Get a Sneak Peak into the World of Childhood Schizophrenia -- Dr. Phil

Summary

The video shares the heartbreaking journey of Jany, a young girl diagnosed with schizophrenia at age six. As a child, she began isolating and retreating into a world filled with imaginary friends and hallucinations. Her condition includes tactile, visual, and auditory hallucinations, often leading her to follow dangerous commands. Jany's violent outbursts, linked to her condition, caused her family to make difficult decisions, including moving her out of the home for safety. Despite the challenges, Jany's parents remain committed to caring for her, navigating the delicate balance of medication and emotional struggles in their journey to support their daughter.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jany, diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 6, began isolating from other children as early as age 3, preferring her imaginary friends.
• 😀 Jany experiences vivid hallucinations, including seeing, hearing, and feeling things that others cannot perceive.
• 😀 Some of Jany's hallucinations are benign, while others, like Midnight the black cat, have a controlling and harmful influence, encouraging self-harm.
• 😀 Jany has over 100 animals, numbers, and people in her world, which she refers to as 'Calini' or 'Roxy'.
• 😀 Some hallucinations, such as 80, instruct Jany to perform dangerous actions, including jumping off buildings.
• 😀 Jany's hallucinations can be tactile, with her feeling sensations like diarrhea, which are not real but still distressing.
• 😀 Jany’s behavior has become violent at times, influenced by her hallucinations, resulting in physical harm to herself and others.
• 😀 At one point, the family had to move Jany out of the home to protect her infant sibling, due to fears for their safety.
• 😀 Medication has helped reduce Jany's violent behavior, but challenges remain, including basic daily tasks like brushing her teeth.
• 😀 Jany’s parents are deeply involved in her care and believe they are the best caregivers for her, despite the emotional and physical toll it takes on them.
• 😀 The emotional burden on Jany’s family is immense, with moments of despair and exhaustion, as the mother expresses feeling overwhelmed by the situation.

Q & A

What signs did Jany's parents notice when she was three years old?

Jany started isolating from other children and preferred playing with her imaginary friends rather than her real friends.

What diagnosis did Jany receive at the age of six?

Jany was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of six.

How did Jany's parents feel when they learned about her diagnosis?

They felt terrified and like they were entering a dark tunnel, fearing they would have to watch her slip away.

What are some of the hallucinations Jany experiences?

Jany experiences visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations. She sees things like animals, hears voices, and feels things such as the sensation of diarrhea.

What is the name of the place Jany believes her hallucinations exist in?

Jany believes her hallucinations exist in a place called 'Calini or Roxy.'

Can you describe the role of some of Jany's hallucinations in her life?

Some of Jany's hallucinations, like a cat named Midnight, tell her what to do, while others, like 80, encourage harmful actions like jumping off buildings.

How many animals, numbers, and people does Jany claim to have in her world?

Jany claims to have over 100 animals, numbers, and people in her world.

What challenges does Jany's family face due to her hallucinations and violent tendencies?

Jany’s hallucinations and the voices telling her to hurt herself or others have led to violent behaviors, such as hitting, biting, and scratching, which have posed a danger to herself and others.

How did Jany’s parents respond to the danger posed by her behavior?

For two and a half years, they had to move her out of the home to protect their infant son, as they feared for his safety.

What has helped to reduce Jany's violent behavior?

Medication has helped to reduce the intensity of Jany's violent behavior.