[beth]

Despite breakthroughs in recent years with new drugs to treat, or really just alleviate this disorder, bipolar is still a tragic disorder along with schizophrenia. Both these illnesses impact so strongly on the lives of the sufferers and their families, and diminish the life potential of the person concerned. I have "lost" two friends to bipolar, as they do not take their medication because of the side effects, and consequently their personalities have slowly become eroded over the years. Their families have suffered enormously too. If only better drugs could be discovered. I'm sure they will eventually, but in the meantime, these poor people suffer terribly.

[babydawn]

My brother has schizophrenia....and yes, I wish there were better drugs available for him. It is a tragically heart breaking disease. He also has a serious drug problem. The doctors are not sure if the drug problem was schizophrenia induced or if the schizophrenia was drug induced. He was diagnosed after he had his drug problem. At any rate, I think my brother does suffer terribly because of this illness, and everyday I pray for him in hopes that he will get it under control so he can lead a more normal life.

[beth]

Hi Babydawn, I think schizophrenia would have to be one of the worst burdens to have to deal with in life. There has been a link established between pot use and early onset schizophrenia, but in your brother's case, the distinction hardly matters now. It must be a worry for your family, because there's not a lot anyone can do in a practical sense for the sufferer in terms of recovery. Everyone hasto learn to live with it, which can be a big ask for the sufferere themselves. Is he able to work at all? He certainly needs a strong support network, at least he has a great sister who cares about him!

[babydawn]

Thanks, he does have an awesome support group. My parents are two of the most amazing, strong people I have ever known. He also has 7 brothers, and two other sisters. All who love and support him. His addiction may have started with pot, but his drug of choice while he was using, (with the exception of 3 times or so he has been sober for almost a year) was meth. It is a horrible drug that damages the brain more so than any other. He is able to work, often times he doesn't though. He works a lot with my husband in construction or for my dad, who owns 3 different buisnesses including the one my husband manages. So he always has the opportunities to work. It has been one of the hardest things to have to watch a loved one go through the dibilitating effects of a hard core drug addiction and then schizophrenia. I appreciate your support.

[Right_Writer]

It's so sad and tragic when someone has a mental illness. With a physical condition, I think there is more sympathy (i.e. cancer, strokes) because people can usually "see" the issue at hand. But mental illness is so debilitating. I know someone who has been a drug addict for years. He's bipolar and the doctors say that he is using drugs to try and medicate himself. We worry that someday this guy will end up dead somewhere -- he's lost everything but won't get clean. It's so sad.

[beth]

Any emotional illness is unfortunately "invisible" to many of the sufferers associates, be it family, friends, or work colleagues. There are no X-rays, blood tests, etc, to "prove"'that the condition exists and the person is suffering. I've heard people say that non-acceptance and even outright rejection by loved ones is even worse than the illness itself. Makes you think about how awful abandonment and rejection must be to a sick person. Also being to to "pull your socks up" - another comment often hurled at mentally ill people - is totally uncalled for. I wonder how anyone could actually think that someone wants to suffer from depression/bipolar/schizophrenia etc, any longer than necessary and that they couldn't think to "pull their socks up themselves!!!"