Looking for Communities to help

[SOCRATES1]

Hello everyone out there...

My name is Socrates, I am here because I am seeking assistance for a very loved family member who is just beginning to understand that they may suffer from being neurodivergent...

More specifically, 'Schizophrenia'... Obviously, the stigma of this illness is huge, and learning how best to cope & help is why I am here.

I have acquired some good reading literature, however, it appears to me that the best help might be found by learning how to access support groups for patients, carers, and other family members in. time...

The notion of creating a supportive "wrap-around" integrative system seems to appeal to my way of parsing this information, thus far...

Hopefully eventually finding the best way to try to navigate a way through all of this...

Happy to listen & hear from others who might wish to share some advice & experiences with me, thank you...

Socrates

[Dimity]

Hello @SOCRATES1 and welcome.

Being diagnosed with a psychotic illness is a big step that may have been arrived at after a very difficult time for your loved one and family.

As someone with lived experience (formerly diagnosed schizophrenic,  currently diagnosed bipolar) I'd suggest that " a "wrap-around" integrative system" might look very different depending on the home situation and life contexts of your loved one. Especially with regard to the person's agency and independence. A young person living with parents, with little insight into their illness, would have very different needs to someone older and in a different domestic situation,  for instance.

Our peer guide @RiverSeal has compiled lists of resources for people living with schizophrenia and started a thread where people can share their experiences.

Hearing voices and psychosis 🗯️ 

You're very welcome to share more about your family situation.

Do you have any particular questions for our friendly forums community?

[Dimity]

@SOCRATES1 also see https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/schizophrenia

There's also resources for carers 

[Appleblossom]

Love me a bit of Socrates. @SOCRATES1 wrote on him in my HSC exam ... in another life ...lol

@Dimity is wise.  There are many different ways people exist while carrying those diagnoses.  I am glad you are proactive and trying to envision a good outcome for your loved one. It is difficult, to say the least.  Wrapped around integrated support sounds great, but also boundaries can be important.

There are also differrent approaches, from more clinical, social worker lead, community advocacy and peer lead....so much depends on the individual and their circumstances.

Take care of you as well

[SOCRATES1]

Thank you for your thoughts & words of support...
I will look into those threads you've mentioned too...
Thank you again Dimity

[SOCRATES1]

Hey there @Appleblossom ,

Thank you for your reply & pls accept my apologies for not having replied to your warm welcome sooner...
Appreciate also your words of wisdom & advisings... All very sound too no doubt.

While this journey has now been in progress for sometime... Things have continued to evolve somewhat slowly for a myriad of reasons I guess... However, we seem to have reached a juncture of sorts, as the family member in question, sort help voluntarily on this occasion...

Hence, a form of acceptance that a problem exists in essence...

I have recently acquired some excellent reading in the book, "Living with Schizophrenia" (Leggatt & Clark), & there appears to be a wealth of useful logic & empathy from within those pages thus far.

In my view, I am hoping that my family will all seek to learn more about this condition, & how best that we might all begin to truly contribute, in the best possible ways to help facilitate recovery...
It appears that there are many useful types of supports systems... However, not all are readily available in our less than ideal mental health system structures today.
Finding the correct path, and educating myself & others within the family circle appears to be of prime import. However, we will also require the services of very supportive clinicians too no doubt...

So although this journey is a continuance, it is really only now commencing, in my view...
Thank you again for the support you & Dimity have already provided.

Yes, the Socrates handle has a story all of its own too really... (perhaps for another day). Have you ever read, "The Allegory of the Cave"?
Quite the epiphany for me...

Thank you again Appleblossom... 8-)

Socrates

[Appleblossom]

Yep @SOCRATES1 Its in The Republic. In my teens I lived with an uncle who did a major in Classical Civilisation, I was given his books, after he passed, and also studied it a little. 

A lot can help be seeing things "outside of the box", and being aware of our position and limits. I can get into otherworldly imaginations as well...but mostly I pay close attention to the earth we are on. lol  I am lucky to have been rich in study and books.

Socrates1 posted to you as well.

@Dimity 

[SOCRATES1]

Thanks again @Appleblossom ...  8-)

The Allegory of the Cave, was quite simply a late awakening for me personally... Studied a few units within an arts degree sometime back... Love having a philosophical bent in my life... Find it often more than useful too...

Love books & study! Always looking to read & glean more from the world about me...

To me, philosophy helps me clarify past, present & future... In a manner of speaking...

You sound a wise individual Appleblossom...  Words of philosophy while often seen in a metaphysical context, also hold application within the present too, in my view...

Interestingly, I struggle with imagined religions & deities... (just for the record - so to speak 😉

One of my greatest regrets, is simply that we humans, will never really live anywhere near long enough to truly grasp or approach a better understanding of what this thing we call "Life" really is... and how best to navigate our journeys with any measure of yet another ambiguity, 'success'! It has such broad connotations. Again, in my view of course...  

Appleblossom, have you had much experience with 'Schizophrenia'?

As of this moment, I am somewhat unable to resile my many reservations concerning the mental services & institutions here in Australia... Naturally, like many others here I am certain, I love and care a great deal for my afflicted family member...

Nevertheless, I do realise that delving into the subject holds many a 'wicked problem' to contend with, if you take my meaning... (?)

Thank you for your support again as always...

Night for now...

Socrates