My son's initial diagnosis (back in 2006) was BiPolar, but as his symptoms got worse, it was eventually changed to Schizo Affective disorder, BiPolar Type. I would urge you to suggest to your nephew, to contact his local nami office and inquire about the "Family-to-Family" 12-week education program. I've been teaching this course for several years now and I can tell you that it changes lives. It won't cure their relative's illness, but it will give family members a much better understanding of the illness and give them problem solving tools and communications techniques that will really help them navigate the difficult waters of a relative with a serious brain disorder.
I don’t deny your son’s or any other person’s mental illness, necessarily. I don’t have a solution, either, I just struggle with the following hurdles:
1. If we give people with mental health a pass for violent behavior, then many people will certainly feign mental illness to get a pass. Psychiatrists can be fooled or can be in cahoots for any number of reasons.
2. I base my support of the death penalty and etc. on the Bible, and the Bible does not give exceptions for mental illness. Nor a procedure for diagnosing it.
This does not mean the Bible doesn’t ALLOW me to consider it, just that, there are no clear directions for me there that I am aware of. If the truly crazy are not to be held responsible for murder etc., then it seems to me the Bible would make allowances for that.
3. “Harmless” schizophrenics are sort of a myth, to me. The fact is, they do not have a hold on reality. They can stay harmless all their lives or break at any time. How can that be predicted? “This person who has no hold on reality has not been predatory for five years, thus we foresee he will never be predatory.” There is no way of predicting that.
4. But to involuntarily incarcerate schizophrenics and similar if they have not committed a crime, even in a gentler institution than a prison, still, involuntarily incarcerated, does not seem just and presumes they will commit crimes, when I understand the majority do not.
I have no answers here. Just question. Would be interested in other FReepers’ thoughts.
Thanks for that tip. I’m going to cut/paste your info and email off to my nephew right away. From what I’m hearing from my nephew, and your son’s further diagnosis, I wonder if his son doesn’t have the same thing. I’ve known a few people with bi-polar who can function just fine, so I’ve wondered if maybe there was more to this kid than “just” bi-polar.
The boy (15 now) got the diagnosis in the past 2-3 years, and has been to a few places to deal with it, including a 3-month stay this past summer. Nothing was ever that much help.
I’ve wondered if his growth has something to do with it? From pix it looks like he grows a few inches every couple of months. The boy SEEMS to be about 6’5” to my nephew’s maybe 5’9”. I don’t know if meds for bi-polar are calibrated to height/weight as some meds are for other ailments.
You’ve really helped with explaining the more extensive diagnosis your son received. They need all the help they can get! Thanks.