My Dad is Schizophrenic

[Shanielle]

I wanna put this in my blog, but if I do no one is going to read it, not really, so I'm putting it here. Well, I was concerned my father had a mental illness and it is official: he does. He's not bipolar, though. He's schizophrenic, and they are supposed to give him medication for it. My mom, she talked with him on the phone and she says he still sounds kind of out of it. Now that it's all official I'm confused. In a way I'm relieved because now he can get help, but I'm worried about him more. I guess it really makes no difference how I feel, but I want advice or something, which is why I put it up here.

[Dr.Bobby]

What advice would be helpful, Shanielle? How can we help?

I understand how simultaneously distressing and relieving it can be to get a diagnosis (of any kind) to help explain what you've seen and been experiencing with your dad. I think it's important for him to get that help and medication that you were told (and that he's compliant/willingly goes along with it!). Other than that, remember that your dad isn't defined by his illness, it's more an explanation of his behaviors lately, the relationship and the feelings are still there, you just now have a context to place some of the more troubling components.

The really good news here is that there are some really good medications out there that really control a lot of the more distracting symptoms, which (hopefully) should allow him to resume a more normal life, and relationship with you.