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My oldest friend has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He's the son of my mother's best friend, so I've known him my entire life and he's like a little brother to me (although he's three years older, but I've always been the more mature and responsible one, I've actually had to 'babysit' him a few times).
He stayed in a mental hospital for a week around christmas, after destroying his mother's flat, got out, but his mother talked him into checking into another mental clinic last week. Apparently his type of schizophrenia is one that has little to no chance of remission.
In retrospect I can see all the signs, but it's been going on for a long time and it was insidious. I, hell, we *all* just assumed that he could just be a little strange sometimes. No one saw it for what it is until it got really extreme a few months ago.
His mother is devastated. I want to help or support her (I get along with her really well and she's like a cool aunt) but I don't know how and I feel like it's not my place to do so. I don't know how to feel about all of this in general. In all extreme situations I've encountered, my mind and rationality were what got me through it, so now the emotional part of me just shuts down when confronted with something like this. I have no idea how to act appropriately. Any advice on what I can do?
Another thing. I'm closing in on my school finals and for our final arts project (I hate arts class. It's boring and I just can't be bothered to put any effort into it. It's just not my thing) we have to work on the topic 'autobiography'.
Dafuq? Can there be a worse topic for me? We're supposed to focus on what events in our lives shaped us the most, and for the most part concerning me that's not a nice story. There's no way I'll discuss the shitstorm that is my life in front of a bloody class! I'll have to focus on the good aspects then, but even they are mostly connected to the bad ones, and I'm going to have to discuss my life with others as part of the task, just to 'recall and focus on the major events and their effects'. No fucking thanks. I can already see the tornado of triggers approaching. Argh!
Thanks for listening! Any advice would be welcome. *hugs*
He stayed in a mental hospital for a week around christmas, after destroying his mother's flat, got out, but his mother talked him into checking into another mental clinic last week. Apparently his type of schizophrenia is one that has little to no chance of remission.
In retrospect I can see all the signs, but it's been going on for a long time and it was insidious. I, hell, we *all* just assumed that he could just be a little strange sometimes. No one saw it for what it is until it got really extreme a few months ago.
His mother is devastated. I want to help or support her (I get along with her really well and she's like a cool aunt) but I don't know how and I feel like it's not my place to do so. I don't know how to feel about all of this in general. In all extreme situations I've encountered, my mind and rationality were what got me through it, so now the emotional part of me just shuts down when confronted with something like this. I have no idea how to act appropriately. Any advice on what I can do?
Another thing. I'm closing in on my school finals and for our final arts project (I hate arts class. It's boring and I just can't be bothered to put any effort into it. It's just not my thing) we have to work on the topic 'autobiography'.
Dafuq? Can there be a worse topic for me? We're supposed to focus on what events in our lives shaped us the most, and for the most part concerning me that's not a nice story. There's no way I'll discuss the shitstorm that is my life in front of a bloody class! I'll have to focus on the good aspects then, but even they are mostly connected to the bad ones, and I'm going to have to discuss my life with others as part of the task, just to 'recall and focus on the major events and their effects'. No fucking thanks. I can already see the tornado of triggers approaching. Argh!
Thanks for listening! Any advice would be welcome. *hugs*
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Lately I've been feeling scared and full of anxiety. I recently found a lump under my nipple. I hurt my back too. I'm in the process of moving. I'm run down. Everything is hard
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
For your art project. . . Ouch. . . But. . . Since it is not wise to tell the profie to go fornicate thyself. . .
A page full of random, multi-color scribbles? Class presentation? "Yucko bucko, it doth sucko. Not fit for public consumption. End of subject."
Gee. . . Why do so many people call me a contrarian?
Gentle support, whichever route is best for you.
What I mean is that the medication for schizophrenia nowadays is way ahead of where medication for PTSD is at. It's similar with bipolar disorder, too. So I've found that friends with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who get the right medication and treatment can really get along pretty well and have productive and even happy lives. I'm serious, I know a couple of examples here on DS, but I"m not at liberty to breach anonymity, so you'll have to trust me on that. Here's hoping this young man can join them in a successful treatment regimen.
As for the art project, hey, you don't have to be direct. You can go an indirect route and protect your privacy while putting some feelings out there that allude to "alienation" in general or something like that. I'm with you as to "no fucking thanks" on making it a class report on my inner world. I can see a painting called "tornado of triggers" instead, to use that phrase here from your last line. HA!
I did that with epilepsy. I even spoke to college classes on living with a chronic illness, the struggles of it and medications and how life changes occurred, etc., and I had some people fall asleep and some people kinda pay attention.... And some who came up to me after, in tears, to hug me or to ask what to do about *their* potential health issue.... It was wrenching, but liberating.
So I am with Arfie (contrarian that I know I am, LOL)....
That said, I was autobiographical to strangers about *epilepsy*. ...
Is there a chance you can do a collage? I love art and stuff, so what I came to is the idea of a collage of images (as Donna suggested, magic realism is a blessing!).... that represent the *feelings* of the good times? I once saw a collage someone did, at an art gallery, of "childhood", and the pictures in the collage showed all these phases of flowers and insects, on a black background, floating, like they weren't connected, except the fact the flowers/bugs went from buds to full-grown flowers.
Big puma power to you. Vent away.
My thing is art but some write. I write like I speak, not at all poetic, but some can... Just a thought. A vision of a tornado building in the life around you may satisfy the assignment.