Please pray for us as we start the third week with Beth at home. Historically the third week has not been good. That is when all hell breaks loose in one form or another. I am determined to keep my serenity regardless of what happens.
She now has my roof over her head. That is the best thing if she can hold steady. I might even be persuaded to hang in there through up to three relapses given conditions which do not endanger the family. I do have a plan b and even c regarding studios in Philadelphia.
I see how lonely and ill she is and that she needs us right now. She is in no hurry to leave and it would be much easier for her to use in her own place. I think she wants to be with her family. Now, we will see how long she can sustain it.
She went back to her Dr. She got her psychiatric meds but not suboxone. That is interesting as the suboxone has a high street value. She choose not to take it. She has not been taking the prozak, lamictal or seroquel eventhough she has had it for three days. I am not pushing it. I want to see if she lasts a little longer without the meds. My suspicion is that she gets in trouble because of the mania. I think the mania has never been adequately controlled and the prozac makes it worse. This is my observation as a mom living with her. She was depressed and miserable before starting her prozack but also careful and obedient. She is not happy but she also seems to be staying away from drugs. She is not suicidal either just sort of in a low middle kind of mood.
I have not said anything to discourage her from taking her meds, I am just not pushing them as I have in the past. Prozac alone will definitely make mania worse. She was on prozak alone when she got addicted and raised hell around here.Basically , because she was initially diagnosed and treated for simple depression, it means that she was taking meds for about 6 years that made her a lot worse. No wonder I do not have confidence that the current mixture is right!
I thank you all in advance for your prayers that we live one day at a time and hold onto our serenity in this third week.
Thank you good people for praying to God for us.
It Is Thanksgiving Week
4 months ago
Its scary that its so difficult to trust that the doctors prescribing meds know what they are doing. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteSounds like she is doing "okay" right now. I hope Beth can find peace and that week three is a GOOD week for all of you.
I will be thinking and praying for you and your daughter. I know my brother has had some sucess with seroquel but everyone is different. I hope she finds what works for her and gets some releif from her mania.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to pray daily for both of you! Is there any way you can get her to get a little exercise...perhaps a walk...anxiety runs in my family and exercise always helps me!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that your daughter isn't taking the drugs. Maybe intuitively she feels that they are not right. ? The two you mentioned have a load of side effects. As you know from reading my blog, I think the psych docs use a hit and miss approach to prescribing meds. There are other drugs that might have a better handle on depression and ocd (addictive) tendencies. Prozac is so problematic. Have you asked her doc for alternatives? The seroquel could be used short term if/when mania sets in. it is quick acting.
ReplyDeleteThere is always that grace period. Sounds like three weeks is your daughter's. My daughter's varies depending where she is. (She didn't last 24 hours the last time we saw her when the family was all gathered.)
I hope that things have settled down in your daughter's brain enough that the pattern changes this time. I hear that maybe this time she also feels comforted by your presence. Of course, that also leaves you vulnerable. Be sure you are watching the signs of a swinging mood and don't let her undermine your good intentions.
I'll be thinking of you this week and hoping for a good one!
xx kris
Dear Anna,
ReplyDeleteI will keep you both in my prayers. My daughter has also elected not to take her psychiatric meds. She's been off everything, alcohol, drugs, meds, for 55 days. I also don't push it. But then, she's not living with me.
I remember when her mental health professionals were trying to determine a diagnosis, the doctor said anti-depressants can create manias in patients who have manic-depressive tendencies. They need a mood stabilizer as well. They eventually did put her on one. Though that was my daughter, and a long time ago. I know people react to things differently and that the state of knowledge about illness and medications changes all the time.
Hugs to you.
I hope that the week is a good one and that she maintains.
ReplyDelete