Pat and Sarah had long been friends, not just
brother and sister. They supported each other, shared
music and movies, and confided in each other as they
went through the many challenging stages of adolescence.
But something began to change in Pat. He was convinced
people were watching him, spying on him. Once outgoing
and sociable, he began to withdraw into a world of his
own, on the inside, where social engagement was not
necessary nor desired. He stopped taking care of his
personal hygiene. Conversation became increasingly
difficult. After a series of visits with psychologists,
he was diagnosed at first with bi-polar disorder, and
then, more accurately with schizophrenia with paranoid
delusions. His world, and that of his sister's, changed
forever. This is the story of one sister's fight to
convince her family that her brother needed help, that
initial efforts to curtail his symptoms were inadequate,
that he needed additional intervention. At the same
time, it is the story of her own struggles with anxiety
and depression, and coping with the changes in her life
as her brother suffered at home. And finally, it is the
story of one family's acceptance of a difficult
diagnosis and their embracing of the child and brother
they have always known and loved. Schizophrenia, indeed
mental illness in general, is often misunderstood and
therefore feared by society at large. Here, the author
helps to dislodge some long-held assumptions about
mental illness and encourages readers to ask questions,
to offer help and support, and to advocate for
assistance for anyone suffering mental illness before
it's too late. She offers a voice to all the sisters and
brothers of the mentally ill, so that they may find
comfort in her words and hope for their siblings.
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