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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 10:09:35
Hi,
Many of you have been very helpful regarding my son and his medications. I thought I would update you and let you know that he tried to kill himself with a gun yesterday, but backed out at the last minute. Thank God!!!
He is in a mental health facility now. I would like him to detox from the array of medications that he was given since his last inpatient experience. This is the third time this year. Each time he has been put on some new form of an SSRI with other drugs. I have to wonder if they will ever believe me, his mother, when I say he cannot take these things and will have a bad reaction to them.
This wonderful son of mine was number six in his graduating class of 287. He never had a sign of being this seriously depressed until his freshman year of college. He was an honors student at college and loves art. He is going into New Media.
For the last year, he has had to face two incompletes at the end of the semester due to a sudden hospitalization. Imagine how he must feel! This scholar can't can't even go to class now because of how badly he feels. I have watched his grades go from a 4.0++ to a 3.5. This hurts him. He knows he can do it and knows he is extremely intelligent. He feels horrible and cannot do a thing about it.
I know how he feels, it is like screaming in a dream and not being able to get the sound out. A horrible feeling.
I hope am praying that the third time this year will be a charm and he will finally feel better.
Thanks for all of your support.
smd and son
Posted by Noa on December 12, 2000, at 15:14:46
In reply to Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 10:09:35
I am sorry he is in such distress. I hope the hospitalization can help to figure out what can work to help him.
Perhaps cutting back school to part time will help to lessen some of the stress. When I was in college, I did that because I just couldn't cope with full time school when I was depressed. I finished a tad later (I did summer school classes to catch up) but in the long run finishing a bit later is really insignificant.
Good luck.
Posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 22:12:59
In reply to Re: Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by Noa on December 12, 2000, at 15:14:46
I am pleased to annouce that he is feeling better tonight. He was in terrible shape yesterday. He is weaning off of the old meds and going to be trying Nardil. I am so happy we have been heard finally. Of course I realize there are still rough times ahead, but compared to last night, I am pleased with any positive developments.
I agree with you on classes and have been saying this for some time now. But... a mother's advice is only taken when it is something the child wants to hear.
Thanks for your support.
smd
Posted by rogdog on December 13, 2000, at 1:59:35
In reply to Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 10:09:35
how old is your son? if he is 18 years or older let him go!!! dont get all wrapped up in his problems, I know it sounds difficult but it would help you both out tremendously. you might want to read the book "excuse me your life is waiting" it is an amazing book and might have some points that hit home for you. good luck, and god bless rogdog
Posted by CraigF on December 13, 2000, at 8:09:43
In reply to Re: Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by rogdog on December 13, 2000, at 1:59:35
Over 18 or not, the last thing a severely depressed and suicidal boy needs is to feel is beyond help from -- or abandoned by -- his mother.
My most serious bouts of depression and paranoia hit me in college and my mother, frankly, was one of the only people to listen. I have not become dependent on her and consider myself very independent and increasingly successful.
I know you are only trying to be helpful, but please take care in your suggestions.
It sounds like this child is extremely bright but tortured, usually a sign of some chemical imbalance (bipolar??) and not parental smothering.
smdd -- hang in there. I had attempted/threatened suicide before and now know what it's like to be on the other side. When I tried to end a relationship Friday night my boyfriend tried to kill himself (more of a bluff judging from the amount of pills he swallowed). His despair lasted through the next day and If I hadn't stayed with him for the weekend, I'm quite positive he would not be alive now.
