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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on August 9, 2009, at 18:11:12
I think I figured out why I sometimes don't go to bed until the late morning. I don't get sleepy if I don't take my nightly meds! I've discovered that I get sleepy after I take them, but if I don't I just stay up.
I want to sleep at normal times like a regular person. I think I need alarm clocks for taking meds.
I told my Mom of my new discovery and her reaction was that I need to go off my meds cold turkey and just grit through the withdrawal effects because there is nothing wrong with me, I don't need meds and meds are really bad. I have a feeling quiting cold turkey would be bad.
My Mom told me to just bear the headaches or whatever happens when I quit cold turkey. She compared meds to drugs like heroin. :/
Posted by Deneb on August 10, 2009, at 17:18:35
In reply to I think I need many alarm clocks, posted by Deneb on August 9, 2009, at 18:11:12
I told my Mom I've tried going off the meds but each time I get in a bad way again and she said, "But that means you have an illness! Who ever hears of people staying on these meds for extended periods or time? People are supposed to go on them and go off them when they are better."I think my Mom is in denial. She just can't bear to think her daughter has serious problems. That is why I can never go to her for help. Sure people say, "Go to the hospital Deneb, if you want to OD", but in reality I probably wouldn't be able to do that. My Mom would not let that happen. She tried to stop me from going to the hospital that time I actually did OD.
But I think this may be a good thing. I seriously cannot go to the hospital every time I think I am in danger because that would be wasting too many resources. As well, I think it may be reinforcing my behaviour.
That being said however, if I was really in trouble, of course I would have to go to the hospital no matter what my Mom said.
Posted by 10derHeart on August 10, 2009, at 17:39:51
In reply to Re: I think I need many alarm clocks, posted by Deneb on August 10, 2009, at 17:18:35
I'm glad you added that last sentence.
You are a grown woman, Deneb. I know you talk about being immature for your age and all of that, and I understand and of course, don't dispute your assessment. In fact, I think you've come to know yourself pretty well :-) In a good way - compared to several years ago, when moods and things seems more mysterious and intolerable.
But, especially in matters of life and death, you are 'grown enough' to act independently of your mother when you need to do that.
Mothers do find accepting things that don't fit with their vision of what they thought life would be like for their children difficult, no doubt. It could be a job, marriage, sexual preference, religious choices, anything, really, Sounds like the thought of any chronic type illness scares her a lot.
You are doing great, IMO.
Posted by Dinah on August 12, 2009, at 9:37:17
In reply to I think I need many alarm clocks, posted by Deneb on August 9, 2009, at 18:11:12
You know your mom doesn't really understand these things. Neither does mine. Members of her family have had bad experiences with psych meds so she's even worse. I found my second pdoc (as an adult) from a recommendation she got, and she'd understood he didn't like to prescribe drugs. She was wrong of course. He was sensible prescribing, and he understood the possibilities of side effects, but he wasn't anti-med.
Did I tell her? No. What's the point in talking to her about things that I know will just end up annoying me and upsetting her? She's never going to understand or agree with me, and she doesn't need to.
Boundaries work for both of you, Deneb. She is Mom, you are Deneb. She stops at the end of her skin, you stop at the end of your skin. She's made her choices in life, you have the same right to make yours. It's natural that she wants to help you, and you can appreciate that without taking in what she says as something you need to do. If you believe in a duty of a daughter to a mother, then you ought to be respectful of her. You can listen to her stories about herself perhaps, and help her around the house, and follow her house rules. But duty doesn't require you let her make your choices for you.
And you might want to consider if any particular discussion will yield information you don't already know, or any positive benefits. You know how your mother feels about school and marriage and mental illness. Are there any positive benefits to discussing those things with her further?
I have three alarms set up. One usually rings *after* I've already started to do what it is ringing for. One is the theme music from Sex and the City, and it's remarkably effective. My phone is usually in the other room, and the alarm is loud enough to wake me up from across the house. I am forced to get up and stagger to the alarm to turn it off, at which time I actually do take my morning meds. However effective it is, though, I may need to change the tune because I don't want to end up hating it. The evening alarm is a problem. It's in the same room I am, usually right next to me, and I turn it off without even noticing I'm doing it. :)
Posted by Deneb on August 13, 2009, at 18:31:40
In reply to I've got three » Deneb, posted by Dinah on August 12, 2009, at 9:37:17
Thanks 10der, Thanks Dinah
You're right, maybe there are certain things that I just shouldn't discuss with my Mom. It just makes me feel bad.
I tried taking my nightly meds at 10 PM for two nights and on both night I actually went to bed at a reasonable time. I've discovered I get sleepy about an hour after I take my Risperdal. I've setting 10 PM as the time to take meds now. Hopefully this will become a habit.
This is the end of the thread.
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