Posted on 09/14/2005 5:51:16 PM PDT by sushiman
I believe one of the English teachers with whom I team-teach has some sort of mental disorder/illness . He is contantly talking to himself ; has become very forgetful ; is sometimes guilty of incoherent speech ( in both English and Japanese ) ; and laughs at things for no apparent reason . He is only 28 years old . I've spoken with the principal , and the school nurse , but nobody is about to confront him about the problem ( cultural thing ) yet . Yesterday I suggested that he seek counseling . I doubt that he will . Anybody have any advice , or an idea what might be wrong with him ? Schizophrenia case ? Any info ( no jokes please ) appreciated .
I'm not a Dr... but I've seen schizophrenics act like this.
Two distinct possibilities only from the description of the symptoms:
/1. schizophrenia
2. drug use
At this point, I would go to the Board of education and talk to the Director of Counseling for the school system. Hopefully, they will be able to evaluate the situation.
Good luck.
Well, the principal is scared that she could be sued, if the Board of Ed is told and acts, they could be sued. They never think of the effect it has on the children and the teacher himself. You realize he may not be aware of his actions. Not to gang up on him... get someone else you trust at work and engage him in a conversation, where the other person (if he displays these behaviors), can comment... in passing, where as you can remind him that you asked him about it before and has he seen anyone yet. Be prepared to have Names, addresses and phone numbers on hand to give to him... and tell him to just think about it.
I've known a lot of people who are constantly talking to themselves, I worked with one guy who carried on some pretty bizarre and lengthy discourses. Has this guy been like this the whole time you've known him, or is this a sudden change? If it's something new you are right to be concerned. More than once I've seen severe mental illness come over people extremely rapidly, and seemingly out of the blue, even if in hindsight one could see some underlying causes.
Good luck to you with this. If it's really mental illness that is the worst.
I know this is not a new idea on this thread, but it sounds like schizophrenia and/or drug abuse. Is there a way you can contact the school board about this person's strange behavior? Good luck to you (and to him), it's a difficult situation for all.
I know somebody a LOT like that. A co-worker of mine as well. Isn't he? Yes, he is... He's had ths smthms 4a lnnnngtm ne23... vraiment... hahahahhaahahhaha...
...now, um, what exactly was I saying?
Some of those symptoms are side effects of the use of anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds.
usually they will make the problem better, not worse
Sounds like a woman I work with who does that when her blood sugar is very low...we know then to tell her to eat a piece of candy
This is going on in Japan, as I gather. Whole 'nother ball game. The challenge is to address the problem while saving face for everyone involved.
You're in Japan, ne?
muzukashii desu nee . . .
boku, shinrigaku o yoku naratta ...
For your own safety, do not confront or rationalize with him. It might help to laugh along with him etc. Believe that he actually hears voices and is talking to someone else.
A rule of thumb I always follow is: never tell a kichigai person that they are kichigai.
I've been like that for years, but I'm rich, so everyone loves me and calls me eccentric.
Turn him in to Big Brother, for his own good.
I seriously doubt that he is " on " anything " . The change has been gradual , starting about 6-8 months ago . He did have a very stressful first year here last year which may have contributed to the current problem .
I talk to myself all the time when no one is listening. It's called marriage.
I work as an RD in a psychiatric hospital and most of our clients are schizophrenic....and his behavior sounds similar.
Unless he's willing to go to a Dr., the only way to get him help is if he threatens to hurt himself or someone else.
Do you know any of his family or close friends?
I've taken some of those meds like depakote. You lose your hair, gain weight, become comotose, sexual side effects. Those drugs will make you go from slightly abnormal and functioning to really being depressed.
Can he spell? Does he have half a brain? Is he a good teacher? If so, leave him alone.
My daughter misspelled Condoleezza today by spelling it "C-o-n-d-o-l-e-e-z-z-a" on a test where the question was "Who is the current Secretary of the State of the United States?". I kid you not, she is writing Condoleezza Rice twenty times as I type. Only problem is that she has to spell it as "C-o-n-d-a-l-i-s-a". What can I say? She wanted to try high school instead of home school this year.
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