I say this every few weeks, but I appreciate all the emails and messages. I am still here, but I'm just not able to write as much any more. Life has gotten hectic, time has disappeared, and stress is constant. I've been bordering on mania for quite a while now.
My son Kyle is going through an experience. It was a life-threatening, and we hope, life-change experience. I wrote about it here:
http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/41/12593/crisis-kyle/?ic=4027
All of us are still dealing with the stress of this. I'll have more to report when we find out what the options are. Right now we really don't know how everything is going to shake out.
On the positive side, after over 7 years I finally quit my second job. For me, work has been a coping mechanism. If I'm working hard and moving fast, I'm not thinking too much, and not getting into trouble. It's always been one of the things that has kept me stable. I'm going to try this, we'll see how it works...
I hope all is well with everyone out there.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Life Comes At You Fast...
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9 comments:
Wow! What a story! It frustrates me SO MUCH how the health system doesn't take bipolars seriously. You did the right thing, and I'm so glad it worked out the way it did (being put in the psych ward eventually, where he belonged). I've always been told to use "tough love" when it gets desperate - and in your case, it really worked. I'll keep Kyle and your family in my thoughts and prayers...
Wow. Very shrewd on your part to leave, knowing the doctors would then hustle to help your son. That was a pretty incredible story, and it reminds me of my first bout with psychosis when I was 20, and my parents were equally dumbfounded and afraid. Sad as it is, I guess you have to hit rock bottom before you can get the help you need.
Take care and I will check back later.
Jon, I'm sorry to read about this, and I'm pretty sure you know I totally "get" what happened in that ER. The ONLY way I was able to attain 2 adult age kids psychiatric services , including health coverage,therapy, etc. was to tell them "Adult, and doesnt have a home".
I learned this from being inside the system as my youngest became a legal adult while in a hospital setting.
When my oldest who is 24 and in another state had a crisis [ER, OC suicide attempt and campus police got her there]the college and mental health professionals told me to "come get her".
This was after a week long inpatient voluntary psych ward stay with a discharge plan for case managment, etc.
I said NO. She is an adult in their system and I basically told them if they didn't adhere to the discharge plan I would report them to every agency in their state.
Within 12 hours of that call, she had a case manager who made sure the ER/hospital/ambulance drive bills were taken care of, she attained a psychiatrist, a therapist as well as a DBT group,all because I gave them that list of what she should have to successfully remain stable and hospital free. Then I took it a step further and told them her cat was therapeutic for her and they deemed her cat an official therapy cat with a letter and ability to reside with her in any apartment.PLus vet bills paid. They also found her affordable housing.
ALL as a result of me saying one of the most contradictory statements a parent can ever say:
NO, my child is an adult and cannot live here.
THIS is an important thing for parents to note re: getting adult kids independent into a system if they need it.
Good luck, and I think as a couple, your wife and yourself should take a bit of a break and listen to some calm music. Such as Etta James.
:)
Wow Jon. I will be thinking about you and your family. I can only imagine how tough your life is right now.
KS - thanks for the thoughts and prayers. We'll take what we can get.
PJ - Thanks for your comment. I'm worried he's not at rock bottom yet...
Stephany - Great information, thanks for sharing that. We wonder if we did the right thing, and I'm still not sure. But we did it exactly for the reasons you posted. Maybe the wife and I will have another chance to see Etta James at a time we'd actually be able to enjoy the show.
Stacy - Things aren't as difficult as they will be once Kyle's released. Another one of those conflicts - you hate to see them inside, but at least you know they are safer in than out.
I'm so sorry Jon. I had to call 911 on a short episode from a family member, but the ambulance showing up was enough for her to pull thru it. I can't imagine if I had to take it to the next step. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ive got PTSD if I want to add a "label" when I see/hear ambulances. it's a part of "this territory" I never expected.
re: etta?
No need for a concert.5 min w the CD on the patio might help relieve some stress. Hang in there. I know what your gut is feeling about now, and its not easy.
My daughter spent her 18th b day in a psych ward. I called a crisis suicide hotline as a result. No one else was home on New Years Eve.
I would like to write that it gets better or easier; but we know it doe not.
What happens, is we learn how to live with all of this. That is why the 5 minutes outside listening to Etta James is my RX to you.
Get the diversion where you can, to gain the strength for when you need it.
Take care,--Stephany
Princess - Sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing.
Stephany - I suspect my son suffers from PTSD also, he's suffered a couple of severe, and in one case life-threatening beatings over the years.
I love your quote: "Get the diversion where you can, to gain the strength for when you need it."
take care.
xo
MJ
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