mickle said:Go ahead Bonjy, it's all good.
Well, basically - what do GPs / psychiatrists know? They don't know laughing gas, as they've probably never taken it, and they don't know your stepson either. They only know what they've been taught at uni. I didn't think laughing gas could do that, I thought it only lasted about a couple of minutes, but I've never taken it myself and perhaps it can react differently with some people leaving after effects. The best thing you can do is to be pragmatic about it. He's not got some complex illness that only boffins understand, he's just had a bit of a weird experience and isn't always sure "where this leaves him".
What helped me when I was 'a bit funny', was: comfortable, safe, friendly environment, routine, people talking in simple terms and not sarcasm and metaphors, but most of all "keeping it real" - i.e. doing everyday things , like, going to the dentist, doing a bit of DIY maybe - whatever 'normal' people do. The best thing you can do if he talks about delusions is again just be pragmatic, tell him that 'they' aren't watching him but don't feel the need to drill it into him till you're sure he understands. Just tell him once, in a reassuring way. He'll believe you, but he'll forget again. So just tell him again, not impatiently like 'oh for god's sake how many times do I have to keep telling you' but just the same way.
And lastly, I'm more guessing on the following than speaking from knowledge/experience, but be careful with accepting the term 'schizophrenia', because I get the impression the term is bandied about far too freely to mean anything under the broad umbrella of mental instability, when what it actually means is split personality - i.e. someone who thinks they're one person some of the time and a different person the rest of the time. Not that many people actually are this.
Anyhow all the best and i hope he pulls through ok, i'm sure he will. perhaps, in fact possibly the best thing for him could be good physical exercise, cycling maybe? or swimming, say, or gym, if he prefers something a bit 'safer'.