Concurrent Diagnoses Drug Addiction and Schizophrenia

[ecer]

Hello,
My 18 yr old son is a "garbage can" addict. He is on methadone for IV opiod addiction and still uses pot, cocaine, crack, etc. He has been in and out of the hospital for over three years now. Court ordered hospital evaluations, rehab (lasted for two weeks), voluntary & involunary stays at the psych ward are reoccuring events in his young life.

Just about a year ago he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. A part of me still hopes it is drug enduced psychosis and will eventually go away. He just recently stopped taking his medication (olanzapine 20mg daily) and his dilusions are back.

I am a memeber of Nar-Anon. The steps teach us to let go and let god, detach with love not anger and to find recovery for ourselves and to set personal boundaries and stick to them.

I have set boundaries..........90 days clean in program and he may return home if he can find some type of employment. I'm not even sure this later goal is realistic..........I just needed to vent. I feel extremely guilty that I am powerless to "help" "fix" him. Thank you so much for listening.

Hugs to all the Moms out there who are suffering like me.

 

[Daniel E.]

Re: Concurrent Diagnoses Drug Addicct/Schizophrenic

...and to set personal boundaries and stick to them.

Yeah, I remember after my 20-something sibling woke up from a mild coma from a cocaine overdose, and my mother asked the ER doctor what she could do to prevent it from happening again. The ER doctor told her "You've done too much already" and recommended some books on avoiding enabling. And prior to this, we were already doing something of the tough love approach, but it was rather wishy-washy.

I think it's harder for moms because my dad didn't seem to have any significant stress from the tough-love approach while my mom would go back-and-forth in her mind about what she should do, partly because of her motherly instincts and her occasional anxiety.

A part of me still hopes it is drug enduced psychosis and will eventually go away. He just recently stopped taking his medication (olanzapine 20mg daily) and his dilusions are back.

With my sibling, psychotic episodes seemed to be entirely due to illicit drug use, in retrospect, as they were short-lived and the timing became apparent, e.g. coming back in a paranoid state after getting high.

 

[forgetmenot]

I understand i do. Without his medication he will continue to not be well. Myself i have never given up with my daughter never set boundaries just keep giving her whatever it is that needs to keep her strong and well. She enters again into another program DEC 9 oh i know it is what she needs but it is so hard.
I hope your son can get into a program that deals with both his mental illness and addictions It helped my daughter who is mentally ill as well. She is 21 now showing signs of stability understanding more it is her medication that will keep her within the society.
If your son can get doctor to get him into long term program that deals both disorders at the same time he will have more of a chance of recovery. Take care.I

 

[ecer]

Thanks for your sharing. It really helps to know your understood.

 

[forgetmenot]

I am glad you are getting some support from Nar anon and hope also you can get some councilling for you to deal with the stresses that come with having a child with this illness. I am just realizing just how much of my life was spent on taking care of most of my family 2 brothers and a sister who has it as well. When my daughter started to show signs i knew and i slowly fell apart trying to help her too. It is important to have some kind of support system in place for you okay I understand and know just how painful it can get take care