Mental Illness

Jwillbc55 · Jun 5, 2006

Guys I don't post in this forum ever but I figured it might help in this instance. Basically my mother has gone completely off the deep end. She quit her job, talks about conspiracies and plots to kill her and frame her of crimes. She even talks about people trying to kill her with radiation. She throws away food because it is poison. And today she thought someone was trying to make her go blind so she washed her eyes for hours so hard that her eyes are totally bloodshot and almost bloody. She wears stupid hats because they protect her and claims that the reason she knows of these conspiracies is because she has talked to the spirits of people that have been murdered. God I can't believe how ridiculous this all sounds until I just wrote it out just now. Basically my mother who I have known my entire life has become a completely diferent person for the last 8 months or so. She had a traumatic experience at work where she thought people were trying to get her fired (she may have been right) but it has taken over her and our entire families lives and she has become delusional and lost touch with all sense of reality and reason. Any help that any of you can provide would be awesome such as persoanl experiences of who I should talk to or contact. I really just have no clue what to do and it's so painful to watch my mother that I love do this to herself.

OuchThatHurts · Jun 5, 2006

What is her age? It sounds like she needs in-patient care. Depending on her age, you may need to get her treatment. From your description, it could be anything from something rather benign to something very serious were she could be a danger to herself and/or those around her. That would all have to be carefully weighed by a doctor fully experienced in these areas (psychosis, schizophrenia, etc.)

Definitely keep up posted and my heart goes out to her and the family of course. Get her help and do it as a family if you can.

On a positive note, try to do it sooner than later. There are many highly effective medications on the market today to alleviate these symtoms to some greater or lesser degree.

Best wishes.

OTH

Jwillbc55 · Jun 5, 2006

she is in her 50's and we have actually started looking into getting her help as soon as possible. There are programs where my dad works so that's what he is looking into today. She may hate us for a while but there's no doubt getting her professional help will be good for the long haul.

hughesy · Jun 5, 2006

I'd also get her to see a regular doc. sudden personality shifts like you describe could be from an illness. Typically in or around the brain causing pressure. Cyst, cancer, anurism etc... Not trying to scare you... Just giving possibilities.

Jwillbc55 · Jun 6, 2006

Well just about the worst thing possible happened as she started to cut herself and act even more strangely so we called for help and she was carried away against her will to the hospital. Looks like she might be there for several weeks and is in a special section of the hospital under 24 hour care. The doctors prescriber her anti-psychotics and I have to say I'm releived that they did. She has been a totally different person and if this is what it takes for her to get healthy again then that's what will be done. There's just something about seeing your mother taken away like that that makes it difficult to sleep at night.

OuchThatHurts · Jun 6, 2006

Jwillbc55 said:
Well just about the worst thing possible happened as she started to cut herself and act even more strangely so we called for help and she was carried away against her will to the hospital. Looks like she might be there for several weeks and is in a special section of the hospital under 24 hour care. The doctors prescriber her anti-psychotics and I have to say I'm releived that they did. She has been a totally different person and if this is what it takes for her to get healthy again then that's what will be done. There's just something about seeing your mother taken away like that that makes it difficult to sleep at night.

Jwill, it's rough that you had to be witness to all of that. How is your family taking everything? I didn't want to recommened that you seek immediate attention for her as you were already choosing a medical route. In retrospect, I should've anyway. Hopefully your mother will be feeling a lot better now and more like herself than she has in a long time.
Thanks for sharing and make sure you keep us updated on how you yourself are holding up (and your ma).

OTH

Jwillbc55 · Jun 8, 2006

Well the bad news is that my mother is being kept in a very secluded environment where we are only allowed to see her 1 hour a day. She hates being there but at this point we couldn't take her out if we wanted too because the doctor's have deemed her a threat to herself.

But the good news is that after weeks and months of arguing about it we finally talked her into trying some medication. The doctor's seem to think that the problem is a chemical imbalance in the brain and should be able to be controlled with meds.

So here's to hoping she actually gives them a fair shot.