Living with a schizophrenic:
To be honest I never realized he was a schizophrenic. I thought it was just one of those diagnoses that I was used to hearing and more comfortable with hearing. It wasn’t until recently, when something traumatic happened that I decided to put effort and help him get therapy. I will NEVER forget what the MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY SAID: Sorry, but we don’t treat schizophrenics or someone with psychotic tendencies. Well I immediately thought to myself, He’s not a schizophrenic! He knows who he is and what he is saying! But as I learned more about the definition of a schizophrenic, I realized I was confusing schizophrenia with “split personality”. A schizophrenic is NOT A person with a “split personality”. Once I realized that the two, were not the same, I started researching symptoms of a schizophrenic. I starting thinking, “Maybe he was a schizophrenic?” I have seen SO MANY people have some of those symptoms. WOW, this is so confusing!!! Now that I am coming to terms with all of this, I went into action! I searched the web for phone numbers to anything resembling an avenue of support. Well 12 calls later and 3 pieces of cake, NOTHING! NO ONE seems to care! The only thing I was left with, was a stomachache from all the stress eating I was doing! I can’t believe how hard it is to find support! I explained to all the mental health facilities that, if he didn’t self-medicate with weed, then he would be destructive. Their response was, “Tell him to stop smoking weed, and once you see him acting psychotic, you can Baker-Act him”. I thought to myself, what a terrible thing to do to someone! Let them get so stressed out and in “CRAZY MODE”, And CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE DO SOMETHING BAD, LIKE GO ON F’N SHOOTING SPREE! Yeah, No Thanks! WOW! And then everyone is surprised when the news shows another horrifying event, scratching their heads wondering how could have this have been prevented??????! That’s number one! Number two, is the responsibility that is put on that person that is just trying to do the right thing, by seeking help before something terrible happens! I am not saying that all mass shootings are done by people who have some type of mental health disorder, but it is VERY CLEAR TO ME, that there is NOT ENOUGH HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS! Especially in the state of FLORIDA! To those who live with, or know someone who has a mental disorder, the best thing you can do is, be there as a non-judging ear, and if you are not able to be a support for them, then at least be kind to them, and NEVER take what they say personal, NO MATTER HOW RELATABLE IT MAY SEEM TO YOUR PERSONAL LIFE. The Mental Health Program, must improve and must be more accessible to those who need it and are looking for it! Not only does this Country need to improve on their mental health program, but their needs to be more programs available! Workshops and group activities. If you are living with someone who is a schizophrenic, or suffers from any mental health disorder, don’t be scared and please don’t turn a blind eye and go in denial mode! It’s there and it’s not going away! Maybe their symptoms can sleep for awhile, but all that sleep, does eventually waKE UP! Please don’t be fooled by the hope you have in your heart, that you, yourself can heal someone who suffers from a mental disorder. NO ONE can heal a mental disorder, only guide them with support and tools to help cope with it…