A young man i've known since childhood - he is now in his early 20s - is now mentally unstable but i'm not sure if it's that or an act. His folks say that he is on meds and is going for counselling - the route apparently of the problem is chemical/electrial imbalances in the brain (?). I've been affected by his behaviour (despite his folks saying he has improved somewhat from the earlier days) in that he has called me once speaking in jumpy sentences, non sensical and distrubingly with some sexual innuendo. I put the phone down. He also attempted to see me - Coming to my place and i refused to see him - telling him to go home. I have advised his folks who say i have done the right thing. I think he knows what he is doing in that he says things like "i don't want to offend you". When I said go home - he did. His folks seem to think he's on the mend - i have my doubts. Is it schizo? If i come face to face with him - what should i do? Tks in advance.
2007-03-13 06:59:50 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
just be careful because they arent entirely sure of his condition yet if you know anythign about mental illness you know it is a lot of looking at symptoms and guessing I was diagnosed 3 different illnesses before they decided I was bipolar and then you get to go on the medication roller coaster which is sometimes worse than before you knew what was wrong with you. I dont know if bipolar is considered crazy but I did a lot of crazy things before I was balanced out on medication and was fully aware of all of my actions from a crazy person in remission just be careful
2007-03-13 07:17:02 · answer #1 · answered by eve p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A mental illness doesn't mean a person is 100% incoherent 100% of the time. There are varying degrees of mental instability, too. Some people can be depressed but still function "normally" in many areas. Some people can suffer from panic disorder, but not all day long.
If you come face to face with him, just be gentle and send him home. If you feel he's dangerous, call the police.
2007-03-13 07:08:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He may be getting better or his parents just may think he is getting better because he is being treated. People see what they want to. They love their son and want him to get better. Has he just started contacting you? If this is a change, he may have been severely depressed before and now that is resolving and he wants to reach out. In my opinion, w/o someone responsible watching someone when he is on medication, it is very hard for the doctor to get the right medication and dosage.
It doesn't sound as if it is an act, but he apparently is not confrontation so does go home when you ask him to.
My advise is, if he bothers you further and it starts to get even weirder, then tell his parents that you will get a restraining order. That may sound harsh, but maybe that is what the parents need to hear to watch him better and be in closer contact with the doctor.
2007-03-13 07:12:08 · answer #3 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have done the right thing. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the other's behaviour, but some meds can actually cause the side-effects you mentioned. If you are not sure what to do or he keeps harassing you, maybe a talk to the local mental health team might be a good idea. They won't be able to discuss his case with you as they are bound to confidetiality, but they might be able to note down his behaviour in his care plan and someone might talk to him about it.
If you come face to facae with him, try to be nice, but make it clear to him that you don't like certain behaviour if he starts behaving strange. After all he is a human being like all of us and his own behaviour might cause him distress too and probably he is ashamed of it the better he gets. Don't forget that he is not in total control of his thoughts and actions and he is vulnerable, just as we all are.
2007-03-13 07:09:13 · answer #4 · answered by Wednesday 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm by the sounds of the description, seems like its true? I mean why would his folks lie to you? If this is the case you should stay away if that is what you desire. If not try and see resources in helping him coping with this moment. offer to go to the dr with him and maybe you can find out more about his condition. Instead of running away and you care about ur friend that might actually help you and him ... maybe it can let him feel still cared for.
2007-03-13 07:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by GIGI 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normally "schizos" don't know right from wrong and don't show remorse. For him to say that he doesn't mean to offend you shows an internal conscience. However, that does not mean that something isn't wrong with him. If you come face to face with him just stay calm and relaxed. Explain that being away from you right now is the best thing for him and that once he has pieced himself together that your friendship can occur again.
2007-03-13 07:08:51 · answer #6 · answered by puggylover 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Chances are something is really wrong. He could be schizophrenic or bipolar, or a whole host of other things. Just always be polite but stern in rebuffing his advances. Do not give him false hope, and try not to get into situations where you are alone with him. If he calls repeatedly, consider screening your calls, caller-ID, or just changing your number.
Best of Luck
2007-03-13 07:07:39 · answer #7 · answered by Balou0017 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mental illness is never an act. What possible benefit could he get from behaving this way?
From your question, it seems to me that you are frightened of him, because he is somehow 'different'. Or maybe you just don't like being near him. Full stop.
Unless he is actually violent towards you, then you have no reason to worry.
2007-03-13 07:07:51 · answer #8 · answered by Ginny Jin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just because he can understand and respond to you when you tell him to go away, or says that he doesn't want to offend you doesn't mean that he doesn't have profound emotional problems that makes the way he approaches and talks to people seem very peculiar.
Don't be afraid of him, though. Just keep his parents informed if he does anything that you think they need to know.
2007-03-13 07:05:10 · answer #9 · answered by Annie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a thin line. I think the problem here is the parents. They bail him out and excuse his behavior every time. He's not responsible of his own acts not necesarily because he's incapable of but more so because he doesn't have the need to. He needs to be submited to an extensive study to nearly understand what the problem is, but that is not your job. You need to protect yourself somehow. I think you need to report the incident.
2007-03-13 07:13:28 · answer #10 · answered by piri82 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