My Boyfriend is Schizophrenic

I knew there was something wrong, but I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. I ignored it, until it almost ruined our relationship.

My boyfriend has schizophrenia, and he knew, but apparently, I didn’t need to know. Me, his so called, “loml”.

Schi-zo-phre-nia is  pronounced as /skit.suh.free.nee/.

I stumbled upon the word more times than I can count within the ten minutes he broke the news to me, after threats to leave him if he didn’t tell me what the medication and constant visit to the “hospital” was for. My stupid ass thought it was cancer, lol.

As he told me his story, I began to understand why he kept it from me. Friends that mocked him, family that took him to deliverance centres, and that woman who suggested going to an herbalists, because everyone thought he was “mad” because he always talked to himself, and claimed he heard people talk to him, e.g his late grandmother.

He told me how hard it was, being the only person that hears and how everyone looked at him like a freak, avoiding him like a plague.

Until he met a French teacher in his senior school, who hears. He finally told her, how his perfectly worded answer becomes a jumble when he stands to talk in his class because his speech wasn’t coherent especially when he was nervous, and how his desire to participate in activities fluctuates and how he felt like a sissy because of his “moods”.

Thankfully the teacher recommended him to her therapist who took up his case at no cost because he was a minor and couldn’t afford the sessions, and for the first three years of his therapy, his parents had no idea even though they noticed he was better. 

He told me of how his parents refused to pay for his medication and therapy for his first year in university, until they saw the effect it had on him, and reluctantly provided him with the support he needed.

He said it’s been ten years since then, and he never spoke about it, because everyone still thinks he’s a freak who needs to see a therapist.

Listening to his story made me understand the fights we’ve had in the past when he seems detached and unresponsive to my needs, it helped me put a lot of things in perspective.

My boyfriend has schizophrenia, and so what?

I vowed to accompany him to the therapist and be his personal medication alarm.

I wonder how many people are going through some form of illness, with nobody to share the burden with.

See, if you have a friend who has schizophrenia, the best you can do is support them and encourage them to go for therapy; schizophrenia can be managed with the right care.

It’s going to be hard for them to feel normal around you, but you can help them figure it out. Sometimes, it’s going to be a lot, and it’s okay to take a breather.

-Inifolu