Completely AZ: Little Help?

[Annette]

Agent Zero,

I speak as a family member of someone diagnosed with schiziophrenia and clinical depression. I truly hope your family is blessed likes ours, in that we love each other despite our illnesses. We always knew my family member
was "different", but we never imagined the actual illness. But it comes down to this: we love him, just as I hope your family loves you, no matter what.

It's hard for me to not to feel guilty. I often wonder, why him and why not me? Maybe your friends and family will be feeling the same when you explain to them what is going on. Take heed in Narf's advice. Learn your limitions and live by them. Those who love you will adjust and learn to accept. The important thing is to take care of yourself.

PS I don't think you should worry about hurting those you love. I'll bet they'll be relieved to have an explanation and know you're getting the help you deserve.

[Baron Munchausen]

Hmmm... and that last post, as I recall, was a question about a character in one of your stories with paranoid delusions. Did the search for information about your character lead you to realize that certain things you were experiencing were 'not normal'?

Good luck on the treatment. If you stick with the medication, schizophrenia isn't necessarily debilitating anymore.

As for how to inform your family, I would say don't be in a rush. If you're just recovering it probably wouldn't be wise to rush into more stress too quickly. You are living overseas, right? Well away from home? Don't you have a few months before you have to go home? Rather than seek a quick solution, maybe it is best to use the time to consider the situation thoroughly.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Some time to build up your courage is good; but if you do that, set a definite time.

Also, telling your family you want to discuss something at that time can help.

Basically, don't give yourself a chance to chicken out.

[Randallw]

Well my credentials are that I am mildly autistic (Aspergers, an inability to interact correctly with "normals") and am schitzotypal. The most important things for me is to make sure I take my medication and my family, I don't have any close friends. It is good that you have discovered your problem, I wasn't diagnosed until I broke down in public about 6 years ago, all the sympyoms were there, I was supposed to be hyperactive as a child, but once diagnosed the medication stopped some personality traits I had. Some times I forget my medication but this becomes apparent when I feel nervous the next day. I don't want to start explaining all my problems (which is another one of my problems ) but I take alot of comfort in this forum. As I mentioned I have trouble with people face to face, but I am very at ease here where I can edit my responses.