Aa
Help for my sister
I believe my sister is about to hit a breaking point, maybe even a rock bottom, with her disorders. My sister is presumed to have Social Anxiety Disorder, Hording, Chronic Fatigue, Obsessive Compulsive ("picking" and making unnecessary lists about various things), and also random unusual addictions to various items, from a certain type of ice, to candy, to foods. She also has uncontrollable crying spells. Her 10 year old daughter is starting to pick up on the situation and is starting to become affected by it. We have had so many family meetings about "what to do" and we just don't know what approach to take anymore. She has a very supportive (but also very enabling husband). If her husband ever reaches the point to where he leaves, we truly feel she would not be capable of raising her daughter alone and would possibly have to be admitted somewhere in order for her to survive. In the past she has had several mis diagnosis, wrong medications, self medicating issues and some pretty harsh RX. Maybe even slight schizophrenia as well. She wont go out in public anymore, when she is around certain races or groups of people she thinks they have ulterior motives to do bad things to her, she is very jumpy when she is out in public and rushes to find a way back home. None of her daughter's friend's parent's will allow their children to come visit anymore (but i don't think she realizes thats whats happening). She also suffers from severe depression. She has progressively been very slack with the housekeeping to the point to where its just overwhelming when you go to her house, you just think "what does she do all day, she is home 24/hrs a day and the house looks like a wreck and nothing ever gets done". We have tried so many levels of non-professional with her but she is highly resistant when you offer any suggestions to her and she just cries. We don't know what else to do. We have prayed for her for 7 years and its not helping. Can anyone offer any advice?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What if anything has worked, even a bit, in the past?: Not much has really helped but I will comment and say that when she is active and has the opportunity to help people in certain situations, that seems to make her more manageable.
Possibly a volunteer job, hairdressing for the homeless or something like that.
Why do you think it is even worse now?: She has become more disconnected now...
Any clues from what has made it worse now?
What has been her experience with meds--have any helped? I do not know the complete list of meds...
Have any helped, do you know?
Is her husband open to getting therapy/support even if she isn't?: We dont fully know his intentions but this week or next, we plan on sitting down with him and having a serious talk and getting his input and what he is open to. But he does seem to be on the defensive side a lot and definitely takes her side in most cases.
He is key. Sounds like in past discussions he feels criticized and attacked. Continue to try and keep it supportive not confrontational, ask questions vs making statements. he must be very scared to see her this way.
What sort of resources are available in terms of local facilities, insurance, past therapists, groups, etc.?: . She is on disability due to these conditions so she has the state provided insurance that comes along with that.
That is an important positive.
Sounds like she is dealing with the OCD, social anxiety/phobic issues, depression and then the question of possible bpd or schizophrenia. This sort of 'layer cake' is always tough. A typical OCD program would probably not work well. I don't know Centerstone.
Let me know how the talk with her husband goes. Where she has tried many things before, the key is to identify bits and pieces that helped even a little bit and build on them.
tg
Possibly a volunteer job, hairdressing for the homeless or something like that.
Why do you think it is even worse now?: She has become more disconnected now...
Any clues from what has made it worse now?
What has been her experience with meds--have any helped? I do not know the complete list of meds...
Have any helped, do you know?
Is her husband open to getting therapy/support even if she isn't?: We dont fully know his intentions but this week or next, we plan on sitting down with him and having a serious talk and getting his input and what he is open to. But he does seem to be on the defensive side a lot and definitely takes her side in most cases.
He is key. Sounds like in past discussions he feels criticized and attacked. Continue to try and keep it supportive not confrontational, ask questions vs making statements. he must be very scared to see her this way.
What sort of resources are available in terms of local facilities, insurance, past therapists, groups, etc.?: . She is on disability due to these conditions so she has the state provided insurance that comes along with that.
That is an important positive.
Sounds like she is dealing with the OCD, social anxiety/phobic issues, depression and then the question of possible bpd or schizophrenia. This sort of 'layer cake' is always tough. A typical OCD program would probably not work well. I don't know Centerstone.
Let me know how the talk with her husband goes. Where she has tried many things before, the key is to identify bits and pieces that helped even a little bit and build on them.
tg
A little more on the compulsion. She also seems to have a worse case around the time of her menstrual cycle. She also will refix her hair several times and also put on and take off her makeup several times and most of the time decides on no makeup at all.
In response to your questions.
What if anything has worked, even a bit, in the past?: Not much has really helped but I will comment and say that when she is active and has the opportunity to help people in certain situations, that seems to make her more manageable. She was a hairdresser and had to quit work because one of her symptoms was that she was not able to complete daily tasks in a normal time frame. IE it would take her 2-3 hours to give a simple haircut and style or take 15 min to tie her shoes which was extremely worse when she was on the Lithium.
Why do you think it is even worse now?: She has become more disconnected now than we have ever seen her. She wont go to activities involving church or her daughter. She stays indoors and in her "comfort zone".
What has been her experience with meds--have any helped? I do not know the complete list of meds but some known meds she has been on has been: Effexor, Lithium, Xanax, several narcotic pain relievers and methadone.
Is her husband open to getting therapy/support even if she isn't?: We dont fully know his intentions but this week or next, we plan on sitting down with him and having a serious talk and getting his input and what he is open to. But he does seem to be on the defensive side a lot and definitely takes her side in most cases.
What sort of resources are available in terms of local facilities, insurance, past therapists, groups, etc.?: We live in an extremely small town, (3K people) and there is not a lot to chose from. There are no group therapy sessions going on withing a 40 mile radius, but there is a Centerstone facility that is here in the town. She is on disability due to these conditions so she has the state provided insurance that comes along with that.
In response to your questions.
What if anything has worked, even a bit, in the past?: Not much has really helped but I will comment and say that when she is active and has the opportunity to help people in certain situations, that seems to make her more manageable. She was a hairdresser and had to quit work because one of her symptoms was that she was not able to complete daily tasks in a normal time frame. IE it would take her 2-3 hours to give a simple haircut and style or take 15 min to tie her shoes which was extremely worse when she was on the Lithium.
Why do you think it is even worse now?: She has become more disconnected now than we have ever seen her. She wont go to activities involving church or her daughter. She stays indoors and in her "comfort zone".
What has been her experience with meds--have any helped? I do not know the complete list of meds but some known meds she has been on has been: Effexor, Lithium, Xanax, several narcotic pain relievers and methadone.
Is her husband open to getting therapy/support even if she isn't?: We dont fully know his intentions but this week or next, we plan on sitting down with him and having a serious talk and getting his input and what he is open to. But he does seem to be on the defensive side a lot and definitely takes her side in most cases.
What sort of resources are available in terms of local facilities, insurance, past therapists, groups, etc.?: We live in an extremely small town, (3K people) and there is not a lot to chose from. There are no group therapy sessions going on withing a 40 mile radius, but there is a Centerstone facility that is here in the town. She is on disability due to these conditions so she has the state provided insurance that comes along with that.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This sounds serious. What if anything has worked, even a bit, in the past? Why do you think it is even worse now? What has been her experience with meds--have any helped? Is her husband open to getting therapy/support even if she isn't? What sort of resources are available in terms of local facilities, insurance, past therapists, groups, etc.?
Sorry for all the questions.
tg
Sorry for all the questions.
tg
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