Mothers of sons

 Anna is 54 years old and the mother of Richard who is 34 and was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 22. Anna's story revolves around the topic of guilt with, on the one hand, her son blaming his parents and siblings of being responsible for his disease, on the other hand, having doubts herself whether she might have overlooked early signs of the approaching calamity.  

 Eva is the 62-year-old mother of Michael, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia 10 years ago at the age of 21. Michael lives in a separate flat. Eva describes how being included in Michael's paranoid thoughts during acute episodes made her completely powerless. While Michael is currently doing better, Eva vividly describes how she is tormented all the time by fear of a relapse.  

 Ritha is the 59-year-old mother of Rudolf, who is now 34 years old and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, when he was 19. She reports how her son's violent behaviour in public sent the family into turmoil and resulted in his institutionalisation in a forensic psychiatric unit for several years, with Rudolf being now discharged but living under severe restrictions.  

 Daniela is the 68-year-old mother of Dorian, who received the diagnosis of schizophrenia 22 years ago when he was 20 years old. Daniela describes how her son’s childhood was characterized by increasing behavioural problems from kindergarten onwards and that, when finally, as a young adult Dorian received the diagnosis of schizophrenia it came as a shock, but that with the right therapy Dorian has learned to live with the disease.  

Amelie is the 50-year-old mother of Thomas, who is now 20 years old and was diagnosed with schizophrenia one year ago. Amelie describes how, after a first acute episode in which Thomas put their flat into ruins, she is oscillating between controlling Thomas and "letting go". This dilemma is complicated by Thomas' cannabis use.