My Niece Is In The Mental Ward

[Changing4Best]

I have not been able to reach her, nor has she called me. She has PTSD, (from sexual assault) OCD and Severe Depression with Suicidal attempts and Ideation.

Her boyfriend told us that all they have her on so far is her allergy medicine, as (we think) she has been over-taking her meds and they are letting those wear off before they prescribe new ones. So far she has slept a lot and been very groggy when her father went to see her Sunday.

For the 1st few days she was hospitalized, I was hardly able to do anything, I have been so concerned about her. I do know that she took 9 valiums last Thursday, and I know she was taking 3 pills per day of one of her prescriptions, when she had been prescribed 2 per day. Then, on the weekends, she was taking none of that medicine, to make up for it, she said. She also said that she was psychotic on the weekends because of this, but that she could not function on her job otherwise. Then she took a leave of absence from work altogether. I'm not sure what she was doing with her medicines after that, until she fessed up about the valium on Thurs.

She switched to a new psychiatrist on Friday, after the last one misdiagnosed her with ADD and prescribed pills that made her lose her appetite and lose a lot of weight, when she is already underweight. Then she was taken off that medicine recently when it was realized that she was not doing well on it.

I know she is at a good Hospital and that they will get to the bottom of this. I just hope she does not lose her job over this, as I believe she will have to stay there for awhile in order to get all of this sorted out and handled.

In the meantime, all of us in the family are very concerned for her and would love to hear from her, but she has not called us. We are not sure why. It might be that she just does not feel like talking with anyone right now. She may not want to have to explain anything or something like that.

I am PTSD also, as well as Bipolar, so this is not helping me either, as she is most dear to me!

 

[Deleted member 541]

Try and breath. She's in good hands and she probably just feels shitty with dealing with the med issue, being in the hospital and all that encompasses......

 

[Lionheart]

Sounds like she is where she needs to be...I hope she is honest with her doctors and support team about everything so that she has the best shot at a good recovery from this. I will pray for you both and know that I am here if you need to chat... I have PTSD from sexual child abuse and have family with bi polar disorder.

 

[lux.]

A lot of the times I've been hospitalized I haven't wanted to talk to anyone. Also, when you're in the hospital, you can't have your cell phone and there are only specific times that you can use the phones there, which you have to share with other patients and are out in common areas where people can hear you. So it can be uncomfortable to have conversations about things that you might be kind of ashamed of, in addition to the fact that it sounds like she's really not feeling well.

Just know that she is where she needs to be, and since her whole family knows what is going on with her and what she was doing with her meds, the doctors there probably know and thus will be able to help her with it. If she doesn't want to talk right now, try to give her some space and let her contact you when she is ready. Maybe send her a card. If she's nearby, drop her off some candy or something to read or whatever you think she might like. Just to let her know that you care and you're always there for her.

 

[Changing4Best]

I'm about 600 miles away.... she loves candy, how I WISH I could drop some off for her!

 

[Changing4Best]

She called me just now, at around 8:30 in the morning. Said she slept
all day yesterday and woke up at 1 AM this morning. She has been up
since then. She says they have her on Zertec for her allergies and
Clonazepam, which is an anti-anxiety medicine which also helps one
sleep and also I take for Restless Leg Syndrome. She just has it for
anxiety and sleep, I imagine.

I advised her to get involved in the group activities, explaining that
it helps them to make a proper diagnosis, seeing how she operates in a
group and all. She said she had signed up for arts and crafts and
promised to attend other group activities also. SHE WAS NOT CRYING!
What a relief.

She said she might try to call me later this afternoon, or tomorrow
for sure. She said she has a roommate, and also that she was going to
try to get some of the foods that her father had brought for her. I
guess she was hungry. That is a good sign also!

I'm so relieved that she called.

 

[Fadeaway]

Poor thing. I am glad she called you. She is lucky to have you for an aunt.