sorry, im schizophrenic and this type of fear-mongering really offends me. I won't lie, i've made threats of violence in the past, and I understand that those threats are to be taken seriously. -now-. but when i was fifteen, i didn't know any better. i just knew that it got a reaction. I am not, nor will i ever be violent. most young schizophrenics are disturbed as hell, I know I was. but that doesn't make them killers. schizophrenia is not psychopathy, nor does it involve a desire to kill or anything like that. If your nieghbor is threatening you, you should move, then alert the authorities. hell, you may save a life. you have no concept of what is going on in that man's head and you have reason to be fearful. But I don't like to be boxed in with threatening people and coldblooded killers like Adam Lanza and dylan klebold, you haters who feel the need to dread your mentally ill nieghbors need to realize that 1) being schizophrenic does not make you a killer 2) being schizophrenic does not make you violent and 3) being schizophrenic does not make you less human. I'll follow that up by saying that ANY threats, of self harm, or of harming others are cause for an anonymous wellness check call. I wouldn't want to get one, but then again im on top of my illness. If i was in trouble it would be a different story. police do them and though I've never been subject to one, it is utterly preferable to spending your time lost in madness. I'm sorry to go on a rant, but you really can't know the misery and the emotional hell that is a schizophrenia break, and honestly, you wouldn't want to. I can't even begin to explain what being disoriented for weeks is like. but seriously, if your nieghbor is threating people it's time for a wellness check. call the cops instead of living in fear, and possibly allowing someone to kill themselves. the only time i ever cut myself, I thought i was going to be crastrated by the FBI. YEAH. that's what this thing does to people. Balls up and do for someone what they cannot do for themselves. you may save a life. to all the worried mothers of mentally ill children: don't be afraid of your kids. That has been the single most scarring thing about my mental illness, the fear ive seen in my mother's eyes, my darling mother, whom i would never do harm, fearing me. don't fear your child. I imagine it's hard, but work at it. You don't know how painful -that- is. to be feared by those you love most. remember: Your child is not adam lanza
@nieghborofaschiz im a "schiz" and if you see me in your house, shoot me. CUASE IM THERE TO ICE YOUR HATEFUL ASS!!
To the original poster.... you talk about him like he is a monster who has every contagious disease known to man?!!
WAKE UP!!! HELLO....He is a human!...YES a human!...Do i need to SHOUT IT AT YOU!?!If anyone needs protecting it's your neighbour....He needs protection from every ignorant, idiotic, bigoted, hatred spewing VERMIN that is YOU and YOUR kind.
YOU MAKE ME SICK!!!!
Go back a couple hundred years and stay there with the rest of the hate filled, witch hunt shyte, fcukwits gang!!
So this person cut off someones head because he thought he was protecting people,that makes him extremely dangerous to people.It is stories like this that make us "normals" fear psychotic people.
I'M ALSO SCHIZOPHRENIC PARANOID I NEVER HURT ANYBODY I BEEN LIKE THIS FOR FOR 19 YEARS WHEN A PERSON IS VIOLENT THEY ARE BORN WITH THE GENE, IS A MITH THAT ALL SCHIZOPHRENIC ARE VIOLENCE. THERE IS MORE SO CALL NORMAL PEOPLE VIOLENCE THAN MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE
My uncle has SEVERLY exhibited schizo signs over the past 8 years. The episodes have gotten more frequent and to the point where he left my grandmother on the floor for three days (she couldn't get up) at 89 years old. She died a few days later in ICU due to bed sore complications. He thought it was "the right thing to do".
Protective services got involved, sheriff department....and they did NOTHING to him because there was no criminal intent.
While that may be, they could've ordered a psych eval, but they did not (he's undiagnosed/unmediated, and refuses to see a doctor.
In MI, if they have not hurt anyone (technically) and have not proved to be a danger to themselves, there's no intervention unless you petition the court. And even at that, these patients are SMART and can talk the talk and get cut free 72 hours later.
My uncle lived in his 88 pickup for 7 mos (grandma's house sold) until someone hit him and totaled it out. He now lives in a mobile home near my mother (2 hours from his home city all his life). Being closer to my mother and my family/kids has helped him a bit (he talks more and smiles a little), but you can tell just by looking at him something isn't right. He means well...he has a heart of gold, but his mental condition is whacked. Yet, here we are under MI law letting him suffer.
