Sometimes, I just need to sleep and recharge the battery.
I know, some of you know.
BHN

it is so frustrating that all this med stuff is just trial and error with some of the errors being god damned frightening sometimes. i wonder sometimes if it isn't like alzheimers- the patient is not so aware, it is the people around who soberly see what is happening and are powerless to stop it.



watch a good old movie on the tv, behind a locked door if possible. you can't help her if you are fried.

I'm absolutely no good to her unless I am stable.
I was up every hour on the hour, hoping to find her asleep.
Now, neither of us have slept...
Will try now, as she is out with her dad.
BHN

You'll need them to marshal your strength to guide her to maturity.

We tried all those same meds to no avail - all made my daughter worse. Looking back, I wish we'd never used the anti-psychotic and bi- polar meds but just got her sleeping pills. Inability to sleep worsened all her symptoms. Any way take care of yourself. You are the key to her world. There is hope, My sweetie has made it to 23 yrs in one piece in spite of everything.

as in, give her something to make her sleep- Wellbutrin seems to control her depression-
but not sleeping is not good and can only worsen depression,
the PD wants to gently transfer her off the risperidone and onto the Ablilify fot the sleep
disorder- Me and she? Want her off all meds, but given the past, not really an option.
BHN

you just can't medicate the mood of a sleep deprived person. any shrink that doesn't know that upsets me.

(Speaking from personal experience.)

You are such a good person for trying to reach her. I know this might be shot in the dark...but have you ever heard about a weighted blanket?

I have one and it helps. Here is a website that I can vouch for as I personally own one of their well-made products:

http://www.weightedblanket.net/weightedblankets.htm

May not be the end all answer - but maybe it might help?

Please don't feel guilty about needing a break. We are only human. You have to take time out to replenish yourself!

I don't know all the ends and outs of this particular situation...but I can say that more times than not there is a secret that may be hampering her...and we are only as sick as our secrets.

Of course, I may be way off base here - just something to consider...

It must be so heart-breaking to love someone so much as you obviously do and want to try and help and it just doesn't seem to be working out right now.

When I am at my wits ends...I mean - REALLY at my wits end...I try to fall asleep with an open heart and mind and ask the 'powers to be' to give me a sign as to what to do next. Most times the answers come in a highly symbolic (and creative) way via dreams...thing is, I have to wake up right away and scribble the dream on paper lest I forget it.

((((Good luck and all the best all the way around))))

please don't feel guilty for needing a break, you are no good to anyone if you're shot.

I hope everything has settled down a bit for you. It is always hard to take time for ourselves when our children are suffering. I struggle with this all of the time.

My daughter was on risperidol for quite awhile when it stopped working. This was when we transitioned her to geodon. I hope the abilify works for her. I have heard that it works wonders for some.

good things for you..

really, really difficult sometimes. My wife has been shuffling meds for over 20 years. Through the help of one extraordinary psychiatrist, she found a combination that worked for her for several years. When it stopped working as well, subtle changes restabilized her. Over the years, she's taken just about everything, changing just one thing at a time. Her psychiatrist recognizes that she understands her own BP better than anyone, and is very cooperative in adjusting the balance of medications and in letting my wife make adjustments on her own. The result has been 20 years of stability and productivity in a very difficult profession.

It's never been an easy thing, but finding the right combination has always been the thing that works. I hope your daughter will find her combination soon.

Several members have written to me, pm'd me and
told me of their personal experiences with meds-
the over all consensus is that it can take a long time.
I am finally accepting that but still wishing for the "magic bullet."
As you know, it is very painful to watch a loved one suffer.

BHN

can be very elusive. Both the person trying to find the right combination and the people who care for that person a great deal need both faith that a combination will be found and a lot of patience. A lot of it involves educated guesswork, unfortunately, and everything tried takes time to take effect.

I've been there, that helpless feeling. Never feel guilty, you are a human being and we all have our limits. And thank you for posting in H&M. You may have indirectly helped save somebodies life by finding this forum in their worst time of need.

I hope the doctor can find the right medications for you daughter.