RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (Full Version)

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agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (9/26/2008 10:52:22 AM)

quote:

What sorts of questions should we be asking him? Any thoughts? I wrote down one question this evening. Could the psychosis be the result of the meds he had started taking a month or two before this happened? I know so little about things like psychosis. I have to admit it's scary.
Take one step at a time Maggie, you've had so much to deal with recently and that can make taking things in difficult.

I'd say that the most important thing is not to come away from the appointment knowing everything you need to know about your son's treatment and what the future holds, but coming away with a plan to ensure that the next weeks are manageable by you all.

Make sure that you have a list of people you can contact round the clock if your son's health deteriorates and find out what you need to tell them (ie diagnosis, medication, doctor's name, etc). You may also want to ask who you can contact if/when you have any concerns or questions that need answering (you will!). It may not need to be a doctor that answers your questions, often a nurse can too, sometimes a pharmacist if it's regarding medication.

Your son needs to think about the way he takes the meds. Some people find swallowing tablets difficult (especially if there are a lot) and there may be alternatives he'd find easier to use ~ either soluable or in suspension. Have to confess, despite the problems I have with swallowing tablets, they're preferable to the suspension version![:'(]

It is important to take any meds regularly, so your son needs to get into a routine. Most of my meds are blister packs and don't have the day stamp on the foil so I find using the pill keepers very helpful. I keep one for morning and one for evening and fill them once a week. Strangely enough, they don't work too well for solutions.[&:][;)]

quote:

Could the psychosis be the result of the meds he had started taking a month or two before this happened?
You know, I can truely understand why you want to know this.... but I can't honestly say whether anyone will be able to tell you for sure. Any medication we take will have an effect on us. Hopefully that effect will be one in which whatever is wrong (be it depression or an infection) will be treated. Sometimes it will have a detrimental effect on us though. The psychosis may have been going to happen anyhow, and the meds triggered it. Is he still taking the same medication? If not, then make sure that you have details of the name, the dose and the length of time he was on the meds for before the psychosis. Should he then ever go back on those meds, you/he will have the details and it will be something to be aware of. Hope that makes some sense.



magdaleine -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (9/26/2008 3:51:06 PM)

Very, very helpful, Stovie. Thank you so much.

I'm at the grocery store right now and will be leaving in about 20 minutes to go get my son from the hospital. He's got a pass to be gone from 3:30 this afternoon till 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

quote:

Take one step at a time Maggie, you've had so much to deal with recently and that can make taking things in difficult.

You know, sometimes it's easy to forget that. I was so physically exhausted this week from packing up ds3's apartment that I had no conscious awareness of any of the emotional stuff but yesterday, after being up for 2 hours, I went back to bed and slept till 5:00 p.m. I know that more than physical exhaustion accounts for that but it's hard to be aware of the emotional stuff. I am so grateful to have all the support I've been given--here in CW, at church and with my psychiatrist. God is good, even in the painful times.



agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (9/26/2008 9:13:38 PM)

quote:

God is good, even in the painful times.
Yep!



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (9/27/2008 2:08:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: magdaleine

Roberta, that's awesome about your doctor apologizing and giving you bus passes to make up for it. Wow! Good for her! And good for you for standing up for the truth, instead of allowing her to cow you--something I might have done.


Well, I was almost out of meds and couldn't get anymore unless I did what she told me to do.



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 2:58:56 PM)

I got some good news today. As many know, my therapist took a medical leave and I have not seen her in a very long time. She called about an hour ago. She's back and she can see me at 3:30 p.m. today!



agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 3:02:25 PM)

That's good news Roberta, but I thought you'd changed your therapist?



MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 3:06:27 PM)

That's great, Roberta!

Hi, agapetos! How are you doing today?



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 3:13:15 PM)

I had changed therapists. I went to a new one three times. I had to cancel the fourth appointment because of the extreme heat. I was babysitting my nieces that day and one of them had a heat/allergy induced asthma attack. The therapist did not accept that as a valid reason for cancelling the appointment and she dropped me. She and I really weren't a good match anyway. She was an intern and I could've very easily pulled the wool over her eyes.

The therapist who is just returning to work is a lot more seasoned, works in the same building as my pdoc, is very knowledgeable of my meds. She "reads" me very well and has been able to do so from day one.



magdaleine -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 6:55:44 PM)

That's great news, Roberta! I'm so glad for you.

