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Old 15-11-2019, 03:00 AM
Shivani Devi Shivani Devi is offline
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This is just an addendum to the above and it is only a humble suggestion presenting an alternative viewpoint from a clinical perspective.

It is difficult to establish the capacity for responsibility in cases of psychotic illness and that judgment call is better left to a treating psychiatrist and not friends or family.

There is no way to tell if a mentally ill person is manipulative through conscious choice, or whether it is a compulsion or self-preservation strategy of the subconscious mind due to years of traumatic abuse...therefore, the only person who is going to understand and appreciate this "tough love" is you...because your friend will just see it as being kicked out, without knowing or understanding the reasons why.

If she has visited the hospital and the doctor has diagnosed her with a psychotic illness, then surely this needs to be followed up and followed through with therapy and medication and a referral to a specialist and script for antipsychotic medication should have been given at the hospital visit.

Your friend needs to understand that going and seeing the doctor regularly and taking the medication will also help her prayers to God get through (if that hasn't already happened) and this needs to be a "condition of stay" if she wants to live with you and you are happy to have her there as a friend, but only IF she adheres to the treatment plan because you cannot help someone who cannot help themselves..however, nursing a friend through recovery from mental illness can be very stressful, but also very rewarding and will provide many insights into your own nature...but it requires a lot of patience, love and certain sacrifices (you have already sacrificed your job to take care of her) and she needs to understand (if that is possible) that neither you nor she can do it alone because that isn't working out.

She may decide to leave of her own accord if you insist that regular shrink appointments, taking meds, praying in her own room etc are now the "terms and conditions" of staying with you but it is best to set these ground rules and boundaries..better late than never and the only thing you are asking of her is to try and take a proactive role in her own recovery...as a friend and hopefully she will be able to understand this.

If she can't or if she agrees to what you say but makes no attempt or effort to get help, then you need to make it clear that you just cannot continue to support two lives with your limited resources and instead of kicking her out on the street, see if you can get Social Services to intervene to prevent that unfortunate situation from eventuating...even if it means hospitalization for a while because that would be just what the doctor ordered.

All the best and good luck with it.

By the way, if you could tell me the country you live in, I will see what I can do from my end...I still have a few karmic cheques that need cashing..
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