Miss-Delectable
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- Apr 18, 2004
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Loving someone with mental illness
Hi Ivan,
I have been dating a Deaf person who claims to be schizophrenic and I am not sure how to respond to this.
Is this person able to "hear" voices? If so, what is the proper response by me? I understand that medication can calm the voices, but how as the girlfriend can I help?
Sincerely,
Hopelessly Confused
Dear Hopelessly Confused,
Buckle your seatbelt, you're in for a bumpy ride. Loving someone with mental illness takes a lot of strength and support, both for you and for the person you love.
To ease your confusion, I would suggest accepting your partner's claim about having schizophrenia, and then find out what type of schizophrenia it is--paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, or residual. Afterwards, do your research and also learn as much as you can about the disease from your partner. Having schizophrenia or any mental illness can be an isolating, scary experience--your open-mindedness, interest, support, and love will help this person feel less alone.
With schizophrenia, there are often auditory and visual hallucinations that can be intrusive, terrifying, and overwhelming. Regardless of what or how your partner is experiencing hallucinations, they are real for him or her! Medications can help to relieve these and other symptoms, and it's best to talk with a medical doctor about this.
In medical and other settings, it is the patient's legal right to have an interpreter. Make things easier by asking your partner to arrange this ahead of time or if he or she is unable, do it yourself: call the medical office and let them know the accommodations required; it is also their responsibilty to pay for this service, not you or your partner.
You can help by encouraging your partner to go to the doctor and afterwards, to stay on the medication; therapy and support groups can help, too. Offer your own support by accompanying the person you care about to the doctor's office, driving him or her to the therapist's office and to support group meetings, and being available to talk.
There are wonderful organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help you navigate this road and make your relationship rewarding and fulfilling. Remember to take care of yourself, too, and seek support from your own family, friends, therapist, and support group!
Between you and me,
Ivan
Hi Ivan,
I have been dating a Deaf person who claims to be schizophrenic and I am not sure how to respond to this.
Is this person able to "hear" voices? If so, what is the proper response by me? I understand that medication can calm the voices, but how as the girlfriend can I help?
Sincerely,
Hopelessly Confused
Dear Hopelessly Confused,
Buckle your seatbelt, you're in for a bumpy ride. Loving someone with mental illness takes a lot of strength and support, both for you and for the person you love.
To ease your confusion, I would suggest accepting your partner's claim about having schizophrenia, and then find out what type of schizophrenia it is--paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, or residual. Afterwards, do your research and also learn as much as you can about the disease from your partner. Having schizophrenia or any mental illness can be an isolating, scary experience--your open-mindedness, interest, support, and love will help this person feel less alone.
With schizophrenia, there are often auditory and visual hallucinations that can be intrusive, terrifying, and overwhelming. Regardless of what or how your partner is experiencing hallucinations, they are real for him or her! Medications can help to relieve these and other symptoms, and it's best to talk with a medical doctor about this.
In medical and other settings, it is the patient's legal right to have an interpreter. Make things easier by asking your partner to arrange this ahead of time or if he or she is unable, do it yourself: call the medical office and let them know the accommodations required; it is also their responsibilty to pay for this service, not you or your partner.
You can help by encouraging your partner to go to the doctor and afterwards, to stay on the medication; therapy and support groups can help, too. Offer your own support by accompanying the person you care about to the doctor's office, driving him or her to the therapist's office and to support group meetings, and being available to talk.
There are wonderful organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help you navigate this road and make your relationship rewarding and fulfilling. Remember to take care of yourself, too, and seek support from your own family, friends, therapist, and support group!
Between you and me,
Ivan