My son is still officially in the hospital but he's home on a weekend pass. He just returned from a two day pass yesterday and pressing thoughts of suicide and self-harm. I thought they'd keep him a bit longer but I guess not. It seems that the plan is for me to return him to the hospital Monday morning at which time he'll be discharged. I'm very stressed. My psychiatrist increased my meds to help deal with the stress but, as you know, these things can take weeks to make a difference.



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/3/2008 11:48:30 PM)

Well, the appt was OK. It turns out that she was gone for so long because she had a heart attack and had some blood clots in her legs. Kind of scary because she doesn't drink, smoke or even take meds on a regular basis (until now) and she's only a little older than me.

When I told her of my memory problems and the fact that my reflexes didn't seem to be as sharp as they used to be, she suggested no driving for about six months (no big deal since I don't have anything to drive) and got me all the paperwork that I need to get a disabled pass for the bus. So now the bus costs me $.85 instead of $1.75 and I get to ride for free from 10 am to 2 pm on weekdays. I also get free bus passes to go to and from her office and my pdoc.



magdaleine -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/4/2008 4:53:29 AM)

She sounds like she's very helpful and supportive, Roberta.



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/6/2008 2:02:14 AM)

I like her as a therapist.

Right now I'm having a hard time with the fact that my recovery isn't going as fast as I'd like it to. I know that I've made progress. I get scared that I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life. If that happens, I have to figure out how I'm going to handle that.



magdaleine -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/6/2008 6:46:25 AM)

One day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/7/2008 5:44:09 PM)

Maggie is right. No point in worrying about tomorrow like that. All you're really getting from thinking about this possibility is some added anxiety.

I've finally found a GP that I like because he's taking the joint pains seriouly, instead of blowing them (and the fevers) off entirely as the result of my stresses and mental health. That said, I could have done without parts of the exam - OUCH. He's thinking a sero-negative form of arthritis so I was tested for HLA-B27. It's also now documented that my husband is denying basic medical care - like he's the reason I'm not seeing a pdoc or regularly seeing my psychologist. He's also why I don't have CPAP supplies or diabetes testing supplies. He and other staff were NOT pleased, then again, this IS abuse (and abuse of his position as payee). Speaking of, I may have finally found some solutions to the aforementioned mess so please keep that in prayer. And if I suddenly disappear, definitely pray.



MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement. (10/7/2008 9:16:59 PM)

WIC, I'm definitely praying for you. I don't remember all the details, but could you get a restraining order against your DH? Also, if he threatens you in any way, be sure to notify the authorities and get out of that situation ASAP.



Limulus -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/7/2008 9:37:53 PM)

Hi all,

The bad:
1. I am having issues with alcohol (alcoholic) because I dont have good enough medications as an alternative. (self medication)
2. My last therapist told me that she cant even talk to me anymore unless I get involved in an alcoholic's group therapy
3. I cant stand being in groups of people for a long time, I dont know why this is but I have mostly shut myself off from people
4. My female best friend of 2 years cheated and lied to me, I am devastated and taking this very hard, it haunts my mind daily about being betrayed

The good:
1. I found a Christian alternative to AA called Celebrate Recovery. Been to 1 meeting so far.
2. I am able to make it through a bible study with a group of people on Friday evenings
3. I found a new therapist who seems to be more compassionate.

I need lots of prayer this week guys. I am mainly asking for prayer to stay off of the alcohol and to forget my ex-girlfriend. In Jesus's name.

I feel like I am going crazy. ( I wish that God would erase my horrible memories of hurt and pain. )



MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/7/2008 10:14:27 PM)

Limulus, I'm keeping you in my prayers. Overcoming an addiction requires a lot of hard work and patience. I have food addiction, plus problems dealing with my mental illness, so I go to a support group called Overcomers in Christ. They use a Christ-centered recovery program which is helping lots of people overcome various addiction issues. I'm glad that you found a Christian recovery group. In the event that it doesn't work out for you though, check out this link to find out more information about the Overcomers ministry.



