New Diagnosis

[CJJ74]

Hi Everyone ☺️

I’m hoping to get some support/advice on schizoaffective disorder please.

My 24 yo son has recently been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and also struggles with depression.

We are currently trying to get the psychosis under control with medications and therapy. He has recently had two inpatient admissions to the mental health ward. He has also not been able to work full time for some time and recently not at all.

Does anyone have experience of this as a carer? I’m hoping to be able to better support him. Also wondering if anyone has had experience with Centrelink and disability support?

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. It breaks my heart to see him struggling.

[amber22]

Hey there @CJJ74 

Thank you so much for joining the forums and for contributing on here. I hope that you receive the support that you need. I just wanted to add how amazing it is that you are seeking some advice for yourself and for your son, it is not often that parents are wanting to really understand their child's diagnoses and help them as much as they can, so I really commend you for doing so. You have come to the right platform!

I'm sure many of our members will have advice on their own experience with this (or something similar), but for now I wanted to share this thread with you from our Topic Tuesday last night that focussed on being an unpaid carer and the support and services that there are for you and your family. 

Here is the link: https://saneforums.org/t5/Special-Events/Topic-Tuesday-Caring-For-The-Carer-Tues-29th-November-2022-... 

Thank you again for sharing and for reaching out, 

All the best,

Amber22

[Former-Member]

hey @CJJ74 ❤️ Welcome to the forums! I thought I'd tag a few of the carers here. I don't know if they have experience with schizoaffective disorder, but I know they're wonderfully supportive! @Shaz51 @Krishna @Ana1 @Determined @Faith-and-Hope @Smc @tired_sisyphus 

This sounds like a big time of change. I can see so much care and that you want to help your son with his recovery. Your son is very lucky to have such a supportive parent.

I don't have much experience with this, but did you know that you can search the forums? I've included some images which show you how ❤️ 

Take care ❤️ 

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hi and welcome to the forums @CJJ74 .

I don’t habe personal experience with schizophrenia-effective disorder, but I have had adult children struggling with anxiety and depression from a coercive-control DV situation  I didn’t recognise for what it was.  There are lovely people here, and some do have experience with the schizo-effective spectrum.

Hot Chocolate Anyone ? 

[Former-Member]

Maybe @amber22 will jump in with you ❤️ @Faith-and-Hope 

And @CJJ74 the Hot chocolate thread is a social thread where Carers can check in with each other 😊 

[amber22]

Feel free to join me if you would like a chat @CJJ74 @Faith-and-Hope ❤️

https://saneforums.org/t5/Social-Spaces/Hot-Chocolate-Anyone/m-p/1234267/highlight/true#M27258 

[CJJ74]

Thank you so much 💜

[Shaz51]

Hello and welcome @CJJ74 

With the DSP your son's medical team should be able to guide him to get the pension 

When my husband was told he could go on the pension after his breakdown and an attempt by his specialist ( but he refused to )

When  I became a carer for my elderly mum , you will be able to apply for this too 

@amber22 , @Former-Member , @Bunniekins