Self-Mutilation/"Cutting"

[HappyTown]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Dear Mom,

Thank you for letting your daughter tell us her story...that is such a brave thing for her to do. I'd also like to say that it is a brave thing for you to do. I can't imagine how afraid you were when you realized the depths of her depression. It is unusual to diagnose such a young girl as bi-polar but than God you found a good therapist who found this out.

Many people who are truly bi-polar have to take medicine the rest of their life, like a diabetic has to take insulin. There is no shame in taking medication to control the symptoms of this disease. The alternative would be a history of jobs you quit from or are fired from because of impulsive behaviors and explosive temper, a long line of broken relationships, and poor interpersonal skills.

I'd like to thank you for listening to the therapist and allowing your daughter to get the treatment she needs to be successful. Many church saints & leadership do not understand mental illness and the effects on the family so it must have been difficult to go against the popular religious belief system to get your daughter help. I am sure you have been rewarded in your efforts because look at what she has accomplished, and I know you are so proud.

Again, thank you and your daughter for giving us a true case in point. Your story may help others struggling with the same thing and encourage them to get help.

God bless your family,
Rhoni

Rhoni, Your very welcome happy to help!

I'd like to mention this all took time, there is no magic pill when dealing with this type of illness, thankfully our daughter felt she could confined in us with such a matter. Your right mental illness is like any other illness it needs to be manged kept in check, the biggest hurtle we had found is getting the person to realize they are not well, luckily our daughter knew she was not well. We contacted a therapist who was able to confirm a Bipolar disorder, but she was willing to work with our daughter and us, our daughter really did not want medication. The therapist respected this , so three months later our daughter came to us telling us she needed something, she wanted to die, didn't want live anymore! So we went on medication, this took about six weeks to really kick in, her mood change, a lot her temper was gone and was able to leave the house, her depression was not as bad.

As I mention above getting the person to realize they are not cured after they are feeling great due to treatment, is a whole other matter! This has been an issues, one that we have hopefully gotten across to our daughter, getting the person to realize, this like any other illness needs to be kept in checked. Keeping their treatment up no matter how much better they feel. Like a illness they may feel great, but stop treatment they'll go down hill after a time, end up worst then before. She did try to go off her medication about a month ago... it was really difficult on her.. she ended up back at the bottom. She was having panic attacks and depression again. She got really upset for no reason and couldn't function normally. She decided to go back on the med's and she has done really well so far. She does sometimes still have bad days every now and then but we get through them easier now. One thing we had to learn to do is not over medicate her. If she took too much she'd become numb and if she too too little it didn't work. So we had to find a balance. What I'm try convey here is this didn't happen over night, it started when she was really young. And like any other illness its okay to seek treatment and medication, because life is too short to not wanting to live it.

Maybe i could ask her if she would later write about what actually made her condition worse. Since it partially deals with religion. Probably would be best if she sat down and expressed it in her own words.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by HappyTown

Rhoni, Your very welcome happy to help!

I'd like to mention this all took time, there is no magic pill when dealing with this type of illness, thankfully our daughter felt she could confined in us with such a matter. Your right mental illness is like any other illness it needs to be manged kept in check, the biggest hurtle we had found is getting the person to realize they are not well, luckily our daughter knew she was not well. We contacted a therapist who was able to confirm a Bipolar disorder, but she was willing to work with our daughter and us, our daughter really did not want medication. The therapist respected this , so three months later our daughter came to us telling us she needed something, she wanted to die, didn't want live anymore! So we went on medication, this took about six weeks to really kick in, her mood change, a lot her temper was gone and was able to leave the house, her depression was not as bad.

As I mention above getting the person to realize they are not cured after they are feeling great due to treatment, is a whole other matter,! This has been an issues, one that we have hopefully gotten across to our daughter, getting the person to realize, this like any other illness needs to be kept in checked. Keeping their treatment up no matter how much better they feel. Like a illness they may feel great, but stop treatment they'll go down hill after a time, end up worst then before. She did try to go off her medication about a month ago... it was really difficult on her.. she ended up back at the bottom. She was having panic attacks and depression again. She got really upset for no reason and couldn't function normally. She decided to go back on the med's and she has done really well so far. She does sometimes still have bad days every now and then but we get through them easier now. One thing we had to learn to do is not over medicate her. If she took too much she'd become numb and if she too too little it didn't work. So we had to find a balance. What I'm try convey here is this didn't happen over night, it started when she was really young. And like any other illness its okay to seek treatment and medication, because life is too short to not wanting to live it.

