what can i do?

Question

i am an adult with a family of my own, but my father is schizophrenic and has been off his meds for a while. he is acting wierd and talking crazy and has been hanging out with a guy just as nutty as he is and they seem to feed off eachother, well he sometimes says things to people that are offensive and maybe not even intended to be and i am scared he will say something to someone that doesn't know him and they might hurt him. my sister and i try to tell him to take his pills but he won't and we cannot have him taken to a mental hospital because he has to admit himself or be considered a danger by the police or proper authorities. we want to help him but we don't know how. any ideas? please, thank you

Answer 1

You and your sister tell him that you want nothing to do with him until he starts taking his medicine again. As a father I would do that for my daughters, my grand kids and for myself.

Answer 2

He can't be taken in unless he is deemed to be a danger to himself or others, not just the authorities. Most states provided for a 3-15 day involuntary commitment for evaluation and stabilization. Talk to his psychiatrist; the person who prescribed the pills.

This is typical behavior for a chronic schizophrenic, I'm sorry to tell you. You may have to deal with this for the rest of his life, so find out your best avenue.
Try and get him on the longer acting anti-psychotic meds like Haldol,and some of the newer ones. Those are generally taken every two weeks, or maybe once a month.
When schizophrenics begin to feel good, they very often begin to refuse their meds. Hospitalization, or intensive day-care, is about all that will get them stable again.
Contact your local Mental Health Association for accurate information.
Good luck to yo and your sister, and God be with you!

Answer 3

I would say try reasoning it out with him, but it is obvious that it wouldn't work. Hrm, schizophrenic, isn't that the term for those who are paranoid of everything? Forgive my ignorance if that not be the case.

I suppose without knowing the specifics of his case, I cannot offer specific advice. But if your father is particularly strong willed and refuses to take his medication, perhaps he is strong willed enough to manhandle his insanity with his mind alone? A Beautiful mind was a pretty good movie, but it wasn't a very accurate portrayal of the schizophrenic...

What kind of things does he mutter? Are they directed at any specific race/sex/religion? Perhaps that may be the root of the problem. By no means am I a Pyschologist, and I suggest you make an appointment with one that your father would not attend. You would attend and give the specifics of the case, he would definitely be in the best place to help you. Perhaps you should try a different pyschiatrist. If the one you have now resorts to only using medication to cure a patient's problems, instead of using medication in combination to other methods, he is being negligent and is not giving your father the care he deserves.

My opinion is just that, an opinion. And by no means should the word of a stranger ever be final. Perhaps there are others closer to the issue with more knowledge that could lead you to make the right choice?

Answer 4

I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time. I can relate to your problems. My son is schizophrenic and 26 years old so we face the same kind of problems when he gets sick. The rules are made to protect the patient but sometimes if things like this happens we can't help but feel they are stupid rules. I think right now all you can do is try to talk to him when he isn't agitated and pray a lot. I know that isn't much of an answer but your hands are tied and I know how you feel. Call the police if he becomes violent or trys to hurt himself before something bad happens. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

If he has schizophrenia, he obviously sees a psychiatrist who prescribes his meds. Give him or her a call, and let them know the situation.They will know what to do. Most likely when he goes in for his appointments, he's telling them that he's feeling ok and that he's taking his meds. At some point they will see that he is not, just by talking to him, But give them a thumbs up on the situation. I have schizophrenia, and unfortunately I've been down that same road more than once. I'd stop taking my meds cuz I was feeling better and didn't think I needed them or was too lazy to take them, or I wanted to drink alcohol and didn't want to mix it with the meds. Not a good way to go. You can't force him to take his meds, and he will only lie to you about taking them.Just let his psychiatrist know what's going on with him, and hope for the best. Good Luck.

Answer 6

You may try to find out him in such a time when he is in peace and in that time you and your sister talk about (within two of you) different case studies with positive impact of taking pill on time, but not to him directly.

Answer 7

Contact a psychiatric hospital or mental health center to find out what is required for an involuntary commitment in your state.