Schizophrenia Support Group

I would call emergency services - she could very well be a harm to herself because she is not taking her meds & obviously having issues with psychosis. I would not care about breaking trust at this point because her safety supercedes that. Why does she think her meds are poison? Personally I love my meds because they keep the bad voice away & I am scared to death of it coming back. I guess that is not her case.

Turns out she's ok, but I did take a risk. If it wasn't for her parents and CPN not being overly concerned I'd have called them. She thinks they're poison cos it's a new batch and she thinks that it's some conspiracy either 1) from the devil or 2) her psychiatrist conspiracy that they have sinister intentions (something to do with locking her up for no real reason). I agree that they've put her in hospital when it REALLY wasn't necessary, and for totally unnecessary periods of time, but I must say this time was very close. Thankfully she was talking to me while the voices told her she should kill herself to avoid the aliens, and it lasted about 30 seconds, she seemed to have got over it, and she was relatively calm by the time I stopped talking to her an hour later cos she said she was gonna get some sleep. I needed it too. I think she's better today but I'm going to find out shortly...

I'm glad she's okay ^-^ She's lucky to have such a good friend dude! I do understand not wanting to take your meds...I'm still convinced there just trying to control me and it's all brainwashing..But my parents make sure I take them. I hope she's feeling better!!

She has every right to not take her meds. But if the condition is making her think about suicide then you may not have any other option but to get her help. If they are going to make her hurt herself or someone else, then you have to interceed on her behalf, no matter if you break any promises to her if she not there. Keep a close eye on her, if it gets worse...call for help

One of the best things my closest friend did is call the hospital when I went off my meds. Yes, at the time, I thought they were a horrible person and called them all kinds of nasty names that would make a sailor blush, but when I got back in control and back on the meds I appreciated that she cared that much for me.

Tim - Thanks for that advice, I will try to remember that in future. I finally got her to let me take her to hospital last night, it was a long ordeal and trying to get her to stay or even give her details was a test of patience for all involved, on several occasions I nearly let her back out of it because she seemed SO desperate to just get out of there and avoid any contact with any health professional. Thankfully we saw the process through and she was relieved that they didn't section her but it was close, thankfully she appreciated what I had done afterwards, even though not much was done, she had a good talk with a doctor and psychiatrist and she finally took her pills last night in front of me!!! I learnt a lot last night - and I think she did too. I discovered a lot about her history, thoughts, worries, including the real underlying reason why she didn't take meds - they were "poison" because the side effects are so bad for her. She gets EPS on them really badly which ultimately gave rise to the thoughts that people were trying to harm her through them. She's on I think 9 different medications!! So without the doctor's advice (I might have been irrisponsible here, I know that it's not something a psychiatrist would EVER suggest) but I said to her that she should try to find out for herself which of the meds are causing the EPS most badly and leave it out. She's on three different antipsychotics so I suggested just use two of them, and if she gets EPS, switch which one she's not using. I think this will keep her going until either she gets a new psychiatrist (She had a new one at Xmas who put her on a whole load more - imo not what she needed, it was bound to give her severe side effects - 9 medications is ridiculous) or at least get him to reduce or change the meds or find *something* that will reduce the EPS - she's already on two medications which supposedly do it but I found out she sometimes can't even hold a drink in her hand. As distressing as last night was for her, I think it gave her real confidence that she *can* ask for help from professionals - the psychiatrist we saw was an absolute star. I've only known one doctor who was so calming and reassuring. At 5 in the morning! LOL!! So she's going to talk to her nurse today (I'll check up that she did) and she's going to tell her everything that she has omitted. (Turns out she hadn't told her nurse about the voices telling her to kill herself because she didn't want to lose the job opportunity she has coming). She was in a total state for the 4+ hours we were at the hospital but the moment we left she was like a new person, realising that she wasn't sectioned or forced to take meds as she thought she would. So I'm over the moon! It turns out her parents don't seem to give a shit any more which I had no idea - they not only don't understand schizophrenia but they seem to make no attempt to. Which means she's on her own at the worst times. But I'm going to try to work with her to make sure she's not so isolated - and that she has people to talk to about her condition esp. when she's at her worst - it turns out I'm the only one who "understands" which while it puts a lot of pressure on me, it's also very rewarding and (what's the word - you know what I mean) that she feels she can talk to me about it - and that she trusts me enough, esp with all her thoughts that could turn that around. So last night was a real result =) Thanks for everyone's support and advice. I'm sure I will be back here again =) I wish everyone the best - I have witnessed how frustrating and distressing this illness can be and sincerely hope anyone suffering with it finds what it takes to get through it. Thanks again =)