Maybe i could ask her if she would later write about what actually made her condition worse. Since it partially deals with religion. Probably would be best if she sat down and expressed it in her own words.

The difficult thing about the Bi-Polar diagnosis, like OCD, and a few others, is not unlike when we are sick and take anti-biotics. The label says to take all the medication but after three days we feel so good that we stop taking the anti-biotics and the sickness comes back. The same for a person with Bi-polar Disorder.

It takes 14 days to 30 days to reach a therapeutic level in your system when you begin taking medication [psychotropic med]. When you feel so much better, over time you think that you are all right now, and don't need it any more. The difficult thing is that you sink twice as low into the depression or hypomania and it takes much longer for the medication to take effect in your system than it did the first time.

There are some types of depression, such as "situational depression" that are temporary and you can stop taking the medication, but there are many mental illnesses that you will always have to take the medication just as if you were diabetic.

It would be good for your daughter to write down her journey with this as seen from her eyes. I am sure it would help others in the same situation.

Blessings, Rhoni

[U376977]

I would vote but nothing fits.
I do know what you are asking about. I don't know anyone who does it. I don't do it--THE PAIN. oooooo. No way...

[DividedThigh]

we just try to expose her to normal loving people, that is us, lol, as much as possible, at the same time protecting my step daughter of course, dt

[Rhoni]

What happens if they don't continue to take the medication:
1. The can't keep a job
2. They can't finish what they start
3. They lose all close relationships
4. They sabotague their happiness

True story: There was a member of a church who was Bipolar. She was told by "a truly spiritual person" at church she was "healed" and did not need to take her medicine.

She sunk lower and lower into depression and became psychotic: Heard commanding voices telling her to kill herself. Her mother called me [Bipolar was a transgerational thing in her family]. Her mother told me what was happening and asked me what she should do. I asked her what she had done in the past when this happened. She said she had her committed to a psych ward. I told her to take her to the hospital and I would Baker Act her.

The leadership of the church had issues with my doing this. I told them that my duty to report and to Baker Act was a good thing for that particular church because; had the woman killed herself and it was known that leadership knew or had told her to stop taking her medication, the church would be sued, and non-existent to day.

I said all that to say...this is serious business and no person should advise anyone not to take their medication. God can heal them taking the medication, and the Physician can confirm the healing and take them off the medication.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

we just try to expose her to normal loving people, that is us, lol, as much as possible, at the same time protecting my step daughter of course, dt

it isn't catchy...unless your step daughter has similar issues. But one can never be too careful.

Blessings, Rhoni

[OP_Carl]

I cut/mutilate myself just about every time I have to work on my tractor.

[Jack Shephard]

I know a girl that used to cut. No longer does she do that. She actually was a cutter up unitl about 3 yrs ago. It was Sr. Camp time and she chose at the last moment to go. Her mother had urged her for a few months to go. She chose to go. The first night she was there she was moved in the service. The second night however God knocked her out. She came clean and told us she cut. She returned from camp and got out of church again and get pregnant had the baby got married and all. She showed up Sunday to church with the baby and everything. She has not cut since that day at camp. God is good.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I know a girl that used to cut. No longer does she do that. She actually was a cutter up unitl about 3 yrs ago. It was Sr. Camp time and she chose at the last moment to go. Her mother had urged her for a few months to go. She chose to go. The first night she was there she was moved in the service. The second night however God knocked her out. She came clean and told us she cut. She returned from camp and got out of church again and get pregnant had the baby got married and all. She showed up Sunday to church with the baby and everything. She has not cut since that day at camp. God is good.

It is always good to hear a praise report. There are many people who "cut" that eventually get healed, or they go through therapy and learn to deal with their issues. Whichever way God chooses to heal a person...it is wonderful.

Thank you again for the praise report. We know there is hope.

Blessings,
Rhoni

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Blessings, Rhoni

P.S. I am at work but tonight I will address this more fully!

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