There is NO WAY I would stay overnight in any home with him there. In sorry, but how do you REALLY know what the voices are going to say? You don't...especially with an unmedicated paranoid type. I love him, but you CANNOT help someone who DOES NOT want to BE helped (or in this case, doesn't realize there is a problem).
Are they dangerous? In my opinion: unpredictable is a better word. Just be on guard. I never thought he'd leave my grandma on the floor for three days but he did (she was unresponsive until she died).
I am the mother of a paranoid schizophrenic. I know the original post on this topic is old, but I see that newer ones have kicked up, so in hopes of reaching those out there who are concerned, or those that need help - No. Paranoid Schizophrenics are no more dangerous than anyone else. My son has never harmed anyone, with the exception that after being bullied and beaten by a group of thugs pounding him in the face with a skateboard at school and no one coming to his aid, he broke free and began to punch the one holding the skateboard in the stomach repeatedly. Which ended up being a good thing because he was so badly beaten by this group that he had 3 massive lumps on his head, blood pouring from his nose and mouth and blood red eyes. He doesn't even remember most of it, but it was caught on school cameras thankfully. As were the adults who just stood by and watched. The other time he acted violent was to protect me from a man who was coming at me. The only person he has ever truly tried to harm has been himself. He is a great kid, well, young man now. He is 21. He has a handful of great friends, a girlfriend who makes a positive impact on his life for once, he goes to college working on his programming degree, he has never been in trouble with the police and he holds down a job where he gets really high marks from customers who have no idea that he is a schizophrenic. He does keep small knives hidden around his room. Are neighborhood has become increasingly scarier because gangs have moved in, (we are currently house hunting and will be moving very soon to get away)....he is very protective. He is absolutely approachable, and is very kind. He appreciates when people ask him questions and try to learn about his illness. But again, he does have times where he needs to be alone. Which usually proceeds a rough episode. There are voices, usually telling him to harm himself. There are strange, scary figures he sees and there is a giant wheel that once it goes away when people speak to him he their faces distort and they sound like angry screaming - but he doesn't hurt anyone, he just retreats and curls into a ball. He loves animals, particularly cats. And has been known to stand up for the underdog. The reason I am telling you all about my son is to humanize him...because that is what he is, human. There are so many violent people out there, most do not even have mental illness. To be afraid of this one group is based strictly on ignorance. I don't mean that as an insult. Mental illness is very misunderstood.
However, just be aware, like you would be with anyone else. If someone, anyone, mentally ill or not, was acting threateningly towards you and your family, what actions would you take? That is what you should ask yourself. Generally your kids should keep the doors locked when no one is home. If they do that, and someone tries to get in, they should call 911..just like with anyone else...there is no need for an exaggerated fear here.
Lokinoel ..that does sound like a very scary situation...but it isn't a "these people" kind of thing. The truth is, that person was probably violent even without the schizophrenia. Schizophrenics are not any more dangerous than any other person you cross paths with. I promise. My son isn't on any medication other than vitamins, and he has never harmed anyone. I know 3 more schizophrenic people, one being disorganized the other two paranoid...none of them have harmed anyone ever. In fact, they are the ones who usual get harmed. You have people who know first hand on this forum because they work in the field, or because they have it, or because, like me, they have been taking care of someone with it their whole lives.
The worse thing my son does to anyone else is retreat into a corner and ball up and just either not talk or ask that they leave him alone or not yell at him. (even when no one is)....he has harmed himself when he was younger, but it was because he wanted to escape his daily hell. He hasn't done that in the past 2 years. He, along with the other 3 boys I know who have it are very sweet, stand up guys...when they're having an episode, they just want to be left alone...but they won't harm you..and most won't unless they feel backed into a corner, like they have to protect themselves. My son has never even raised his voice to me, like most kids do...he hasn't yelled, or talked back...he is helpful..he just happens to have schizophrenia. So, I understand your fear. You had a bad experience with someone who happens to have schizophrenia...what I am telling you is this, that person is violent outside of the schizophrenia. It is good that he isn't able to harm you now. I am glad that you and your friend are safe. BUT, you need to know and understand...you will find good and bad people everywhere...of all types and kinds..some will have mental disorders, some won't have any..they will come in all colors, sizes, religions, sexes, social classes and upbringings....bad people are bad people, their disorders are not what make them that way.
