Brushes with Life Spring Opening Reception

You can't have a conversation with a person who is psychotic.

Sure you can! The conversation may be a little different than your average conversation, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't undertake it.

Some people with schizophrenia may be distracted by positive symptoms, voices they are hearing, things they are seeing, or beliefs they are having. For instance, they make think that you can read their mind or are thinking horrible things about them. All those distracting thoughts make it harder for them to have a topical conversation. People with significant negative symptoms may show little interest in conversation, or little emotional response to conversation, but that doesn't necessarily mean they don't want to talk. People with significant cognitive impairments may not always make sense; they may use the wrong words, use new, made-up words, or drift away from the topic.

All of these examples represent the more severe end of the spectrum, some of which could be positively affected by medications. Symptoms may be better or worse depending on the day, and may vary in severity as people move in and out of crisis, or become stabilized. Someone who is hard to converse with at one point may be very different after a hospitalization, a medication change, or a little time. The bottom line is that most people with these illnesses can and will participate in and benefit from regular old conversation. And you will benefit too, if you engage with the person.