[Anonymous]

Hi. I've just found out that one of my best friends has suspected schizophrenia (they think it could also be bipolar, but this is less likely). I've never known anyone with a mental health problem never mind one so bad. I don't really know how to react to it, I feel so bad for her she's only just turned 20, when she told me she said "please don't be scared of me." She's already made several suicide attempts, which makes me worry even more.

Has anyone else had a friend with a similar sort of thing? How did you react? What's the best way to go about it and is there any way I can help her?

[Guybrush Sheepgood]

Just continue to be her friend as best you can. A mental health disability is just another illness. Treat her the same way you would if she became physically disabled - be supportive. There is unfortunately, even in the modern day, a stigma attached to mental illness. This shouldn't be the case. I guess my advice is try to be her friend. This is really all you can do. I hope things go as well as they can for you (and her).

Edit: sorry about my misunderstanding

[nicatre]

Be supportive and help while you can. Schizophreniacs experience hallucinations so helping her to understand those will be a good thing.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Guybrush Sheepgood)
Just continue to be her friend as best you can. A mental health disability is just another illness. Treat her the same way you would if she became physically disabled - be supportive. There is unfortunately, even in the modern day, a stigma attached to mental illness. This shouldn't be the case. I'm not a doctor but I believe Schizofrenia is a degenerative disorder so she will get worse over time. I guess my advice is try to be her friend until she is unable to recognise you as a friend? This is really all you can do. I hope things go as well as they can for you (and her).

We're talking about schizophrenia, not dementia or Alzheimer's!

OP, the best thing you can do is educate yourself about schizophrenia and continue to be a normal, supportive friend. Here are some trustworthy links for you to read:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Schizop...roduction.aspx
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealt...zophrenia.aspx
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnose.../schizophrenia

Try not to worry too much until a formal, conclusive diagnosis is made. This could take some time. Schizophrenia in particular has a lot of stigma attached to it but rest assured, you have little reason to fear for yourself or for others around you

[Darth Stewie]

Schizophrenia is a difficult one to deal with, the effects vary greatly from person to person. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and disorganized behavior are the broad categories of typical symptoms but one thing to remember is that although some cases of schizophrenia result in the person becoming violent to others it is very rarely the case so you have absolutely no reason to be scared or nervous around her in regards to your own safety.

As for what you can do really the only answer is be a good friend, the person who i have experience with has disorganized schizophrenia and it got pretty bad at certain points. She made up words and said things that made absolutely no sense, mimicked peoples facial expressions, had a very hard time understanding why certain things were bad and frequently developed fantasies that she tried to draw everyone else into. Your friend may be completely different but it is very important to try and retain a level of normality when with her and don't think you need to wrap her in cotton wool, people can pick up when others are treating them differently and if she does have many of the symptoms that tend to come with paranoid schizophrenia that could exacerbate the situation.

[Mchouse]

just be her friend without making every conversation about the illness. When she wants to talk about it ask her how she experiences her condition and try to learn more about it from other sources but remember every person is slightly different. you are not gonna loose her to the illness, just don't lose her to stigma.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice guys

[mld]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Thanks for the advice guys

I have schizophrenia, and I'm a teacher! It doesn't make us mad or bad. It's just that without medication we see or hear things that perhaps other people don't see or hear. I also get delusional. But with the meds. I'm OK. So much so that I became head of a school, though now, due to the stress of running a school I have stepped back and am looking forwards to being in the classroom again as a plain normal teacher!

The best thing for you and your friend is to continue the friendship. Talk about the medication, it will make them sleepy, so no late nights out and early morning the next day, and perhaps no alcohol either. Look up the medication on line together and see what it says.

As for suicide attempts, I'm afraid that goes with the territory. I've been there got the Tshirt, film etc, but I'm still alive. (and taking my meds)