TAC is pleased to announce a new blog post in our Research Briefly series, a periodic blog focused on timely research and pertinent information surrounding severe mental illness (SMI), with “Family Relationships: Separating the Illness from the Person” by renowned clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and subject matter expert on anosognosia, Dr. Xavier Amador.
When my brother Henry developed schizophrenia, the impact rippled through our family in a number of specific ways. I have seen the same in countless families I have worked with over the past forty years. When serious mental illness (SMI) like schizophrenia appears in a family, we usually see chaos. We see the chaos it creates for the sufferer, but because our attention is laser focused on that person, we are too often blinded to the turmoil it causes to our relationships with each other. There are a range of emotions that fuel the chaos and discord that results. Among them are guilt, anger and depression.
My mother used to feel so guilty about “giving him schizophrenia.” She had a family history of the illness and felt horrible that she “gave it to him.” And, she thought she could have done more to be a better mother when he was growing up; she was certain that somehow her actions played a role.
And like many siblings, I had survivor’s guilt. Why should my brother lose so much — the ability to work, form close relationships and so much more — while I had all these things he longed for. What my mother and I did not know at that time is that SMI’s are no-fault brain disorders. She did nothing to cause his illness, and I was in no way hurting him by having love and work.
