It's not your fault, so don't present anything to them like it is. It is a medical condition and ask them to help you face these issues as medical conditions. Don't mimimize your pain to anyone, just be who you are, and be prepared with literature and the knowledge of your research as well. good luck!

I don't have Schizophrenia but telling qabout one disorder is like telling about another disorder and I told my mom one day when we were talking. She knows I was in therapy and so when she asked how much longer I would be in therapy I told her probably for some time yet because what I have can't be fixed with just a couple appointments. Then I told her that I hwas diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and what that means is that my memories have been separated and stored in my unconscious level of thinking under all kinds of names, Its kind of like a person who hit their head and now has amnesia. I have all these memories that bounce around inside my head and because they are all in pieces they don't make any sense and then there are some memories that when I get mad and so on I act them out because they too are in pieces. so like doing a jigsaw puzzle its going to take years to put the pieces back together to form one whole memory.

I was able to explain it to her because I had the facts of what my disorder was.

So my first suggestion is talk with your treatment professional and ask for pamplets and so on that explain what schizophrenia is. then read them and put what you have read into your own words and those that those you want to tell will understand.

[Beautiful_Pain]

Hmm, I broke down in my doctor's office, with my husband there, about the depression. That's how he found out. My mom and aunt had suspected depression already, no biggie in our family, there are lots on ADs. I went to the ER a month and a half later, and was admitted to a hospital, my husband told my mom and sister. They called me in the hospital, crying. I have schizoaffective disorder, btw. So, I didn't actually tell anyone, I guess? Suppose I'm not much help

[Sarah116]

I sent them a form about it and video and said, hey that is me! It was hard on them but they understood.