Medication has helped

[smallbluething]

Hi all

I've been away from the board for a couple of weeks. Work and a tragedy that befell a colleague have distracted and kept me away for a little while.

However I thought I would check in to report on a positive development with my DD21. She decided to try a new medication regime. Previous meds had helped somewhat but she struggled to stick with them because of side effects she couldn't tolerate. Without meds we endured a lot of rages and yelling over nothing at all which was pretty hard to live with.

She finally got on a new meds regime which seems to suit her well and doesn't have bad side effects. 7mg Minipress at night -ostensibly for PTSD (which she has), but it also makes her sleep like a baby which she really appreciates, and also 10mg Loxalate (an SSRI) which she takes in the morning. The main effects are on her mood - generally much more up-beat - and on her emotional control which is much better with way less raging and moods making her much easier to live with. She still had many BPD traits (splitting and testing us by asking for more more more) but it is muted somewhat and she doesn't lose it so much if she doesn't always get her own way.

She also has surprised me a little by being quite determined about starting a course (Cert III in Age care). She has completed her second week and is sticking with it so far. I have helped her by arranging a tutor once a week to consolidate her studies (she has mild learning difficulties) and I am happy that she has been able to cope with the work and seems determined to keep going at least for now. It is very fortunate that her new meds started a couple of weeks before college as this has probably helped.

Now, I am realistic and know that this may all go sideways and that if that happens then acceptance (on my part) is key. She still smokes too much weed, doesn't take good care of personal hygiene and her room is a bomb site. But it is nice to see some positive developments and I am pleasantly surprised that meds were so helpful, given that they are not known for being especially useful with BPD. I just hope she keeps taking them!

An environmental factor that also may have helped is that her BF, his family and some of her stoner friends seem to be taking a few steps to getting their own lives a little sorted - finding jobs when they haven't had one in a while, getting driving their license or starting courses and so on.

 

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

[Only Human]

Hi smallbluething

It's good to see you back here. So sorry to hear of your colleague's loss, how very sad for everyone.

Your post here has some really good stuff in it and I'm here to celebrate with you!   Seems your DD is taking some clear steps toward independence...deciding to try meds, schooling, being determined. I'm also glad to hear you're all getting some relief from the intense emotions.

Onward...

~ OH