I’m truly moved by Tony’s progress.
Before
When I first met Tony, he was struggling with severe schizophrenia. His mother had brought him to
me, utterly distraught and exhausted, having been unable to maintain a proper sleep schedule due
to his worsening condition. She shared that her 26-year-old son, once admitted to Yale University
with a promising future, had been experiencing severe mental health challenges for over five years,
which had obviously been declining. Prior to his diagnosis at 19, Tony had been on a promising
path, but schizophrenia had disrupted his trajectory. Tony had begun wandering outside in his
underwear, and even playing basketball at neighbors’ homes in the middle of the night, all of which
put him at serious risk. When we met, Tony was pacing non-stop, exhibiting signs of visual and
auditory hallucinations, and frequently talking aloud to himself.
Based on my assessment and experience working with individuals with severe mental health
conditions, I recommended that his mother obtain a mental health warrant.
After
Following inpatient treatment, I referred his mother to The Harris Center for IDD, where Tony could
continue medication management and receive therapy for ongoing support. His mother recently
called to share his incredible progress: Tony is now stable on his medications, has completed his
third therapy session, and left it saying, “Mom, I had a great session!” He is no longer experiencing
hallucinations, can engage in clear, lucid conversations, and has even created a daily schedule for
himself that includes exercise. Most excitingly, he’s expressed a desire to return to school.
To see Tony thriving, and his mother now experiencing peace and renewed hope for his future, is
the greatest reward.
Background
When I first met Tony, he was struggling with severe schizophrenia. His mother had brought him to
me, utterly distraught and exhausted, having been unable to maintain a proper sleep schedule due
to his worsening condition. She shared that her 26-year-old son, once admitted to Yale University
with a promising future, had been experiencing severe mental health challenges for over five years,
which had obviously been declining. Tony had begun wandering outside in his underwear, and even
playing basketball at neighbors’ homes in the middle of the night, all of which put him at serious
risk.
When we met, Tony was pacing non-stop, exhibiting signs of visual and auditory hallucinations, and
frequently talking aloud to himself. Based on my assessment and experience working with
individuals with severe mental health conditions, I recommended that his mother obtain a mental
health warrant. This would allow him to be admitted to a facility for stabilization on his medication,
which he had stopped taking several months prior after losing access to his mother’s health
insurance.
Prior to his diagnosis at 19, Tony had been on a promising path, but schizophrenia had disrupted
his trajectory. Following inpatient treatment, I referred his mother to The Harris Center for IDD,
where Tony could continue medication management and receive therapy for ongoing support. His
mother recently called to share his incredible progress: Tony is now stable on his medications, has
completed his third therapy session, and left it saying, “Mom, I had a great session!” He is no longer
experiencing hallucinations, can engage in clear, lucid conversations, and has even created a daily
schedule for himself that includes exercise. Most excitingly, he’s expressed a desire to return to
school.
As a clinician, I’m truly moved by Tony’s progress. This experience has reminded me of the privilege
of being a guide in people’s lives at their most vulnerable moments. To see Tony thriving, and his
mother—who once looked utterly drained—now experiencing peace and renewed hope for his
future, is the greatest reward.