Hello all,
I don't have schizophrenia myself but the person I love deeply has been sick for 3 months with what is most likely schizophrenia. His symptoms are predominately negative - he has gone from being a vivacious, extroverted and energetic person to a deeply withdrawn, apathetic, mute, etc. Pretty much most of the negative symptoms and I personally have been witness to only a couple of positive symptoms. It's not depression as there are a number of other factors that play into this diagnosis which I won't go into right now. He has been prescribed 1mg Risperidone, has been on this for 6 weeks and there has been little improvement. I think he probably needs a higher dose and some CBT or other therapy to supplement it. However, the psychiatrist said he was improving and to come back in 3 months. His parents and I think otherwise and are struggling to find hope/help/information on what to do.
My questions are thus-
- Are you someone who suffers from mostly negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
- What was it like for you in your head?
- Have you found anything that has helped?
- Have you been able to return to your "old self" in some way, to regain the enthusiasm, vivaciousness etc that you had beforehand?
- And this is a personal one as I am in love with this person but they have since rejected me since they got sick (as well as all of their friends). I am still holding on, knowing they are sick. I am wondering if you rejected people close to you, romantic or otherwise, and once you started to recover did your old feelings towards those people return?
I am keen to hear any experiences regarding this as I am struggling to find much help online/in books/on hotlines/ with my own doctors. I am devastated to see the person I love so much be so unwell and I am looking for any help/any stories.
Thanks,
Nan