What would you do if someone is driving you nuts by asking you one question over and over again?

Question

I am in a program for mentally ill people , there is a girl who is 39 years old and has schizophrenia . If it is relevant to the question , I have bi-polar.She has asked me certain questions several times . They are slightly personal but that's not what bugs me . She asks me a lot what my parents names are and if I have kids - which I don't .
I have to figure out a way to handle this appropriately because when this happens it's in the morning and we are with a staff member ( coincidently) when this happens. If I was to snap at her I could get in trouble . In the program , they teach us PTA
( Patience Tolerance , and Accommodation ). I am still working on patience. This has a been a long going thing with that girl. My patience has pretty much reached the limit. I have tried and tried to figure out a solution . but I can't.

Answer 1

Well, just tell her you have answered her questions before and will not give her anymore answers either now or in future if she ever asks again.

Answer 2

Can you discuss your problem with a doctor or staff person in the program? Can they separate you from this woman? Can they give you some tips on dealing with her questions?

If not, it looks like you'll have some patience practice. When she asks, remember that she's ill and isn't doing it to annoy you. Maybe you could play a game where you make up new answers each time she asks, like the first time, your parents are Adam and Anna Abercrombie, and next time they're Bobby and Bea Butterson. Today you have no kids, tomorrow you've got 16, with 125 grandkids, and promise to show her pictures of all of them.

If the staff member gives you a hard time for silly answers, point out that you asked for help with this woman, and you're doing your best to maintain your PTA.

Answer 3

That's a tough one! I think the big question is WHY she is doing it.

1) If she does it because she just isn't paying attention to your answer (a problem with lots of people, schizophrenic and non-), you could nicely tell her, "You know, we've had this conversation before."

2) If she's doing it because she is developmentally disabled or because her cognitive capacity has been compromised by her disorder, then patience is definitely the solution. Obviously, that could be pretty hard for you though (I really sympathize). Sometimes people with schizophrenia display a symptom called "stereotyped thinking" in which they can't help repeating themselves over and over. That could be what's happening with her. Also, she could just be so socially awkward/anxious that she can't think of anything else to say to you...frustrating for you, but probably even worse for her.

Do you have a nice time talking to her otherwise? Do the two of you have things in common that you could bring up before she starts up with those same old questions again? You could also try talking to one of your counselors about it...they may have some insight into dealing with this particular person.

Good luck!

Answer 4

It is pretty much impossible to get a person who has schizophrenia to stop asking the same questions over and over.

A good way to counter act this question is when she asks it, ask her the same question and see where it leads. Once she answers, quickly change the subject by asking how she is doing, what did she do for the day or evening.

Unfortunantley since you are in the program, you will always have to use the PTA.

Hope this helps :-)

Answer 5

In life you have to deal with some people that will rub you the wrong way. A way around it this one is to say, We talked about the same thing yesterday ... do you remember the answer ? or
we talked about that yesterday so can we talk about the weather or a tv show you saw last night instead. She may want a conversation with you but she does not have the social skills to think of something new to say to start a conversation

Answer 6

Patience would not be learnt if you did not have to practice it! The lady asking the questions is also mentally ill, right? Maybe she cannot help herself any more than you can get the patience thing. Tlak about this problem with the counsellors when you get a chance.

Sorry that you are not well in the mind. I have relatives who are mentally challenged and it is hard, for them and for us. Keep learning and practicing. i am proud of you

Answer 7

Unfortunately she won't change so you can continue to work on patience. We can't control what others say or do we can only control how we react to it. surely you have heard this. With her mental problems she may find safety in repeating things. She can't help it and can't stop it. Have you tried turning it back on her when she asks if you have kids, respond I don't have any tell me about yours. or What are your parents names? This might help break the loop that her mind is on. Good luck Hope you get home soon.

Answer 8

Even non mentally ill people have the same problem with people who try to solve problems by constantly asking you the same questions again and again and again.
It is rooted in their individual coping skills, like a record being stuck in a tiny crack.
What do you do with a record that is stuck on a groove? Lift it up and place it somewhere else. Try to displace her attention with something else.

Answer 9

I never face that kinda situation with a sane-adult just pesky kids. What did i do? I just force myself to smile and put myself in that person's shoes and imagine that the other person brain is trying it's best to cope with the ear

Answer 10

She probably has no memory of your answers. Being patient & kind is an answer, but it does get very annoying. Just nicely tell her that you just answered that question & see if she remembers the answer. Ask your counselor how to deal with her. Hang in there - you're doing well!