Schizophrenia

Subject: Schizophrenia

Forum: The Mental Health Forum

I would like to know the long term effects of untreated schizophrenia and whether this mental illness is hereditary.  Over ten years ago my mother had symptoms similar to schizophrenia, however, I was a young, scared kid (15) and didn't confront her on this and didn't seek help.  She would yell and scream to an empty room, pleading for someone to leave her alone.  I won't go into great detail but she was obviously in a horrible mental state.  She didn't work, she would rarely go outside and she always had a "pained" look on her face.  This continued for a number of years and then seemed to diminish, or perhaps she learned to deal with it.  She lives on her own and has a full time job, however, she still shows signs of mental illness.  When she speaks her thoughts are jumbled and she continually corrects herself when talking.  She seems to function at a very slow pace and seems to be in her own little world.  To this day I'm carrying a great amount of guilt for allowing this to continue and to say the least,  I'm extremely messed up for all that has happened.  I would like to know a number of things.  The first being the long term effects of untreated schizophrenia or similar mental illness.  The second is HOW do you get help for someone who is unwilling to accept that help?  I don't want to see men in white coats dragging her off.  My next question - Are mental illnesses hereditary?  Can similar problems be passed along?  I've been dealing with severe depression, mood swings, extreme irritability, loss of concentration, fatigue, sleepiness, unexplained physical pain(mainly abdominal), foggy-unclear thoughts and all the classic signs of severe depression.  I feel that I have reason to be somewhat depressed, but I also feel more susceptible to having those "off days."  I've only revealed the tip of a huge problem but need some help, some direction and advice.
Thanks,
Chris.  








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