Originally Posted by
maggies 
He has been diagnosed as being schzo-affective disorder. It is a great challenge for him to admit he is mentally ill. He would prefer to drink beer all day than take medication.
Denial and attempted self-medication are both very common with schizoid type mental illnesses. So common that they are almost considered hallmark symptoms of those disorders.
My mother suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and she used to self medicate with marijuana when I was growing up. She is in total denial about her mental illness, will not even entertain the idea that she might have a problem, though she has stopped using MJ. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be if she was drinking on top of her mental illness.
So sorry your family is going through this. Glad you're doing the therapy for yourself. Take care. Hugs and strength to you maggies.