There is hope
I wanted to share something in case it helps another parent out there.
Two years ago, my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was terrifying, confusing, and honestly I made a lot of mistakes early on. He had two stays in a mental hospital, and during that first year I did a lot of things people say you *shouldn’t* do — pushing too hard, saying the wrong things, reacting out of fear instead of understanding.
But over time, I learned. I listened more, read more, and tried to approach things differently in the second year. Instead of constant confrontation, I focused on building trust again. We had regular conversations about everything — not just his condition — and I tried to be supportive without overwhelming him.
One of the biggest turning points was helping him come to his own understanding about THC. I didn’t force it. I waited for the right moments, had calm conversations, and let him connect the dots himself. Eventually, he recognized that weed was making things worse for his brain.
Now, two years later, he’s doing really well. Back to himself in so many ways. I won’t pretend relapse isn’t possible — I know it is — but this is a hopeful chapter for us.
If you’re in the early stages with a loved one, just know: you might mess up at first. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You can learn, adjust, and do better. Patience, timing, and trust made a huge difference for us.
Just wanted to share a bit of hope.