16 year old catatonic

[youngguy800]

Hey guys I have posted on here several times for my own issues. My family has the whole bunch of mental problems starting with my grandfather who is a paranoid schizophrenic. Myself and all my older siblings and mother have taken SSRI's for depression/anxiety etc and one of my older sisters is bipolar... Anyways my little sister has recently (and suddenly) entered a "catatonic" state of depression. Four of her classmates have died this summer (all separately) and we are guessing that contributed as a stressor (although she wasn't extremely close with any of them).. After lasting a couple days my parents took her to the psychiatrist who prescribed zoloft for the AM and seroquil for the PM (and larazapem if she isnt sleeping). This was about two weeks ago. She got "better" in that she started speaking and socializing more but she still cried a lot, was still very slow and demotivated, and seemed to have more teenage "hatred" issues with our mother that normal. Anyways starting yesterday she has stopped talking again and can barely go through the motions of dressing and eating (when prompted to). It is very upsetting to my family. Its hard not to just shake her and yell to try and "wake her up". She is normally very personable, talkative, witty, smart, happy-going, and pleasant etc etc. She is very athletic and excellent with a piano.. but now she is vegetative like there is no one inside. definitely not herself... She will continue to see the psychiatrist in hopes to stabilize her meds and we are trying to get her in with a regular therapist as well (if she will start talking again!).. We are hoping this is not going to be a long term issue. Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice?

Thanks.

[Auspiciousme]

I am sorry you are all going through this.  Please be very patient and kind to your sister....this is not her fault and in her control....I am sure she feels horrible about it herself....and she maybe in a dangerous stage...so you all need to try to understand that she is sick...you wouldn't get mad at her and yell at her if she had cancer, would you?  This is an illness and she can not just snap out of it....as Althera said, this may take a while...and docs may have to change her meds many times until they find one that works for her...Cognetive Therapy, breathing exercises, good nutrition,etc....all help...but she needs love and support more than anything else...take a look at this website for calming audios that she may want to listen to...(it's free) www.kp.org/listen   It may even be good for you to listen to some of them to be able to cope....

[Althera]

My friend did the same thing as your sister a few years ago.  I don't know what the doctor gave her, but I do know it took a little while for her to come around.  Just be patient and kind to her and trust that she will get better