yeah man your a good friend... for being there. It's tougher on him then anyone else... a good support system is the best thing for him.. (even if he never mentions his issues again) just knowing he has people that truly care about him can make a world of difference... even with my own problems i couldn't imagine those issues he's going through... just wow... tell that dude if he ever wants to shoot the poop.. i'd be happy to chat... i mean we all need friends and "family" it's unfortunate he feels so alone.. often times people have severe social anxiety and they never can come to grips with it.. but talking online is often a lot easier then face to face... I know it's done wonders for me... not trying to make this about me.. just saying I do understand to an extent.. and feel very sorry for his situation... everyone has some good in them... sometimes when you feel no one gives a poo... you just dig yourself deeper and deeper... being a friend is all you can do.. and like you said... at least he won't feel like he's all alone.. and when you have nothing else. that means the world.. gl with your buddy

I haven't read other responses, but this is my advice... Be there for the guy. You know him more than anybody, and he obviously has a ton of trust issues and is going through a very hard time. Out of the entire world he feels is out to get him, you might be the only one who he feels isn't. And if that's a role you can play in helping him accept his delusions and move forward, you'll be saving a life.

You have the utmost right to feel protected through this process. You aren't obligated to help passed the point where you feel threatened by his state of mind. But that doesn't mean you can't help him via telephone (though he may feel nervous talking over the phone), or meet him in public, or if it ever comes to it, maybe calling services on him. It will be the hardest call you have to make, but might just save his life. In my instances, an insanity even as vast as this can be transient, it just needs to be pushed in the right direction before it can begin to be healed, rather than festering due to isolation and fear.

The film "A Beautiful Mind" chronicles the life of a genius mathematician John F. Nash Jr. who suffers from schizophrenia and experiences many of the same delusions your friend seems to be going through. Why I mention this film isn't just based on that comparison alone, though; I say it because it ends up a happy ending. He got help, got on a medicinal regimen, and was able to lead a fairly normal (well, as normal as a schizophrenic genius can lead) life.

The connection between intelligence and mental illness is strong; genius and mental illness are not mutually exclusive, and in fact, there is a great correlation between mental illness and intelligence; it isn't disputed by modern psychology and has been proven on a neurological level (I won't get into it strongly because I will probably explain it poorly, but I'm sure you can look this up if you're interested).

The way I think of it is that a strong mind can build its own world, one that is so convincing that even the owner of the mind is convinced of its reality. It makes connections that others don't, takes ideas and pushes them to such a deep level of thought that the whole world becomes a giant metaphor, and the mind gets trapped in it. Why this happened, we can't say for certain. It seems there is a hereditary aspect to his case and it's widely accepted that mental illness has a genetic component to it, and it also appears as though he's been dealing with a lot of trauma which can make anybody crazy, and he has been doing a lot of drugs. His actual illness may not be as bad as it appears, but is merely being exacerbated by strenuous circumstances at the moment; however, this could also lead him to dangerous, lifethreatening decisions, or a perpetuation of his symptoms if he gets "stuck" there for too long.

Since he's smart though, I think there's a lot of hope for his recovery. He just needs to pushed in the right direction. Think of his mind like an amazing defence attorney. A brilliant lawyer can convince a jury that his client is innocent even though he may in fact be guilty. The lawyer is his mind trying to convince the jury that the world he is living in is reality. But think of the power he can have in recovering if you could change his stance from defence attorney to the prosecuting council. He'd be able to deal just as well with proving to himself that he has not been living in reality, and that he needs to change his ways and start the road to recovery. Even if he still experiences the symptoms of delusion, he'll be able to better decide what is true and what is untrue. The symptoms can go away with time (if he deals with the cause of his symptoms whether that be emotional aggravation or a real mental illness, or both), and his ability to recognize fact from fiction will improve both with the reduction of symptoms and his increasing ability to logically deduce his perceptions.

