Just thinking how hard a time it must be for you right now.. Hope you are O.K. and finding some support with the Psych nurses/psychologists/Drs/support team who are caring for your son.  It's heartbreaking watching someone you love seem so distant emotionally, makes you extremely sad, I really do remember only too well.  Hope things look up for you & your son soon.     

hi there

i have found a few links that may well help you out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-index.shtml, http://www.insightpros.com/schizophrenia/

some of these are directly related to parenting  children / teens with a mental illness more in particular schizophrenia in late teens - early 20's   but it is also known that children as young as 5yrs old have been diagnosed with schizophrenia

hope this info helps you & S..... out  & to get a better understanding of it & how best to help M....... out

love to you all catch up with you later.

latas lamb101

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hi please don't take it to heart as many people with Schizophrenia can become quite paranoid of others who are merely trying to help them. Sometimes they may percieve others are plotting against them (especially common with loved ones and doctors/psychologists who are just trying to help treat the disorder). So as you can imagine sometimes it can be especially hard to treat. Many self medicate with drugs; in particular marijuana which they percieve to be helpful for them. However, it can in fact exacerbate the condition. Marijuana in itself can exacerbate pre-existing mental illness in people which may not have otherwise surfaced. And many resort to being homeless. Medicinal help along with therapy and hospital admissions are common in treatments. My uncle actually lives with Schizophrenia. Fortunately he is medicated but it is sad because he looks like a zombie and hardly ever leaves the house, hardly anybody comes to visit him. He once was a great blues/jazz musician with a genius IQ so it really is sad. I wish you well and wish I could help you more that what I have here. The only other advice I can help you with is to educate yourself as much as you can.

I'm sorry this will be a difficult time for you and your family !

Your son being 18 there is not alot you can do for him unless he wants you to .

I would recomend googling and researching as much as you can about his illness and also try and find some kind of support group for families of those with mental illness.

At least with knowledge and support you will be able to find your own limitations and expectations as to how you will let your son's condition affect you.

As a mother DO NOT blame yourself ! we all do we all wonder if it's our fault our child has problems. IT"S NOT !

With knowledge of his condition and support from other families dealing with schizophrenia, you will be better armed when you are faced with any issues that arise. You will already have some idea what to expect, and therefore perhaps at least an inkling of which way to turn or how to manage any incidents that come along !

But remember utimately at 18 the world see's them as adults and you can not control how he behaves and in order to be there for him you must be strong and healthy yourself,

All the best