I've written a few other recent posts, but
needed to add one more for my own
benefit.
If you have read my other posts, you've
probably got a pretty good picture of the
situation I am in. After all of the
research, I have come to a conclusion that
my friend has had a relapse. The reduction
of meds and the ending of the therapy. It
all makes sense now. Under my nose the
entire time and I didn't even see it.
She is away (200km) visiting her family
and she does not sound good. I am afraid
she may not make it back (physically and
mentally).
I am on vacation this week (great vacation
I might add), and have been doing nothing
but trying to learn about her illness. It
has consumed me to the point where I start
to think I need help. I definately feel
the stress, like I cannot take it anymore.
I cannot abandon my friend, nor can I risk
my own mental health.
What can I do?
K
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lifeguard
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: San Diego
Posted: 04-10-07 18:21pm
k,
I know how you can feel overwhelmed when
a loved one is having an episode. If she
is in a manic state, there is not much you
can do because her reality is not yours.
Stress seems to be the catalyst for many
relapses. Just multiply your stress by 100
and that can be what she is feeling. I
have learned to recognize the warning
signs and tried to educate my son as to
when and what might trigger an episode.
But if he is manic, I don't try to reason
with him as much as try and change his
stress level by regulating his sleep
patterens and lessen his exposure to large
public or crowded areas as he has varying
degrees of social phobia.
Why is she no longer seeing a doctor? Med
are must I am realizing.
Take care,
G
she no lnger is seeing a doctor because
the recent one just dropped her last week.
I just she thought she was strong enough
to go without therapy. What would the
difference be between a relapse and an
episode? She has been this way, or even
progressively getting worse since over two
weeks. My goal is to get her to go to the
doctor when she returns and get her back
on the meds (amount) she was taking
before. Then we can find a therapist
together when things do not feel so
overwhelming.
We'll see if it works. If not, I will have
to leave her because of what it is doing
to my own health.
K
|
lifeguard
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: San Diego
Posted: 04-11-07 10:49am
k,
Why would a doctor drop her? I would say a
relapse is when she is stable for a period
of time and then enters back into the
manic/depressive cycle.
For my own definition, I consider an
episode as when the person is at the peack
of mania, (maybe not so much in hypomania)
where they are out of control and doing
something highly inappropriate. My son
would start with racing thoughts and then
I knew he was becoming manic. If he got
stressed out in the following days, he
would become delusional and have many of
the symptoms described in a manic state.
This would flucuate during the next
coulple of weeks until medication was
adjusted. We are still trying to find the
right combo of drugs. Lamictal will be
started up soon. Klonopin seems to help
him from being overwhelmed in social
situations. Seroquel helps regulate his
sleep cycle. Fortunately he seems to not
fall into the depressive part of the
cycle, only very short bouts of
depression, (minutes or a couple hours).
I always thought therapy was the only way
to help him but am now realizing the
importance of drug therapy. You don't say
how she is getting worse, is she manic, or
depressed? How does she view your
relationship with her. Obviously you care
for her and want to help, is she willing
to let you?