What does this all mean? Well, you help the guy! Because you care about him. Because he would do the same to you if you needed it. Just try talking to him about it. There's a line from a Bright Eyes song called Napoleon's Hat that fits this well, it goes:

"So when youre talking on a hotline to a suicidal soul
Dont let your voice sound like hot coffee more like a scented pillow
And strive for understanding over being understood
Just dont let yourself forget when the times get good
When the times get good"

What this means is that you have to approach it very calmly, as a friend, as someone who wants to help but wants to understand first. Don't just say "you are crazy, you need help", you need to listen first, instil trust, prove you're a friend by being there and talking about how much your friendship means to him. You'll also be able to figure out a better plan of action through doing this because you'll get a better idea of the extent of his issues. If he starts thinking you're part of the "resistance" (the world he thinks is out to get him), then you might have to take it a step further and get him some psychiatric help. He might hate your guts and you might feel like a horrible person, but in the end, I guarantee you he'll come out of it saying "thank you."

If you still havent called anyone to make him to take meds, it is really time. Talk to his relatives about this issue, they must understand that your friend has to get treatment. It should be priority nr 1. No friendly talk gonna help him.

After he is on meds, you can start that friendly talk etc. and it is most likely going to help him then. He needs his friends/family support, but if he doesnt take meds, its all worthless.

Under medication, schizophrenics can be pretty normal, though slightly paranoid.

but if you force someone who is a bit "off" to do something.. they are going to fight it every step of the way... speaking from experience.. not a skitz bit i am bi polar... things got a lot better when people let me figure things out on my own.. it may take longer.. forcing a skitz to shove meds down his throat and blind siding him and taking him to the hospital most likely is going to result in a bad episode.... not sure.. but highly likely... people are so misunderstanding.... every situation is slightly difference... but even the average joe.. you tell him to do something.. he automatically doesn't want to.. lol.... almost like using reverse psychology to get the right thing done...

everyone thinks they are a big boy/girl even a 5 yr old and can handle their business.. you try to take control of someones life.. no one likes it... and is almost going to do the opposite just to prove the point... it's a nasty situation especially when someone is mentally unstable (not from there own doing mind you) ... anyway... i'm speaking from a life of experience as well as very close people around me friends and family with similar issues... u force them.. they will end up over dosing dead.. or will just toss there family aside and leave... only making life worse on them.. but you force anyone... gl... people just have to figure things out on their own... you can start a conversation but you can't hold their hand... help to lead them along and offer them kind advice.. but don't tell them what to do.. and try to be commasionate to there situation... will go miles further then telling anyone to take there meds.. they just want to say **** you then if u know what i mean...

tell him there is nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe try and show him there is nothing to fear and get him occupied with a hobby or a job to keep him busy and away from drugs.

Reasoning with him to stop being paranoid won't get him better, maybe will calm him down for half a second if he have a lot of confidence on you.

There are millions of people with schizophrenia around (close to 1% of the population), it is only a very small portion that commits violent acts to others (suicide rate is high), from these close to all weren't taking medicine.

If I was you I'd try to make him take the medicine, if he didn't I would 100% make him take by force given he was someone I cared about.

I'd like to thank everyone in this thread for giving me advice and sharing your opinions on this tough subject that I didn't know how to regard. As for my friend, he got committed to the state mental hospital and my understanding is that he'll stay for awhile. I hope he can look at it like a rejuvenation and get better.

You are comparing two completely different mental diseases? Schizophrenic, especially OPs friend who seems to be really aggressive, wont get better without meds. You give him room, he will hurt you. I have first hand experience about this, though I cant universalize that this will happen with every schizophrenic.

Obviously he wont like it that someone will force him to take meds, most likely he will hate his doctor for the rest of his life who is giving him the meds. But it is just better for him and everyone around him.

Cheers! He needs you!

i agree i'm just talking about the human condition in general... completely sane people (is anyone completely sane really?? lol) have the same general concept when it comes to being forced.. your right .. 2 different ordeals... but when i'm manic with a temper... i really feel alot of the same conditions i've read about..

best news i've read so far.. just hope he is willing nice job helping your friend... your a good guy.. gl to him and everyone around him!!

Your a joke, you have no clue what is going through Ed mind, what he is going through is a real disease that alot of people just ignore. You make a thread saying your life ****ed because your not rich, big ****ing deal, honestly don't post your disrespectful remarks and than make a thread asking for help because you don't respect money, no one going too help you if your going write **** like this.

Also to op I think you should contact ed, you could be the only person to
turn him back around

muck isn`t even worth replying to imo, don`t bother getting mad at his garbage.

I agree that I am joke.

I agree that its a real disease.

No one helped anyway.