My brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia about 15 years ago, and has lived with very few and very short hospital stays ever since.

He has found a way to, as he puts it, "focus" by playing computer games for what seems to be an unhealthy amount of time on a daily basis.

A few years ago, he had a stroke at his desk, while playing computer games. Upon visiting a doctor he was told that the stroke was due to bad circulation and poor nutrition. He would only move from his chair to go get fast food, go to the bathroom, or sleep.

This was a scary wake up call for all of us in the family. We had confronted him about this unhealthy lifestyle many times before this episode, but he claimed to 'need' the games to keep his mind off the voices. He said they were the only thing he has found that will employ at least three senses at a time (which is his requirement for distraction), and help him tune out the voices...I am not sure how much of this is truth, and how much is, not to sound too harsh, an excuse to be lazy.

Recently, his computer stopped working, and coincidentally I had just gotten a new one. My mother asked me to give him my old computer because he was 'not doing well without one'. I was very reluctant to feed his addiction, but gave it to him anyways.

I am afraid that he is slowly killing himself by not moving, and never leaving the house, and practicing such unhealthy eating habits (which have lead to some serious health issues such as ibs). He only makes excuses and, of course, becomes extremely defensive when he is confronted about these issues. He claims that none of us understand what it's like, which I agree with, but isn't there another way to live without this sloth-like lifestyle for those afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

concerned sister