I'm Helen. I'm a mom of two, wife to my sweetie and I work from home as a telephone advice nurse. 'Triage' is from a french word meaning 'to sort'.
In nursing, it means to determine the level of urgency of care needed- so I'm a sorter of sorts:-)
In my free time, I like to bake and do home projects, like painting (walls, not pictures) My current passion is making handmade soaps and other bath and body goodies.
My Son Is Struggling…
I know he doesn’t read my blog, so I feel it’s safe to post about this. My teenage son has been having problems with depression for a while, and he’s had some anxiety problems occasionally over the past 6-7 years. This past month, it’s gotten much worse. He started seeing a psychologist and taking Cipralex, which is an anti-depressant, about 3 weeks ago and started to feel better after about 2 weeks- but the last few days he has been much worse, with terrible panic attacks and a general feeling of severe anxiety. I can’t even get him to shower, and he’s barely eating. I can tell he is losing weight and he’s skinny already:-( He stays in bed most of the time, except to go to the bathroom or sit on the edge of his bed and play his guitar. He’s not even playing his online games or going on the computer. He’s missed 2 weeks of school at least.
I took him back to the doctor this morning. He ordered some bloodwork, lowered his dose of the Cipralex in case this is a side effect, and he’s referred him to the mental health intake office in our area. I’m supposed to hear back from them within 48 hours, but that seems like forever with him feeling this way. I just feel so helpless. I tell him that he’s going to get better and that he won’t always feel this way, but I’m scared too.
This is the worst for a parent: to see your child sick or suffering and you can’t make it better. I’d rather be writhing in pain myself than to see him like this. Anyone else had a teen suffering like this? Tell me it can get better- that I’ll get my silly, happy boy back soon…I’m just worn out with the worrying:-(
February 24th, 2009 8:17 pm
Hello to you. I can totally understand. Out of my 4 daughters 2 are on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds. I promise you it gets better but oh my dear God it is so hard.Luckily my 18 year old daughter, last year told me she was having thoughts of ways to commit suicide and I thought I would die right then!This is the last of my 4 daughters I would have expected to hear this from! She stayed in the hospital for a week and was started on meds. They are now causing her to put on weight and there are still ups and downs.She is having a down time right now. It’s an illness just like ashtma or diabetes and once they find the medication that works best for him and get the levels controlled there will be a night and day difference. There are so many medicines to choose from now. I WILL PRAY for your son right this minute. I am following your blog and will check back. Kim
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February 24th, 2009 8:23 pm
Thank you so much Kim. Your comments made me teary. I’m so sorry about your girls. Isn’t this hard? I feel my heart just breaking to see him like this. I am hoping that this medication will work for him and the therapy sessions will make something click and he’ll turn around soon.
February 25th, 2009 12:43 am
Hi Helen
I’m sorry to hear about your troubles. I can’t offer any advice as my daughter is on 20 months old. I just hope you both pull through and you can stay strong for your son – he needs you (although he doesn’t show it). Good luck and I hope everything gets better soon for your family.
February 25th, 2009 1:47 am
I don’t have an exact answer. As I’m sure you already know, the disease is different with everyone. I can tell you that while I didn’t ever get that bad as a teenager, I did get pretty out of it. I was 14 when my panic started and 15 when I went through my first bout of depression. I link it to being on the depo shot, but it’s happened a few times since then. Not ever with that intensity though.
Anyway – enough about me.
I can tell you that from what I’ve seen, once they get his meds right, he should balance out. I would assume that the sudden downslide is probably from the meds. They’ve been trying to get me on meds for awhile now and I refuse because I’m so scared of it having the opposite effect of what they want. It sounds like that’s what is happening. Hopefully the lower dose will help. If not, I’m sure they’ll look at trying a different medication. Has he been specifically diagnosed with something??
Anyway I hope that everything turns out well. I can just imagine how hard it is. I remember putting my mom through all of it (not like I meant to, but I remember it none the less). Thoughts and prayers with you
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February 25th, 2009 1:48 am
Oh – by the way – Mesa and I just started a blog for people dealing with things like this, if you’d like to follow we are going to start featuring peoples stories. Maybe give you some more insight to the whole deal.
http://anxietyriddenmania.blogspot.com
We’d be glad to feature you as a mom just asking questions. Maybe you’ll get some more answers that way??
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February 25th, 2009 8:22 am
Kathryn: thanks so much for the comment. I certainly hope it all gets better soon too!
Young Momma: I will check out the blog- I can use all the insight I can get right now. I appreciate your comments, thanks so much.
March 1st, 2009 10:35 am
Helen, my sister-in-law is going through something similar with her soon (turning 17 this month). I asked her about anti-depressants and she said no, she wouldn’t put him on them as some studies have shown that they aren’t designed for younger brains, which are still developing. There are more risks involved with taking them. I found a link about that here: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm.
Sorry, I don’t want to worry you more, I just thought I’d share what I’ve heard about it. I’m sorry I can’t be more help; I do hope things turn around for your family soon. Sending positive thoughts.
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March 2nd, 2009 9:24 am
Hi Helen,
Best wishes to you and your family! I’ve sent you an email about my own similar situation that I hope can be of some help and comfort. It was way too long and personal to post here…please feel free to contact me,if you like!
March 2nd, 2009 1:41 pm
Helen, My son is 17. He has gone threw times like that. I know how heart breaking it is. I have never put my son on meds but that is not because I dont think they work. I know for a fact that some do work. My mother put me on one as a young adult.
My son seems to need more time with me or his Grandmas when he gets in a funk. So I drag him around with me all the time. I kinda force him into himself. We watch movies together take out the trash together cook together ….. you get the idea. I think I only found this to work because there was a time when I did not want to leave him alone.
Being a teen sucks if I remember correctly with time and love it should get better.
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March 11th, 2009 5:00 am
Helen I’m sorry you’re going through this. I hope things turn around for your son.
I just wanted to say that I think you are already on the right track. The fact that you recognize this and are seeking help is great.
I had very difficult times as a teen and none of my cries for help were ever noticed. I often think I’m lucky to still be here.
Good for you for recognizing how serious the situation is and taking action. I wish you and your son all best.
March 11th, 2009 7:17 am
Thank you so much everyone. I think we are on the right track. He is much brighter now, but we’ll keep going with treatment. I agree -I think we are all more aware of emotional and psychological well-being these days. I’m so glad my son can talk to me!
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March 11th, 2009 7:23 am
Thank you so much everyone. I think we are on the right track. He is much brighter now, but we’ll keep going with treatment. I agree -I think we are all more aware of emotional and psychological well-being these days. I’m so glad my son can talk to me!
I little funny note: When he was feeling very bad, he wanted to stay off his computer and games for a while and he watched Idol with me a couple of times– now he’s hooked too and we watch it together every week with a big bowl of popcorn (shhh- don’t tell his friends!)
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