Posted by S. Howard on December 13, 2000, at 13:34:58
In reply to Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 10:09:35
Smd-
First of all, I would like to say that my heart goes out to you. What a nightmare for you and your son. Second, I would never suggest "letting him go" even if you could. Although he's adult, offering love and support to him while he's in crisis does not constitute being overly
protective, IMHO.I would like to recommend an excellent book to you...while I've recommended it several times to other people,it seems to apply more to both of you than anyone. It's called "Touched With Fire" by Kay R. Jamison. Here are some comments from the book jacket:
"The anguished, volatile intensity we associate with the artistic temperament, often described as 'a fine madness', has been thought of as a defining aspect of much artistic genius...Drawing on extraordinary recent advances in genetics, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology, Jamison presents the now incontrovertible proof of the biological foundations of this frequently misunderstood disease, and applies what is known about the illness to the lives of some of the world's greatest artists -Byron, van Gogh, Shelley, Poe, Melville, Schumann, Coleridge, Virginia Woolf, Burns, and many others...Jamison reviews the substantial findings from biographic and scientific studies that demonstrate a markedly increased rate of severe mood disorders and suicide in artists, writers, and composers, and discusses reasons why this link between mania, depression, and artistic creativity might exist. Manic-depressive illness, a surprisingly common disease, is genetically transmitted...In some instances - for example, Tennyson and Byron -
these psychiatric pedigrees are traced back more than 150 years...Psychiatric treatment of artists
remains a fiercely controversial issue. Dr. Jamison discusses both the advantages and problems with current treatments, and advocates a humanistic yet firmly medical approach. However, she strongly cautions against simplistic attempts to cure this most human and tragic of all diseases
at the expense of destroying the artistic personality."Best wishes,
Gracie"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." -Mother Teresa
Posted by rhonda on December 13, 2000, at 16:24:50
In reply to Depression and the artistic temperament (long), posted by S. Howard on December 13, 2000, at 13:34:58
> Smd--
I applaud you for standing by your son. I have had to drop out of college 2 times in the last 5 years for hospitalizations. In some ways, my story is like your son's. I graduated first in my high school class. I went on to college and carried a 3.5 while working three jobs. After being independent of my parent's for about 3 years, I had to move back home. This was very disappointing for me because I desperately wanted to take care of myself. Now I have a better relationship with my parents and family than I ever did before. By dealing with the illness together, we have grown into a more caring family unit. I have tried many different medications, and nothing really worked until I had ECT's. Now I am maintaining fairly well, but I am still not working. Hopefully soon I will be. I want to encourage you to stay involved with your son's well-being. My parents and brothers have meant so much to me through these last few years. Best of luck with your son's healing.
> Smd-
> First of all, I would like to say that my heart goes out to you. What a nightmare for you and your son. Second, I would never suggest "letting him go" even if you could. Although he's adult, offering love and support to him while he's in crisis does not constitute being overly
> protective, IMHO.
>
> I would like to recommend an excellent book to you...while I've recommended it several times to other people,it seems to apply more to both of you than anyone. It's called "Touched With Fire" by Kay R. Jamison. Here are some comments from the book jacket:
>
> "The anguished, volatile intensity we associate with the artistic temperament, often described as 'a fine madness', has been thought of as a defining aspect of much artistic genius...Drawing on extraordinary recent advances in genetics, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology, Jamison presents the now incontrovertible proof of the biological foundations of this frequently misunderstood disease, and applies what is known about the illness to the lives of some of the world's greatest artists -Byron, van Gogh, Shelley, Poe, Melville, Schumann, Coleridge, Virginia Woolf, Burns, and many others...Jamison reviews the substantial findings from biographic and scientific studies that demonstrate a markedly increased rate of severe mood disorders and suicide in artists, writers, and composers, and discusses reasons why this link between mania, depression, and artistic creativity might exist. Manic-depressive illness, a surprisingly common disease, is genetically transmitted...In some instances - for example, Tennyson and Byron -
> these psychiatric pedigrees are traced back more than 150 years...Psychiatric treatment of artists
> remains a fiercely controversial issue. Dr. Jamison discusses both the advantages and problems with current treatments, and advocates a humanistic yet firmly medical approach. However, she strongly cautions against simplistic attempts to cure this most human and tragic of all diseases
> at the expense of destroying the artistic personality."
>
> Best wishes,
> Gracie
>
> "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." -Mother Teresa
Posted by smdd on December 13, 2000, at 17:37:57
In reply to Re: Depression and the artistic temperament (long), posted by rhonda on December 13, 2000, at 16:24:50
Thanks to all of you for the positive posts. I plan to print them out and show him at the hospital this evening. Hopefully, I will have an update and I can let all of you know his progress. Thanks again for your understanding.
smd and son
Posted by KarenK on December 13, 2000, at 18:47:32
In reply to Re: Depression and the artistic temperament (long), posted by smdd on December 13, 2000, at 17:37:57
smd,
I know this must be so hard for you but at least your son is in a safe place getting the help he needs. It's very hard to watch our children suffer, no matter how old they are. He's very lucky to have your love and support. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
KarenK
> Thanks to all of you for the positive posts. I plan to print them out and show him at the hospital this evening. Hopefully, I will have an update and I can let all of you know his progress. Thanks again for your understanding.
>
> smd and son
Posted by mr. man on December 13, 2000, at 22:45:53
In reply to Suicidal Son admitted last night ----- again!!!, posted by smdd on December 12, 2000, at 10:09:35
I was put in the hospital once, after months I left the hospital more depressed than I was when I went in. Basicly I think it was a big mistake to put me in there, the worst choice my mother ever made for me. I thought they would have magic drugs and wonderful therapies, instead they had SSRIs that did nothing, crappy group discussions, and prison guards. Actually now that I think about it, hospitalization was the single event that marked the downward spiral in my life from which I am just now after many years starting to recover, or at least I think, I hope. Its hard to believe that a few months in the hospital could have such a negative long lasting effect but in my case I truly believe it did.
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