Activism Change

Frightened to Death

Question:

Our daughter has barricaded herself in her apartment. At this time we do not know what to do. We have her trust and do not wish to put her in a hospital. She looks so awful, so thin, eyes sunk in. She had to be tube fed at one time because of her refusing to eat. She is so frightened. It reminds me of driving in the dark and a deer is facing you, startled and the eyes glowing. She is afraid of everything. It has been a week that we have not seen her. Before that she ate at our home, did her laundry, and I taught her how to use the computer. She really is not getting the care from C.M.H. and she really needs a second opinion.

Response:

GWG63 wrote: > Our daughter has barricaded herself in her apartment. At this time we do not > know what to do. We have her trust and do not wish to put her in a hospital. > She looks so awful, so thin, eyes sunk in. She had to be tube fed at one time > because of her refusing to eat. She is so frightened. It reminds me of driving > in the dark and a deer is facing you, startled and the eyes glowing. She is > afraid of everything. It has been a week that we have not seen her. Before that > she ate at our home, did her laundry, and I taught her how to use the computer. > She really is not getting the care from C.M.H. and she really needs a second > opinion.

  Have you talked to NAMI? I don’t know, but they might be able to advise you on what your options are.    HELP FOR CLOSE RELATIVES OR FRIENDS OF SCHIZOPHRENICS          If you are a close relative or friend of a schizophrenic     patient, you might have great difficulties at times coping     with their behavior or with their denial or with problems     involving the legal system or the care-giving system.  In the     US, there is an organization, NAMI (National Alliance for the     Mentally Ill), which might be able to give you personal     support & advice.          Although NAMI also has mental patients as members, it is     mainly a volunteer organization of close relatives of     patients with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia or     bipolar disorder.  NAMI is made up of local chapters & state     organizations & a national organization.  If you want to     contact NAMI, the best approach is to phone the national     organization at 1-703-524-7600 & ask them to refer you to     your nearest local chapter or to some experienced member near     you.          If you are having problems with your relative, it is     likely that some NAMI member has already experienced the same     problem & can tell you what worked & what didn’t.  NAMI might     also give you a sense that you are not alone with your     problem.  As far as I know, there is no charge for this help,     although if you decide to become a member of NAMI, there are     membership dues.          NAMI also distributes informative pamphlets, conducts     regular classes & meetings, & does political lobbying for     legislation to help the mentally ill.          If you are a regular reader of     alt.support.schizophrenia, you might have noticed that there     is controversy here about NAMI & its policies & its     influential members.  I think the difference of opinion     results mainly from the difference in viewpoint between a     parent watching a son or daughter seeming to deteriorate     mentally and the patient himself.  They are likely to have     quite different attitudes toward psychiatric treatments.     Anyone who considers joining NAMI will have to make a     decision about this difference.          Walt.

Response:

GWG63 wrote: > Our daughter has barricaded herself in her apartment. At this time we do not > know what to do. We have her trust and do not wish to put her in a hospital. > She looks so awful, so thin, eyes sunk in. She had to be tube fed at one time > because of her refusing to eat. She is so frightened. It reminds me of driving > in the dark and a deer is facing you, startled and the eyes glowing. She is > afraid of everything. It has been a week that we have not seen her. Before that > she ate at our home, did her laundry, and I taught her how to use the computer. > She really is not getting the care from C.M.H. and she really needs a second > opinion.

Will your daughter talk to you on the phone? It sounds like she does need help. I hope you can persuade her to get it.  Sue

Response:

doni…@aol.com (Donisan) wrote: >the following is a repost. i do sujest that you >check the treatment first, so you can see an >example of their stance on schizophrenia. >good luck, bill >repost: >this is the address where you can checkout the treatment plan that is >recommended by some of the folks that advocate for us. you might >find it interesting. you can also follow the link to the nami home page. >http://www.nami.org/disorder/treatment.html >www.schizophrenia.com  is also a good source of information.

From my experience… the longer I am without medicine, the worse the paranoia.  Hope she gets some kind of help soon. Will

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -GWG63 wrote in message <19990414103948.09759.00000…@ng-fu1.aol.com>… >Our daughter has barricaded herself in her apartment. At this time we do not >know what to do. We have her trust and do not wish to put her in a hospital. >She looks so awful, so thin, eyes sunk in. She had to be tube fed at one time >because of her refusing to eat. She is so frightened. It reminds me of driving >in the dark and a deer is facing you, startled and the eyes glowing. She is >afraid of everything. It has been a week that we have not seen her. Before that >she ate at our home, did her laundry, and I taught her how to use the computer. >She really is not getting the care from C.M.H. and she really needs a second >opinion.

I did this before I was diagnosed and started on the meds.  I didn’t actually "barricade" but everyone that came to my door was told to "go away" in no uncertain terms.  I too didn’t eat, eyes hollow etc and my parents were dead worried.  My parents tried everything, even bringing round fluffy toys (I was heavily into fluffy toys and thought they were alive) and I would just grab the fluffy toy and slam the door.  I was just awful.  But my parent persevered and eventually got me to move back home with them and get me to a doctor. Problem is that I just can’t remember what they did but I do seem to remember that it was most possibly the telephone and letters rather than personal visits.  Eyes and features are so real whereas a voice on the telephone or a letter is not so threatening. Sorry if I haven’t been of much help, do you not know anyone that is on her "wavelength"?  Someone who is either Sz or has taken LSD would understand better I think. She sounds badly in need of help. Michelle

Response:

Filed under: Lobbying

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