paranoid schizophrenia and my mother-in-law Posted: 05-02-08 09:09am
About a yr and half ago my mother-n-law
came to live with us from her brother's
home. She came to us after her brother
called several times to inform my husband
that his mother had been accusing her
sister-n-law of poisening her water,
shampoo and saying very harsh things about
the sister n law. Now she lives with us.
She has had other times where she's told
my husband that people were saying or
doing absurd things that we knew did not
happen. When my husband told her it didn't
happen she became enraged. Now that she
lives with us she has had episodes where
she believes the neighbor has said things
to her, about her and made threats to her.
She believes the neighbor wants her to do
all of this work in our yard. Our yard is
very nice and needs no work beyond a few
flowers. She also believes the neighbor
clipped several of her flowers (it's the
deer eating them). She does not ever want
to go out, she has mood swings where she
could seem normal one day and the next
morning you can tell she has a different
mind set, just a nasty, petty person. The
other issue is that she doesn't hear well
so we know she could not hear someone say
anything 1/4 acre away. I have walked up
to her and I have to yell for her to hear
me. She is also suspicious of our friends
and a few of my family members. She has
also told me on several occasions that
someone on t.v. has said some horrible
thing to her. What am I supposed to say to
that?
We've tried to get some advice from her
Primary dr but they seem to say we can
only do something if she is a threat to
herself or someone else.
I feel for her becasue to her this is very
real but I am overwhelmed because I never
know what to expect from her. I don't want
to cause her to get worse. What do I say
when she says the neighbor threatened her
or that my husband pulled up her flowers
or when she talks in code, when she thinks
one our children says something that I
know they didn't, or when she says we had
a conversation that I know didn't happen?
I don't know how to handle this with my
husband because he is working 60 hrs a wk
and he doesn't have to deal with it. Do I
tell her these things are not happening
and we need to get her some help or just
keep letting her go on? How do I respond
to people talking to her through the t.v.?
Any help will be appreciated.
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Philo
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 331 Location: Montreal
Thanks: 4
Thanked:0
Posted: 05-02-08 13:01pm
Explain schizophrenia to her and try to
get her on some medication.
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 847 Location: IL
Thanks: 40
Thanked:15
Posted: 05-02-08 13:15pm
You are indeed in a very tough situation.
Your mother-in -law is clearly in need of
some psychiatric attention. Is there any
possibility that she would go to see a
psychiatrist? The paranoia, mood swings,
agiatation, and raging are all symptoms of
a mood disorder or other psychiatric
disorder. She needs to have an evaluation
by a psychiatrist and get treated. The gp
could help by telling her she needs to see
a specialist. You could try seeing if
there is a mental disorder support group
near you. They may be able to offer you
some insight into how to handle this
situation. Many people that suffer from
mental disorders and are stable have
wonderful insight and can provide
excellent advice. They have been there and
know how she feels. You may try calling a
psychiatrist in your area. Speak to the
doctor and see if he/she has any advice on
getting your mother-in-law into see a
doctor.
I wish I had more to offer. This is really
difficult. Your husband may have to have a
talk with his mother and tell her what
everyone sees. He may have more leverage
with her.
All the best. Let us know if we can answer
any questions or just offer support to
you.
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peaceroots
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 05-02-08 14:17pm
Thanks for responding. You ask if there
was any way she would go to a
psychiatrist. We can barely get her to
the reg. doc when she needs to go. She
sometimes refuses to make appts or makes
them and then just says she's not going to
go the morning of the appt. Her GP has
not been helpful, we've called and were
told we can have her admitted if she is a
danger to herself or someone else. Do I
let it get to that level again?
I don't think my husband will deal with
it. He says he will but then he works 60
hours a wk so he forgets. Yea I know
convenient. About 8 years ago he tried to
tell her things were not happening and it
caused major screaming fits from her.
The next time she tells me something
happened that I know did not is it ok to
sit her down and gently tell her she needs
to get some help and we will help get her
through it? I think she will take it
badly but I also feel it's morally wrong
to just let her live this way. She really
believes this stuff. Will I make things
worse if I address it? Should we both sit
her down and tell her it has to happen for
her well being and for our family?
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This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
