Hi everyone,

We know that there are quite a lot of you using our site who are caring for someone in your families with a mental health problem so next week, as it's World Mental Health Day, we're getting in our resident expert and mental health worker, Drew, to answer your questions.

• Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a cpn, psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor?
• Want to know who makes decisions about someone going into hospital or staying at home and why?
• Do you get confused by talk of Sections, Crisis Teams and therapies?

If you want to know about these or have any other questions then post them up here and next week ( from 9th October ) Drew will be answering them!

Youngcarers.net Team

Hiya my dad has schitzophrenia and he has had it for 2 and 1/2 years now. Howeva when he had his relaps about a year in he started shakin. One doctor has said that his shaking is worrying as the tablets can cause it however would only happen after his original episode, not after a relaps.

His newer doctor has said that it isnt something to worry about cuz his tablets can cause it- however this doc dont know him as well as the doctor is lyk well new.

Im wondering what is the right answer- or could it be something like parkinsons?

im also wondering wether things can eva get back to the way they were considerin how long he has been- will he ever get better??

Thanks kiwi

Hiya Kiwi,

               Depending upon what tablets your dad takes, they might be the reason he's starting shaking.  Some of the pills used to treat schizophrenia can make people have the shakes - one of the unpleasant side effects of some of those medicines   Your dad's doctor might have used the term 'tardive dyskinesia' or TD - that's what the shaking is called.  If your dad has been taking the same pills over this time, it's possible that's what's happened - the shakes often take a while to appear. 

Doctors actually treat these shakes with the same sort of medicine used to treat parkinson's.  It may be that your dad's doctor has prescribed something for your dad's shakes.  Your dad (and you) might want to talk to the doctor about changing the pills he takes for his schizophrenia, if they're what's causing his shakes.  While sometimes these shakes can be permanent, the good news is that these shakes (or TD) can go away in time with the right treatment. 

If it is not TD, then yes, it might be parkinson's BUT given your dad's pills and what his doctor says, I think it's more likely that it is TD.  Plus, the treatment for parkinson's is very similar.

You asked whether your dad will ever get better - the good news here is that the majority of people with schizophrenia do get better, but it can be hard and take time.  Some people will always suffer from schizophrenia, while others may have to keep on taking pills to keep them well.  But most people recover and become well again. 

If you'd like some more info on TD, have a look at http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Tardive_Dyskinesia.htm.  It's a bit heavy going, but there is some good stuff in there!

Cheers, Drew

Hiya.

my mum has been diagnosed wiv severe depression, social anxiety, low self esteem etc since all that happend wiv my dad.  she has been admitted once to the hospital and also has a cpn.  But i feel like its all lef to me to deal wiv her. sumdays shes ok and kinda normal other days shes a different person hu i dont no.  i cant get her to take her medication sumtimes and that makes her worse. i tlked to her cpn the other week and shes lookin at sum respite care.  but i feel like she needs to go bk to hospital again so they can get her meds sorted.

i dont no wat to do to be honest, i see the cpn for like and hour a half.  she hardly does nethin as sumtimes mum will tlk to her and other times she will b in bed and refuse to talk to her,

what other people can help me get my mum back to normal. cud i aks 4 her to b put bk into hospital?? i just dont know what to do

luv helen

Hiya Helen,

                 I can hear how difficult that must be for you.  And I know how frustrating it is when it seems like other people aren't doing anything!

I can suggest a couple of people and organisations that might be able to help you and your mum.  You may have heard of some of them:

• MIND - they work with people who are suffering from mental health problems, and (depending on what they've got in your area) can offer things like counselling, information, support or fun activities for your mum.  You could have a look at http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/, and see what's about in your area.
• Rethink - they do similar things to MIND, as well as run support groups across the UK. Those groups give people like your mum a chance to have a chat to other people who have similar feelings and experiences.  That can be really helpful - it's sometimes difficult for people who haven't had your and your mum's experiences to understand what's happening, so it's nice to talk to someone who will understand!  To find what's in your area, have a look at http://www.rethink.org/how_we_can_help/our_services/search_for.html
• Social Anxiety UK - if your mum really doesn't want to try those things, then there is Social Anxiety UK, who also do support and groups especially for people with social anxiety.  They're at www.social-anxiety.org.uk, and you can find their groups at http://www.social-anxiety.org.uk/groups/list.htm
• Anxiety Care - they have a helpline on 020 8478 3400 (open every Monday and Wednesday 10am - 3pm) which your mum could call if she wanted some more support, but didn't want to leave the house.  The website is http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/home.asp
• I don't know if your mum might be interested, but there's some really good booklets about dealing with depression and social anxiety available here too: http://www.nnt.nhs.uk/mh/content.asp?PageName=selfhelp.  A lot of people I've talked to have found these helpful in coming to terms with their feelings.  Maybe your mum could have a read and see what she thinks?

The Royal College of Psychiatrists put together a leaflet about looking after your mum or dad, which you might also find helpful for yourself - that's at http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/CaringaroundClock.pdf.

You wanted to know if you could ask for your mum to be put back in hospital - what's good is that there is nothing to stop you asking.  Unfortunately, unless you're 18 or over, you don't have a legal right to make her cpn do that.  If you're a person's nearest relative, and over 18, you can ask for them to go and see your mum, to decide whether she'd be better off in hospital.  It is your mum's decision unless she was too ill to look after herself at all.  If you ever feel that's what's happened, then call the cpn, or if it's out-of-hours, ring the police on 999.  They will be able to take your mum to hospital, but only in an emergency.  But let's go back to the positive... 

What you can do is keep speaking to the cpn about how you feel, and what you're worried about with your mum.  Though I'm sure you're very busy looking after your mum, it can be useful to keep a diary.  It can help to write down how you're feeling, and how your mum seems from day to day.  That also helps if you're trying to show the cpn that your mum has got worse/better - cos you can say exactly what happened each day!  Depending on how your mum is, her cpn should listen to your worries.  If there is anyone else who looks after, or sees your mum often, it might be an idea to speak to them too.  If they're willing, they could come with you to see the cpn as well, to give her more of an idea of how your mum is.

I hope that's helpful - don't forget to look after yourself as well!  The YC Net team can also point you in the right direction for support for yourself in your area. 

Cheers,

Drew 

Hi Drew, i just wanted to say that the info is BRILLIANT, especially those leaflets they r easy 4 me to understand and gonna print one of and show it my mum.

 they were brill and the one about caring is brill too

thanks 4 the advice

brill!

luv helen

Hey Helen - thanks, no problems!  Really glad that the info was helpful to you - hope your mum finds that leaflet helpful too!

Cheers,

Drew

We'd like to say a big "thank you" to Drew for taking part in our Question and Answer session last week and for his brilliant advice! 

Thanks to you all too for asking such useful questions, hopefully the answers will be useful to lots of other people looking on this site.

Youngcarers.net Team