The answer should be yes. Not "how can I get my loved one help?"

Category Archives: Mental Health

Articles relating to mental health are in this category. Typically they will fall into one of two categories. Yours, or your child’s. Yes, your mental health is important.

David in Crisis Part 2

David was in crisis.

His manic moods are nothing new to us.  They are new to the facility where he lives now.

Today, among other things, they called and talked about an allegation that David made against a staff.

David has learned that he can file grievances and complaints against the staff at the facility.  While it is great that the residents have the ability to do that, I wonder…

See when David is in a mood swing, he can become very violent, lashing out at anything and anyone.  We know first hand just how strong his little body can be when he is in a mood swing.

He can get out of most holds.  There were times when I had to lay my body across his to get him to stop hurting either himself or someone else.  I am more than 4 times his body weight.

I applaud the staff for being upfront and calling to discuss the latest mood swings with me.  I explained a bit more about David’s history that they didn’t seem to grasp the day we admitted him.  Or maybe they just wanted to reserve judgement and see it for themselves.  I don’t know.

I appreciate candor.  When David was in full meltdown a staff member grabbed his arm to keep him from doing something.  What that was, I don’t know.  But…  having been there, I can only imagine.

One thing, I forget to mention that if he gets his mouth close to one of them while he is in meltdown, he will bite the hand that holds him.  Should I call and tell them, or let them experience it for themselves?

I think, I will let them know.  Full disclosure is my mantra where it comes to David.

On another note, through a friend, I am hoping to go out and visit David for a couple of hours in February.  It will be a quick trip, but so worth it to see my little boy.  I miss him.  As do we all.

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David in crisis mode

Just received a call from the new facility.

I could hear David in the background.  Full breakdown screaming.

Evidently he is in crisis right now.  Have to find out how they define crisis, but it sounds like one of the other kids in the facility was having a rough time, and David was feeding off that boy’s behavior.

So as a courtesy the staff called to let me know about it, and what their response was going to be.  Before the staff could explain it to me, the call ended.  When they called back, it was explained that David did something to the phone.

At any rate, by the time the call ended, David was in time out, and well on his way to being restrained.

I told the staff to call anytime they needed to do so.

Imagine what he will be like when they start changing his meds.

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First contact and meeting at new facility

We had our first conference call with the team from the new facility yesterday.  A full team is involved.  Care team, medical team, education, and equally important, the family.

Once we got through the initial introductions, focus was directly on medication.  Like mom and I, they believe that the least amount of medication necessary to do the job is the best way to go.  However…

While I know medication is not a cure, I also know what David is like when the meds aren’t enough to maintain even the slightest level of stability.  At 12, he has been on adult doses for most of his life of all of these medications.  It is something that we have struggled with since we started with medication when David was 4.

Both David’s care coordinator and I warned them that, while we are in favor of fewer meds, they need to be aware that his behaviors will escalate.  We also discussed the 60 to 90 day rule for his medications effective life.  Every other month or so, they need to adjust medications to keep him stable.   It is the only way to keep him stable and maintain any level of therapeutic initiative.

Why?

a beautiful macro shot of Crystal Methamphetam...

Crystal Methamphetamine in a black background (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well, when David’s birth mom was pregnant with him, she used recreational drugs right up to the day of delivery.  He went through withdrawals immediately after birth.   No infant should have to experience such a thing.

On another note, David calls more frequently and we are saving up the money necessary to take a trip out and see him.  Hopefully over Easter.   David is adjusting well to the placement, and has had few instances of acting out.  Though he is in the “honeymoon” phase of placement, and still adjusting to the new rules and regulations.  Once he figures out what he can get away with, I assure you, he will start to push limits and show his behaviors.

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