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Originally Posted by hypermom
A good friend of mine recommended that I come here. I'm not exactly sure where to start....guess I'll go backwards just a bit. I've been dxed w/bipolar before...not so sure that was the correct dx because I've been med-free for a while now and have been stable. But this post isn't about me, it's about my oldest son (he's 16). I just thought it was important to state that depression is something I've dealt with too.
My son tried to commit suicide Sunday night. Thankfully I found him before he succeeded. I took him straight to the ER, where they of course called in MHMR. I thought they would hospitalize him...but the didn't!? I don't understand that...I'm terrified! Monday, my husband and I took him to see both his pdoc and his psychologist...the pdoc visit was soooo weird! He had prescribed lexapro to my son a few months ago, but my son didn't take it regularly...I had talked to him about that a lot, but honestly, he seemed to be doing better so I didn't push it...I wish I had! Anyway, the pdoc 1st said that he wasn't even going to put him back on the meds!  WHAT? He said that he didn't think it would happen again....uh, yeah, easy for HIM to say! I just don't understand why he didn't take this more seriously? I think my son acted like it wasn't as big of a deal as it really was, but a good pdoc should be able to see through that shouldn't they??? He was definitely serious about it...I'm not sure if I should explain what actually took place because I don't want to upset anyone, but trust me, he meant business 
After I pushed the issue, the pdoc did go ahead and prescribe lexapro again....at a very low dosage, lower than he originally wanted him to take...which makes NO sense to me whatsoever!
The psychologist seemed very concerned at 1st, but seemed less concerned after talking w/my son. I seriously think that my son is purposely making things sound much less severe than what they are...and they are believing him!
I'm terrified to let him out of my sight! I'm scared that next time, he just might succeed He has another appt with his psychologist tomorrow, but in the past, he has shown that he doesn't talk about his real "issues" with him. In fact, just over a month ago, he took some sort of test and the psychologist told us that we didn't have to worry about him, that he's a good and smart kid??????? Uh, yeah...he's good and smart....and failing and depressed! He used to be an "A" student, in the GT program...
I guess I'm mainly looking for advice here on what to do. I do plan on switching pdocs, but it's going to take a couple of months to get him in with someone else so for now, I'm stuck with this one. Any advice? Thank you all so much!-Hyper
PS. Just have to add something...the MHMR couselor that saw him in the ER told him that she *could* put him inpatient, but that is something that one never lives down  OMG, I'm sooooo ticked at her for saying that! I have been an inpatient before...I truly believed it saved my life! My son does NOT want to go inpatient, and the fact that she said that I'm sure has made his opinion about that even worse. Geez, I thought these people were supposed to be trained?!?!  |
My dear friend's son committed suicide and it makes me so sad every time I think of it.
I wish I had been writing her about vitamin B12. When I tried to kill myself it was discovered, in hospital, that I had "profound B12 anemia" -- since then I've learned a lot about vitamin B12 and I have had consistent B12 replacement for years with amazing results. I wish they had begun B12 replacement promptly, so I wouldn't have some of the nerve damage that I sustained from the delay.
Basically, what I am saying is that your son may be low in B12 with the result that he is depressed. Depression is one symptom of low B12.
I did a web site on B12 after I realized the doctors had ignored it and didn't treat it as significant.
In terms of being in a psych ward, years ago in London I saw R.D.Lange, I forget the spelling, but a fairly well known psychiatrist. He was quite remarkable and outstanding. He said the most pertinent and wise things, way more wise than one typically runs into, and he thought that getting a mental history record was very disadvantageous.
Now that I have a pretty serious disability I can see what he might have meant. I have so many take advantage of me because of my disability... it's shocking. So it might be better to try to survive as if normal.
There is a stigma, and with the American concentration on making a profit, taking advantage of the mentally disabled for profit is not uncommon.