Mental illness?

JeckyllNHyde · 02-22-2009, 08:56 PM

Hi,
I posted some time back about my bf's depressed mother. She is seeing a doctor from what I gathered. But.. today was a rather sad day.
Me and bf had a disagreement, but later that day he suddenly came into the room and was crying his eyes out. I'd never seen him like this so of course it broke my heart.
Hours later he was (barely) able to tell me his mom has been hearing voices too.

I didn't go further into it with him as it's a very touchy subject for him to talk about at the moment. I still want to know more about it and maybe do some research for him/them on my own to understand it better.

Could this be dementia? Or schizophrenia? Maybe something else?

Editted to add: I researched dementia and I doubt this is what it may be.
Also, I remember some time back my bf confessed to me the voices seemed to be telling her to kill herself (bad dream I think).
I feel so clueless when it comes to these things.:/ But I really want to be able to handle it or help.

Jetta · 02-22-2009, 09:07 PM

Sounds like Schizoaffective Disorder, it's Depression mixed with Schizophrenia.

deaxtime2 · 02-22-2009, 09:16 PM

My mother is bi-polar she hears voices when she off the medication. They don't tell her to kill herself but that everyone is looking at her, laughing at her.

penelope13 · 02-22-2009, 09:21 PM

It will be impossible for you (or anyone else here on ENA) to guess correctly what the proper diagnosis is since there are a number of possibility, but it is definitely an alarming symptom and has to be evaluated asap from a psychiatrist.

I am very sorry that his mother and the family is going through this.

JeckyllNHyde · 02-22-2009, 10:00 PM

Thanks Jetta and deaxtime, I will read up on it.

I know no one can diagnose, but it still helps me out a bit if people know what it COULD be.

Just venting here: gosh.. I still feel a knot in my stomach thinking back about my bf and his reaction to all this. I think I also heard his little sister crying.
Pretty heartbreaking. I felt like a fly on the wall even though I wasn't in the room with them.

deaxtime2 · 02-22-2009, 11:21 PM

Well she is going to the doctor, that is a start. She will get properly diagnosis and get the help she needs. It is very hard to go through. However one thing my father help us realize when my mom was really bad, and she still has her days or weeks. Is that whatever she says and does is not cause she means it, it is cause she is sick.

amipushy · 02-28-2009, 08:17 PM

He could try asking her if the voices are 'alien' to her or they are her own as the voices heard by schizophrenics are 'other people's' voices, not their own like with introspection.

But she really needs to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist because schizophrenia is a mental disease (not a psychological problem) and requires medication and the sooner the diagnosisis and treatment the better the prognosis.

02-22-2009, 08:56 PM	#1
JeckyllNHyde Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 5,203	Mental illness? Hi, I posted some time back about my bf's depressed mother. She is seeing a doctor from what I gathered. But.. today was a rather sad day. Me and bf had a disagreement, but later that day he suddenly came into the room and was crying his eyes out. I'd never seen him like this so of course it broke my heart. Hours later he was (barely) able to tell me his mom has been hearing voices too. I didn't go further into it with him as it's a very touchy subject for him to talk about at the moment. I still want to know more about it and maybe do some research for him/them on my own to understand it better. Could this be dementia? Or schizophrenia? Maybe something else? Editted to add: I researched dementia and I doubt this is what it may be. Also, I remember some time back my bf confessed to me the voices seemed to be telling her to kill herself (bad dream I think). I feel so clueless when it comes to these things.:/ But I really want to be able to handle it or help. __________________ You're just too good to be true... Can't take my eyes off of you... Last edited by JeckyllNHyde; 02-22-2009 at 09:05 PM.

02-22-2009, 09:07 PM	#2
Jetta Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minnesota Gender: Female Age: 35 Posts: 2,354	Sounds like Schizoaffective Disorder, it's Depression mixed with Schizophrenia. __________________ "Reality is what won't go away when you stop believing in it." -Phillip K* "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." -Carl Jung

02-22-2009, 10:00 PM	#5
JeckyllNHyde Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 5,203	Thanks Jetta and deaxtime, I will read up on it. I know no one can diagnose, but it still helps me out a bit if people know what it COULD be. Just venting here: gosh.. I still feel a knot in my stomach thinking back about my bf and his reaction to all this. I think I also heard his little sister crying. Pretty heartbreaking. I felt like a fly on the wall even though I wasn't in the room with them. __________________ You're just too good to be true... Can't take my eyes off of you...

02-22-2009, 09:16 PM	#3
deaxtime2 Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 104	My mother is bi-polar she hears voices when she off the medication. They don't tell her to kill herself but that everyone is looking at her, laughing at her.

02-22-2009, 09:21 PM	#4
penelope13 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,441	It will be impossible for you (or anyone else here on ENA) to guess correctly what the proper diagnosis is since there are a number of possibility, but it is definitely an alarming symptom and has to be evaluated asap from a psychiatrist. I am very sorry that his mother and the family is going through this.

02-22-2009, 11:21 PM	#6
deaxtime2 Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 104	Well she is going to the doctor, that is a start. She will get properly diagnosis and get the help she needs. It is very hard to go through. However one thing my father help us realize when my mom was really bad, and she still has her days or weeks. Is that whatever she says and does is not cause she means it, it is cause she is sick.

02-28-2009, 08:17 PM	#7
amipushy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 1,823	He could try asking her if the voices are 'alien' to her or they are her own as the voices heard by schizophrenics are 'other people's' voices, not their own like with introspection. But she really needs to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist because schizophrenia is a mental disease (not a psychological problem) and requires medication and the sooner the diagnosisis and treatment the better the prognosis.