What helped me was meeting the right psychologist for therapy. I grew to trust him and knew he never lied so when I told him things like hearing voices or visual hallucinations, even paranoid delusions he would tell me so. We worked on me for over 4 years so far and I know I can bounce anything off him and he will be honest with me. I then focus on the fallacy of my psychotic beliefs and soon they disappeared. I still have bad days/weeks/months but I always come back to what he tells me and I accept it. My psychiatrist is important too but I would be dead if not for my psychologist.

.....that's one thing I have tried to get him to do, but he won't go
I think maybe at the beginning he could have had a session or 2, but I don't think he has really ever been encouraged to talk to a professional or have councilling of any sort...(other than me keeping on!) something I didn't realise for many a year....I just thought it would have been a standard part of the treatment? Although, to be fair, as he doesn't want to be sectioned -something that has happened quite a few times, especially in the first 10 + years, he tells his psychiatrist that he doesn't feel too bad and that he's coping etc etc... But he's just not! He, at the moment is just answering them constantly getting angry swearing at them and that is when he is around us, so I dread to think how awful it is for him when he's on his own
He does tell me sometimes that he's surprised the neighbors don't call the police as he's been shouting at them all night.... I feel useless, I want to help but he pushes me away saying" I'm fine, don't worry, laugh at them like I do, or/ and "don't start on that, you're as bad as the drs, you think you're a dr, or "I'm ok I'm getting on top of them now-or "I've tried different drugs for 26 yrs now, nothing works " etc etc....
Just wish he had some friends he could talk to or get him on here.....Thank you BrainCandy, for your reply...whether he wants it or not I'm going to read it to him....I'm hoping that as it's from another sufferer who KNOWS exactly what it's like, that he may listen and have hope to try and beat the utter dreadfulness that is his life xx

just try to draw something funny when the voices are threatening you and then maybe the voices will relax and leave u alone and maybe God's spirits will fight for you and evoke images and voices that are meaningful and trustworthy. u can then believe your schizophrenia is a friend and meaningful ally in the fight against paranoia and start trusting yourself more im going to try this also i don't take counselling but i listen to God's voice and He tells me He's balancing my voices and all it takes is a little therapy from Him and I've already found the right counselor.

Thanks Paikannie.... I need advice to try and help my brother xx

I have always had to cope with the voices on my own, and what I do is turn up the music on my iPhone and put in my headphones and just turn up the music really loud so that I can't hear the voices anymore!!

you might need to commit him to the hospital.
if he'd get on a good med, the voices could be squelched in a few days or weeks.

if he's doing anything dangerous to himself or others is the criteria for committment.

Hi, I don't think he needs sectioning.... I don't believe him to be harmful to anybody or himself ~ not physically anyway, he's just so tormented by it all.
I did suggest to him that he tell his dr that things aren't good, but he just tells me to leave it and not worry about him~ I've backed off a lot now, as I know if I mention anything about his problems, or drs or medication, it just adds to his stress even more..... I'm just stuck and feel so helpless.
I've tried to tell him that quite a few people Ive spoke to here have the same problems as him but don't always hear the voices, that it is possible with correct medication, but he just goes into the " I've tried all meds for 26 yrs, nothing works, and the only thing that may happen, is if I have something stronger and it turns me into a bloody zombie type person- with no strength left to get rid of the voices" (that he says are still there anyway )

answer the voices with truth

over and over again

I'm astonished how many people either don't know or don't say so

this is THE ONLY weapon that gaurentees their defeat

no voice or culmination of voices or decibles can overcome the inalienable power of belief and the exercising of personal faith.

"sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink"

ANSWER THE LIES WITH THE TRUTH!