[oldlife_disrupted]

Hello,

This forum seems to be for people who have episodes of psychosis and schizophrenia. I'm looking for a forum for people who are supporting someone with a MI.

My stepson was recently diagnosed after a scary few weeks where I didn't understand at all what was happening. Today, he was released from the hospital (he's 20 years old, his mother and I were separated a year ago). He's applying for government aid and is looking for an apartment as he wants to live on his own.

I have to admit, I'm not prepared for this. He seems to be ok, he's taking his meds and on Friday will be taking an injectable form of the medicine which he'll only need to take once a month.

My issue is I don't understand this very much. I don't understand how to identify a flare up of symptoms, I don't even know if this is going to be an issue as I only expect him to continue living with me for a couple of months.

I don't want to be this stressed, I don't want him to feel unwelcome or stressed because of me. I'm pretty sure my current anxiety is from the few weeks I lived with him while he was having episodes that I didn't understand and was living in fear. I also have 2 younger kids who live with me part time.

What I need (I think) is to speak to fellow care takers who have more experience in this so they can help me understand more.

Would anyone have any forums to suggest to me? It would be very appreciated.

Thanks

[Sometimes psychotic]

https://forums.psychcentral.com/part...ivers-support/

You could try this although many people there are transient and looking for advice themselves....I often answer stuff there that I can.

Let his pdoc worry about a flare up....just treat him like you normally would. Pdoc should be seeing him with some frequency until fully stabilized and injection is really foolproof.

If something happens and you live together it will be obvious...hey dad did you see the tanks rolling down the street.....I think that the dragons are finally taking over etc. Most people may sound weird but they are rarely violent except if using recreational drugs so have a zero tolerance policy on that and alcohol. In most cases your biggest issue is going to be that he's going to want to sleep and watch a lot of TV. Not exactly scary.

Good luck....

[oldlife_disrupted]

Thanks for the tip, that does help and I'll check it out.

Unfortunately he was using marijuana to self medicate. I hope he will continue to abstain but only time will tell.

His symptoms unfortunately are that when it occurs, he sends really mean and suspicious messages by text to people. He gets very aggressive and was at the time hiding tools in his room with the intention to use them as weapons because he suspected people were watching him. It was scary.

He seems to be taking a lot of walks. How long does it usually take for medicine to stabilize? Apologies if I have a million questions

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

Thanks for the tip, that does help and I'll check it out.

Unfortunately he was using marijuana to self medicate. I hope he will continue to abstain but only time will tell.

His symptoms unfortunately are that when it occurs, he sends really mean and suspicious messages by text to people. He gets very aggressive and was at the time hiding tools in his room with the intention to use them as weapons because he suspected people were watching him. It was scary.

He seems to be taking a lot of walks. How long does it usually take for medicine to stabilize? Apologies if I have a million questions

So yeah with any of the drugs there can be more violence....I'd make sure he doesn't self medicate anymore if possible because it can increase psychosis unless it's a cbd only strain(no thc).

Set some ground rules...searching his room isn't unreasonable...if he were in the hospital he wouldn't even be allowed anything metal....it's less intrusive to have your dad check once a month for drugs and weapons or whatever.

Meds the right meds took about a day for the hallucinations but at least a month for the delusions those are difficult....and imo the most dangerous part because you can think by doing "A" you might save everyone else on earth..."A" could be anything from tuning off your cell phone to something horrible. Importantly just because he thinks it does not mean he'll act on it. But you can call his pdoc and tell info even if the pdoc can't give you info....just leave a message.

[The_little_didgee]

Sorry, I cannot really provide helpful suggestions since I am not a parent.

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

His symptoms unfortunately are that when it occurs, he sends really mean and suspicious messages by text to people. He gets very aggressive and was at the time hiding tools in his room with the intention to use them as weapons because he suspected people were watching him. It was scary.

Paranoid delusions mixed with agitation can cause aggressive behavior.

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

He seems to be taking a lot of walks.

This reminded me of my experience. When I was ill I used to go for long walks to nowhere. It was caused by agitation. Walking seemed to help even though I had the urge to yell and take my frustrations out on bus shelters.

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

How long does it usually take for medicine to stabilize?

Usually medication starts to work within a few days. Hallucinations seem to respond quicker than delusions. Changes should be noticeable within a month but since people are different they may occur earlier or later.

P.S. Montreal is such a beautiful city.

[costello]

I have a son who's dx'd with sz. His first episode was when he was 20. He's now 29.

No one is ever prepared for this.

[oldlife_disrupted]

Thanks for the additional information. It's true that one can't be prepared for this, you just don't expect it.

I'm curious about this agitation. Do you mean that his illness causes agitation or the agitations of life in general? Are you saying that reducing agitation- like things in the home would help lessen his symptoms?

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

I'm curious about this agitation. Do you mean that his illness causes agitation or the agitations of life in general? Are you saying that reducing agitation- like things in the home would help lessen his symptoms?

Psychotic agitation is different from typical agitation. It is a combination of profound restless that is felt all over the body and a feeling of emotional tension that can cause irritability, pacing, yelling and aggression. Antipsychotics relieve it but they can cause a similar condition called akathisia which is mainly felt in the legs. Akathisia is treated with either benzodiazepines and/or anti-parkinson drugs.

It is an awful sensation.

[oldlife_disrupted]

I'll look up Akathisis. It wasn't a symptom the doc mentioned with his medication (Abilify).

So far the doc is comfortable with his behaviour and ability to handle stress.

Sorry to hear about these side effects.

In your opinion, as he searches for an apartment, is it preferable to live alone for a while or have a friend as a room mate?

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

I'll look up Akathisis. It wasn't a symptom the doc mentioned with his medication (Abilify).

So far the doc is comfortable with his behaviour and ability to handle stress.

Sorry to hear about these side effects.

In your opinion, as he searches for an apartment, is it preferable to live alone for a while or have a friend as a room mate?

I prefer of live alone however the prognosis is better if you have a "carer" in the home.....if the roommate doesn't care and doesn't take interventional steps it's not going to help.....it will save money though which could be an issue if he has trouble working or gets disability which pays very little.

[costello]

Originally Posted by oldlife_disrupted

I'll look up Akathisis. It wasn't a symptom the doc mentioned with his medication (Abilify).

Akathisia is a common and horrible side effect of antipsychotic medications which pdocs tend not to mention or even notice. My son had it for a long time. He kept calling it 'panic attacks,' though. Finally I figured out what it was. My son's still angry the pdocs never figured it out.

My son was in the hospital once and overheard another patient describing her symptoms to a nurse. He knew immediately she had akathisia, but the nurse apparently didn't.

[Loial]

I developed RLS after being put on antipsychotics & had a bit of akathisia for a while too. I'm still not quite sure what the distinction between the two is. I used to tap my foot constantly, persisted for a month or so after coming off APs too.

[oldlife_disrupted]

Come to think of it, he did tell us just not in those words. He mentioned the need to tap your foot or something. Also mentioned drooling which makes sense because he spits a lot now.

When he gets the answer for the financial aid, I'll mention it might be preferable to be alone at first.