NAMI has been invaluable to me. They people I’ve met through them have become my new friends, as many of my other friends have dropped off as well. The stigma around this illness is astounding and in all honesty, I’d rather not involve others in my life anymore who attach that stigma to my situation. I’m become a different person through this process. What I’ve learned from watching my son’s struggles, family members in the NAMI groups, and many in these forums, has changed very much how I perceive people and my surroundings. A real eye-opener…
They tipped me off to an advocacy program in my area thats state funded, so it’s completely free, and theres a whole team of people who will come meet with me at home
My son was also court-ordered for awhile. Sure, he was mad at me, but he still talks to me. Can`t say if your son will get anymore insight later. It took my son a long time, and lots of hospitalizations.
Anyone that is sick has to do something unpleasant for treatments. This court-order is one of them.
As far as civil rights go, the mental health system needs to get smart and follow up on their patients–being treated is a civil right!
I would say have the talk with your son a few days before. He is not going to like it. You can try to talk to him, and I think it will sink in when he gets stable.
I wish you luck-stay strong!
@BarbieBF (another Mom) used to send a lot of people to these resources. I don’t know where she went but these are hers originally. I thought they might help you when it comes time for you to talk to your son.
I’m sorry to learn that your son is still doing poorly.
Regarding Abilify; over a year ago when our son was committed, his pdoc recommended either the Abilify or Invega long acting injections. Since Abilify tablets never much helped son, I questioned the pdoc why he would even recommend the Abilify injection. He said in so many words, that the Abilify injection was actually very effective, as well as the Invega injection. I could tell by the tone in his voice that he truly believed this. The decision was left up to me and I ended up going with the Invega Sustenna, gut feeling. I think either one will definitely help your son.
It’s really great that you have a found a pdoc who is taking a special interest. That’s wonderful. Hopefully you can rest a little easier now knowing he is in good hands. He may be upset with you for a bit, but once he’s feeling better that will change.
Thank you @lovemyson. I will definitely keep you posted. My visits with him have gone very well. Tomorrow I have some reviews of Abilify which I’d like him to read. I printed up some mixed reviews but the majority are positive. Fingers crossed
I’d love to hear if you were able to get the court ordered medication. I’d also like to know if the court will order an outpatient program, or anything else. I’m trying to do the same for my son. He was on abilify injections for about 9 months, but he continued to get high (marijuana and then other drugs) so the medication was not as effective. One last question, does your son live with you?
I will keep you posted. We weren’t on the docket today so for sure next Thursday. Meanwhile, he stays in the hospital, but I visit every other day and we talk several times a day. He does live with me, sometimes his dad who lives a half mile away. His dad is pretty patient, but his coping mechanism is denial. The same as most of my family. Poor kid. He’s being alienated because his family is too ignorant ( or something) to learn more about this illness and take an somewhat active part. Sorry, I’m pissed at people for bailing on me. I’m afraid that if my son gets the injection, he’ll still sneak weed even though he pretty much knows he shouldn’t. Is the Abilify still somewhat effective even when he smokes? Are you in the UK?
abilify is a pretty good anti psychotic as it has a anti depressant effect and it can offset negative symptoms. I hope things are going well for you and your son.
I’m in the US, near Chicago Illinois. Abilify did help, but the weed definitely impaired him. I found it made him more paranoid, and it made the voices worse. I’m trying to get him into a dual program now for both addiction and schizophrenia. My biggest complaint is how difficult it is to get him help. I did find a dual program, but now he has to wait to be interviewed and then there is a 3 week wait time to get in. He can’t live with me until he is more stable. We’ve been done this road too many times already. I don’t know where he can live until he can get in this program where he will be safe, take his medication regularly and not get high.
It’s just that the THC levels are so high now. If I can’t monitor him 24/7. he will smoke and, if he does, I wish there was a way I could make him understand that there are strains with lower THC, which would be better, but then I would be condoning it more or less. I struggle with this issue daily. I used to be “pro marijuana” until I understood more about it and it’s complexity. It’s not just a “plant” - which is the thinking so many proponents defend.
My son is struggling in the hospital right now and he says he’s feeling all of these negative emotions. He’s calling about 5-6 times a day and during the last call, I told him that I think this is hard on him because he is used to smoking a few bowls and having those emotions go away, temporarily. Now he is having to face those raw emotions with no self medicating and it’s tough.
I can see some clarity with the THC leaving his system, but he’s still delusional. He had to take a shower today and hated it. But he did it and seemed better afterwards. He feels the staff is conspiring against him and I try to tell him that they are not, but because of his hair, some guy calls him “Rasta Man” and he really hates it. I think this guy is bullying him, but there isn’t much I can do ( except let air out of the guys tires- jk). He’s not five anymore and I need to step back. I want him not to come back these places anymore, so I want him to hate it there.
There are actually studies being done now to test the low THC high CBD strains as an antipsychotic. They’re a long way from anything definitive, but if you know he’s going to do it anyways, that might be worth looking into.
Holly67, I wish it weren’t the case but much of it is out of our hands or control. They have to be the ones to decide to seek treatment and take their meds as prescribed. My husband and I are guardians for our 22 year old. He just wasted his injection today and the insurance won’t pay to switch back and forth. So he was improving but now we will wait to see what happens. Plenty of you know how that feels. I wish I could have some peace about it but I can’t. We’ve seen 7 hospitalizations and he still has no insight. We’re tired. Any advice for us would be appreciated. So what exactly does guardianship do for us today except put us in the middle of a powerful power struggle and watch someone deteriorate right in front of the people who care for you more than anything in the world. He isn’t the one on the forums trying to gain insight. He is afraid of the injections more than the psychosis even though I tell him the research is in on that.