Limulus -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/7/2008 10:44:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006

Limulus, I'm keeping you in my prayers. Overcoming an addiction requires a lot of hard work and patience. I have food addiction, plus problems dealing with my mental illness, so I go to a support group called Overcomers in Christ. They use a Christ-centered recovery program which is helping lots of people overcome various addiction issues. I'm glad that you found a Christian recovery group. In the event that it doesn't work out for you though, check out this link to find out more information about the Overcomers ministry.


Thank you



magdaleine -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/8/2008 12:45:33 AM)

Womaninchrist, it sounds like some things are going very well for you. I'm glad the truth about your husband's abuse is becoming evident and that you are getting the support you need in that from the medical professionals.

Celebrate Recovery is a good program, Limulus. I hope you keep going. And that's great that you can make it through an evening of Bible study with others. Both are great steps forward. I do wonder, however, if your last therapist was showing a lack of compassion for you or if she was trying to communicate to you that until you're getting help for your addiction to alcohol, there's really nothing that she can do for you. We can have the best therapist in the world (mine has got to be close to that) but unless we're willing to do what we need to do for ourselves to become whole, all the therapist says or does is worthless.
quote:

I feel like I am going crazy. ( I wish that God would erase my horrible memories of hurt and pain. )
My experience has been that he brings the hurt and pain to us because it's usually the only reason we're willing to spend time with him and he wants that time with us more than we can imagine.



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/8/2008 1:18:35 PM)

Hi Limulus- Please reconsider your belief that alcohol is self-medicating. I understand what you're saying. I've BTDT too. It's not self-medicating, it is self-defeating. Alcohol is a depressant. CR is an excellent group. The major draw-back to my not being able to drive is that even if I had a car, I can't go to the meetings anymore.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Limulus

I feel like I am going crazy. ( I wish that God would erase my horrible memories of hurt and pain. )


Me too. I can't tell you how many times I've shaken my fists at the skies or pleaded with Him to just let me move on. Just because recovery isn't going as fast as I'd like, doesn't mean that it isn't happening. I have found that even steps backwards can be turned to steps forward if you learn from them.

Many of God's greatest miracles were not instantaneous. He spoke the world into existence, but took six days to do so.

womaninChrist- I have been praying for you and will continue to do so. You truly stand up to your name and I admire your perservance.

Melissa- excellent posts! Thank you for the link for Overcomers. I wish they had one in my area. I'm sorry to hear about Bill Fear's passing and I am praying for his family and loved ones.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/11/2008 5:00:44 PM)

I know what you mean about those steps backward. They're how I've learned a lot - I admit it, I can be hard headed...

Oh, in case any one else can learn from it (or knows someone who can), here's the article that finally convinced me that I HAVE to do something about the situation at home. It was quite creepy reading and seeing what's going at home explained so clearly in the stories of others: Redbook Article on verbal abuse & DV.



Limulus -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/11/2008 9:05:36 PM)

Good news is that I have not drank alcohol since the 6th of October as it really didn't help anymore anyway. I am finding more activities these days to keep my mind busy. Went out with some friends today, had a nice lunch, shopped etc. It also helps that I have friends who are now saved that used to be alcoholics.



Roberta_ -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/12/2008 12:09:20 PM)

Limulus- that is awesome!

womaninChrist- still praying for you.

I went to see my pdoc and my therapist on Friday. My pdoc upped my meds. My therapist assigned some "homework" for me to get done before our appt. next Friday.

I have to get ready for church. My sister is going to go with me this morning. She's been talking about going again. I hope the service will touch her.



MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/12/2008 2:04:12 PM)

Roberta, good things are going okay for you.

Limulus, good that you're getting the help you need.

womaninchrist, still praying for you.

I'm not doing well today. I didn't get much sleep, so I'm tired and crabby, but I'm also celebrating this day because it's been 4 1/2 years since I've been in the psych hospital and 15 years since I'd routinely drank alcoholic beverages! [:)] I'm so thankful to God for His everlasting mercy and grace, because I could have easily died from my foolish actions, if not by God's grace to save me and allow me to rededicate my life to Him after my last suicide attempt.



supernova1976 -> RE: Mental Health Encouragement - One Stop Thread (10/13/2008 11:51:19 AM)

Ok here I am, at the One Stop Thread. I am so confused. Not sure if I am posting this right. But I am feeling a ton of emptiness. Nothing seems to be able to fill me. I am just existing and going through the day like a robot that has been programmed to live.



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