My husband was just diagnosed as schizo... I cannot take it anymore. The violent outbursts the verbal abuse and having to support the family by myself. What should I do? Should I leave? Should I stay. I feel bad, I know how it is and I understand but....this has been going on for about 5 years now. Any suggestions would help.
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What should I do
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Hi Steph, I can only imagine
Hi Steph,
I can only imagine how difficult this is for you. The one thing that I find a bit unusual is the mention of verbal abuse and violent outbursts - neither are typical of schizophrenia although that doesn't mean they never occur. Perhaps there is more going on as well.
Regardless, I certainly can't tell you what to do - only you can make that decision. Perhaps, now that your husband has finally been diagnosed, he will get the treatment he has needed all these years. You didn't mention if he has started treatment or not, but that may be an important factor in your decision.
While no one can predict how effective treatment will be, if he gets appropriate treatment you may start noticing a signficant difference in his behavior and mood. Treatment almost always includes antipsychotic medication, and may also include therapy, vocational training, and other methods to help him manage his symptoms.
You might talk to his treatment provider about your concerns regarding his behaviors. A few couples sessions (if that is an option) may help you and your husband come up with a strategy that works for both of you. That may have to wait until your husband is able to participate in therapy depending on his symptoms - he may need to be stabilized on medication fist.
Something else that may help you is getting support. You might check to see if there is a local NAMI chapter in your area. NAMI stands for National Alliance and they provide support for mentally ill individuals as well as their families. You can use this link to look for a local chapter: http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Local_NAMI&Template=/Custo...
I hope this helps. Only you can decide if it is worth staying or not. Granted, schizophrenia is generally considered the most serious psychiatric disorder. He may improve a lot with treatment, or he may improve only a little. Only time will tell.
Please feel free to ask any further questions if needed.
Dr. Cheryl Lane