Dear Counsellor:

I have schizophrenia and take medication. I would like to discontinue the medication. Can schizophrenia be cured?

- Johanna

Dear Johanna:

You must be congratulated for taking your medication. Schizophrenia can be controlled with medication and counselling. Schizophrenia is a chronic medical disorder and patients have to take their medication. A patient with schizophrenia needs to be under the care of a doctor. The patient usually has a relapse whenever the medication is stopped.

Schizophrenia is like any other chronic illness. Patients need to get counselling and are encouraged to take their medication. Patients need help with anger management, stress and time management. Many individuals find that whenever they are stressed, they get a relapse of their condition. Depression also occurs and needs to be treated.

Mom depressed

Dear Counsellor:

My mother is 80 years old and I think she is depressed. She tends to be quiet, doesn't speak much and does not want to socialise with the family. In her younger days, she was treated for bouts of depression.

- Mary

Dear Mary:

Depression is a common condition in the elderly. It seems that your mother is experiencing depression. As we grow older, our friends and family of origin die, and so the elderly feel lonely and isolated. Retirement finds people at home with nothing to do.

Some senior citizens have various medical conditions and these cause them to feel depressed. Financial woes are also problematic and also their nutritional state is not what it should be.

The elderly need to keep working with the young people so that senior citizens are kept busy and informed as to what is happening around them. Youth will benefit from the experience and knowledge of the elderly.

Church and community activities can keep the elderly active. There are certain facilities called day centres for the elderly. At these facilities, the elderly are kept occupied for the day. Relatives can drop off senior citizens in the morning and pick them up in the evening.

Craft activities

There are various craft activities that the elderly can get involved in. In some churches, they have programmes for the elderly. Church members can visit with the aged in their homes so that they don't feel lonely and isolated.

Relatives should visit and keep in touch with their loved ones who are old. Try to get your mother involved with the family. All family members should visit their relatives often and keep in touch via telephone or letter.

It is important that you take your mother for a physical check-up. There are several medical conditions that can cause depression in the elderly. Your mother's physician will assess her for these medical conditions and treat as necessary. Please also make an appointment with a psychiatrist to evaluate your mother. There is medication which can treat your mother's depression. Depression is treatable and sometimes an individual has to be placed on maintenance dosage to prevent recurrence.

Got family and other personal problems? Let Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson give you the diagnosis. Call her at 978-8602 or email queries to yvonniebd@hotmail.com.