dd 16 is home

[Speedracer]

We brought her home today! She was in treatment for 32 days. The team gave her advice. Her medication is stable. We had a peaceful family meal!

She signed a family contract & we gave her a schedule through the end of Jan & beyond. She has a new appreciation for home.

Family, group, & individual therapy start next week. We found a new female psychiatrist.

Another crisis is behind us. I pray things keep on well! Will post updates.

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[mafmum]

i'm so happy for you! hold on to your relief and enjoy it a lot

[lbjnltx]

I hope you and your have a wonderfully blessed Christmas season!

 

[griz]

That sounds so wonderful.  I hope your Holidays are wonderful and filled with all good things.

Griz

[Speedracer]

So far so good! She is on a very good path, finishing high school, accepted to college. She came home before curfew Sat night, saying her friends were going to a party where parents would not be home, she chose not to go with them. Her medication is working amazingly well. I feel guilty & like I'm jinxing myself by posting good news, but darn it I deserve to relish in this after all we've been through. I'm suffering PTSD symptoms & depression recovering from our last crisis, the Holidays coming, another year with no Christmas cards done, & the events in CT, over which I cut contact w my sister due to her ignorant opinions about meds & mental illness. Trying to focus on better things for the New Year. Hoping this good streak keeps up!

[cfh]

speedracer

It's always so inspirational for us to hear good news. Gives us all hope for the future!

Thanks for posting.

cfh

[vivekananda]

good news is what we crave 

I hope this good stuff lasts too. It seems so wonderful 

Keep up with your learning though in case there is a step backwards ... .there usually is, that's just life. Two steps forward, one back - or sideways ... .

take care Speedracer 

Vivek  

[Speedracer]

I did jinx myself. We have had some rough patches. Communicating w her by text using DBT skills has helped. This way I have a record for therapy & truth cannot be distorted. We went to the dr for a virus yesterday & discovered she is bordering anorexic weight. The ex boyfriend is armed & dangerous, into drugs & gambling. Upping security, but he lives over 100 mi away. She seems too scared to contact him, & he has not shown he has been looking for her. So aside from these setbacks there is still noticeable progress. It is great to hear an apology after my authority is challenged. The house seems peaceful for Christmas. 2 therapy appts and 1 dr appt will follow this week. I will be praying for all those struggling with BPD to experience & recognize any progress! May we all find some peace in our existences! 

[qcarolr]

I will be praying for all those struggling with BPD to experience & recognize any progress! May we all find some peace in our existences! 

What is in my heart and mind and prayers as well.

qcr  

[Speedracer]

Update. Things at home are stable with dd since she's been home almost a month. Her younger siblings are vying for their emotional currency, showing anxiety & depression that may be from trauma & the season. I too am Suffering PTSD of sorts. I walk on eggshells, feel defeated, feel depression, want to isolate,  anger, want to be alone in my thoughts. I need time to process & recover even though things are better! we are seeking professional counseling. Even though dd is stable her moods swing on a dime. We stay out of her way & she is better about keeping it from upsetting all of us, takes it to her room. She has two therapists & a psych. I have my own. We do family sessions as well. Therapy bills are higher than the mortgage these days. But things are peaceful so we'll take it!

[qcarolr]

It does take some time to allow the positive things to take hold over all the negative experiences. It is part of a grieving process, IMHO. Be kind to yourself. So glad things are smoother - to build positive experiences for the memory banks.

qcr  

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[Survive2012]

Speedracer,

It is good to read that our hope is not mere theory! I am very happy the situation is stable for you and hope it is going to go even better. Try to recover a good home athmosphere and I hope everyone in the family will relax a bit.

Have a wonderful, relaxing day!

Survive

[Speedracer]

Up bright & early with your encouraging comments to start a new day & a new school semester. Living with a paradox gives it a new appearance in my mind. Thank you! Will update!

[Esperança_Hope]

Dear Speedracer,

I´m so happy to hear about all this progress.

Take care of yourself because  it´s quite usual when a sick member of the family begins to get better... .  the others who suffered with the pain, ecc become with depression, fear, anger.  It´s a paradox, rally. Because things will cange a lot. there is a new movement in the area.

Keep on and my prayers for you all.

Love

Esperança

[Speedracer]

Thank you for the comments. The last comment by Esperanca rings true. The therapist said similar things. We struggled a lot this week with distorting the truth, lying, ignoring one another. We've seen her be cruel to her siblings as they struggle in the wake of the last crisis. After a very difficult family therapy session this past week, the therapist says he sees progress. I couldn't believe it at the time, but as the week continued I saw he was right. Things are somewhat stable, and I continue to post on specific topics here to keep learning as we go. I'm not ignoring her, but I'm staying out of her way, lowering my expectations, and keeping demands low. I'm respecting her privacy while monitoring her safety. She is excited to be graduating in May and leaving for an excellent University in August. She found a roommate she will get to know more in coming months & they seem to have common interests. She really enjoys her weekly young adult group choice class that her therapist runs. she comes home from that in a good mood. But we've seen that her mood can shift at any time. We are cautious. Two doctor appointments, two therapy appointments, and one class for her next week, as we continue making progress.

[jellibeans]

Your posts gives me hope for my dd15... .  so glad to see things heading in the right direction for you all.I am so happy for your daughter. I think it is best to try and remain neutral... .  not too optimist and not too discouraged... .  because there will always be highs and we know those lows will also come again but hopefully there will be more highs than lows