I know that this is an old topic, but I have another question to add, which I hope some people can answer.
I also live next door to a PS and I'm very concerned. We only found out recently that he has a mental health problem and we have been living next door to him and his family for almost 2 years without any issues.
Last Saturday night my brother and his fiance came to our house to babysit our baby while we went out. My brother parked his car on the street in front of our property and some time during the night they heard some loud banging noises, and looking out the window, they saw our neighbour with what they thought was a stick, standing by my brother's car.
Once we came home, my husband and my brother went to inspect the car and saw that both tail lights had been completely smashed up. The neighbour was actually sitting on the ground under a tree right by the car, and was completely still and quiet, like in a meditative state. He was extremely placid and when questioned about the damage, he said it was done by some young boys who had a party up the road.
The police were called to look into it, but by the time they got there, the neighbour had gone back inside the house. The police told my brother that this young man next door was a PS and that they had been called over to the house before for other reasons. Then yesterday, someone had left a pot plant outside our front door, and another one on the side of our house. Today, the young man's mother came to our house to take the pot plants back. She said she knew it was her son who put them there but doesnt know why he did it. My husband told her about the incident on Saturday night and she said she was sure that it was him, because he walks around with a baseball bat.
Another incident which may or may not be related, is that we were overseas for a month and when we came back, we noticed that one of the glass windows on our back veranda had been broken by what looked like a golf club (or baseball bat). Nothing was stolen from our house and the only thing that was weird was the broken window and glass all over the floor in our house. The only people in this area who knew we were away during this time were our neighbours, as we still had a car in the driveway. After the incident with the tail lights, and the mother telling us that her son walks around with a baseball bat, I strongly suspect that he also broke our window, though I cant imagine why on earth he would do this.
I went over to their house this evening to speak to her myself because I was really rattled by the idea of someone with a mental health illness who carries a baseball bat, coming onto our property for any reason other than to speak to us (and even that would be unnerving I'm sorry to say).
Now, I am an extremely accepting and compassionate person, and I do not want to judge anyone - that is why I went over there to ask her out right if he was dangerous or violent. I went with my toddler, to highlight the point that I am just concerned about my family's safety. She was very very sweet, a lovely lady. She told me that her son is very kind hearted and is not violent at all, but this is not consistent with his actions on the weekend.
Do I need to be concerned?
It's ignorant commets like this that annoy me. As soon as schizophrenia is mentioned, people turn cruel. I have a son with paranoid schizophrenia and he's been hospitalized numerous times. And guess what? Not because he's dangerous but because his medication hasn't been sorted out properly and because of the lack of available psychiatrists and beds etc for mental health patients. People's reactions to them also can set them into a depressive state and they're usually more frightened of the so-called 'normal' people than they are of him. So you had vandalism and broken glass - so, of course, it must have been the boy with PS - let's not think for a moment that paranoia being the key word - they are ususally terrified that someone is out to get them so carry bats etc when outside t protect themseves, not to wreck your property. Please think twice before you go making this type of statement - do some genuine research and find out what you're talking about before pointing the fnger. Remember they have feelings too and I hope you're ashamed of yourself.
Get an outside camera and install it (make sure it allows enough space for storing 3-4 days of recording).
That is what we did when a mental person renting basement across the street harassed me.
We did not see who damaged our car (second damage), but we saw that this mental person's friends were trying to fix the car on the recording.
Read the stories of Michael Laudor in the NY Times. They're not dangerous until they are. Keep your doors locked, and if you see him screaming at someone you can't see, just stay out of his way. He's probably mad at the invisible person, not at his neighbors. Medicated schizophrenics are benign. They don't want to be good neighbors, just to be left alone (at least this was true for my personal schizophrenic relationship). So leave them alone. But lock your doors.
What's really dangerous about psychosis is to actually be psychotic because people, who a psychotic person interacts with may not pick up on the fact that the person is experiencing psychosis at the moment, and respond to a psychotic person as they would to an intentionally malicious person, who's trying to cause harm. Since there is so much ignorance out there as far as the mental illness is concerned, and particularly, psychosis, some people treat it LITERALLY, or use it as an opportunity to mess with or bully the ill individual. Therefore, I'd say, people, who are ignorant in psychosis are just as dangerous as psychotic people.