One Family’s Experience with Schizophrenia
“We carers do a lot of grieving, for the grandchildren we’ll never have, for the loss of life that my son could have had.”
A Port Macquarie mother who has dedicated much of her life to looking after her son who is living with schizophrenia recently touched the hearts of those attending a national sales conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Sheila Openshaw was invited by Eli Lilly to share her story with members of their neuroscience sales team to help them better understand how a patient’s journey with schizophrenia impacts on an entire family and broader community.
 Sheila, who is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty and niece shared that despite her many responsibilities she is first and foremost a carer.
With her husband Alan by her side, Sheila shared their experiences with her son David who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia as a teenager. She told of the challenges they faced before, during and after diagnosis and how effective treatment and rehabilitation has helped David rebuild his life with the support of his family.
(Photo Caption: Sheila and Alan Openshaw with members of the Eli Lilly neuroscience team)
Sheila spoke of David’s constant struggle with hearing voices and paranoia – he would wake her and Alan up in the middle of the night to ask them if they were talking about him. He also covered the air vents in his bedroom and pulled the carpet up to reveal old antennae wiring which he claimed was being used by people next door to listen to his thoughts. She shared how hopeless she felt as David was admitted in and out of hospital during which time he was interviewed by several doctors which eventually resulted in his diagnosis.
“There were times when I didn’t know how I was going to cope; I would be driving David to hospital at all hours, waiting in accident and emergency, hours upon hours in the middle of the night,” she said.
“Many times I would be driving home with tears streaming down my face, hoping and praying this would be the last time this would happen and that one day I would wake up and David would be cured.”
After several suicide attempts, a six-month period in a locked ward and trials of numerous treatment options, Sheila told of another chapter in her journey – David’s eight and a half year rehabilitation at Morisset Hospital.
Sheila shared the range of ongoing challenges she and David faced during this time but also the turning points in David’s journey which eventually resulted in him being able to return home to Port Macquarie where he lived in a group home.
With an expression of pride and satisfaction, she told the group of her son’s gradual improvement over the years which eventually resulted in him being able to move out on his own. David now lives independently, does all his own shopping and housework and is also an avid volunteer in the local community.
“I now call in to David’s home and can sit with him for hours and just listen and talk to him about his psychosis and all the troubles he feels he is experiencing,” she said.David and I like our good old cup of tea together and we still manage to have lots of laughs.”
Sheila began her journey as a mental health carer when David was 17 years of age. He is now 37. Throughout the difficult times, she has found the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW to be a great source of strength and is dedicated to using her experience to help others through her own support group.
For more information about the Hastings Mental Health Support Group, contact Sheila on (02) 6582 5592 or aopenshaw@bigpond.com.au
This article was written with the assistance of Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Ltd. 112 Wharf Rd, West Ryde, NSW 2114. AUZYP00263
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