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  • FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 2004 12:00 PM

I need help for a crazy friend.

Submitted by Snottlebocket

Edited by Al

A very close friend of mine had a very traumatic experience a while back, she tried to kill herself, failed and ended up under mental care. She was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress, panic disorder, anxiety, depression and put in a hospital ward and drugged silly. After a while she got out and medicated with Zoloft which she stopped taking a while back.

I thought she stopped in agreement with her doctor but as it turns out she threw away a three month supply without telling anyone. She seemed to be doing fine but yesterday morning she woke up with her arms cut to ribbons and a knive driven four inches into a chalk wall without any memory of doing it.

She's scared to death now and frankly so am I, I don't know what happened to her in that hospital but she refuses to tell anyone what happened because she's afraid they'll put her away for good this time. I'm not anywhere near her right now so I'm trying to find out anything I can about the disorders she was diagnosed with as well as the effects and side effects of Zoloft and quitting Zoloft. I didn't think it was such a heavy drug or quitting it could have such severe results.

Right now she's terrified and stocking up on caffeine pills and painkillers to stay awake indefinitly, she refuses to sleep unless the whole house is empty because she's afraid she'll hurt anyone and she won't go to any doctors.

If anyone has something remotely helpful to say about the whole thing then please help.

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Comments
Ayla

Ayla

Petaluma, CA
February 2004

OCT 22, 2004 12:59 PM

Okay, uh wow.

Okay, first off, the girl has PTSD, which is a pretty tricky disorder in and of itself. It's an anxiety disorder. And seeing as she has a panic disorder on top of it, you're dealing with a serious headcase right now. I'm not trying to sound mean, so if I come across as that, I'm sorry. I'm trying to remember and give advice based on my experiences with this, as I was diagnosed with both PTSD and Seperation Anxiety back in 2001. So tread with care.

Back on track: the depression and anxiety are most likely symptoms of PTSD, not disorders of their own. She must have a pretty serious case to be put on Zoloft. So her going off the Zoloft was NOT good and she needs to get back on the meds like now. Her throwing the meds out seems more or less a sign of denial of her problems. Most people throw out meds either because they convince themselves they're fine because they don't want to face the fact that they have a problem. It's not always the case, mind you, but a majority of the time, it can be.

Secondly, she doesn't remember what she did to herself? Either she's lying her ass off, or she blacked out when she did this. If she truly cannot remember, then it was a blackout and now you have another problem on top of it. Might not be PTSD you're dealing with anymore. Could be a Case of Extreme Stress - an advanced form of PTSD. In which case, she needs to admit herself to a psych ward. She may not want to, but as far as I can see, her cutting herself was an episode or a relapse and she needs to get help. They won't put her away for good if it was just a relapse. They'll just put her back on Zoloft, possibly put her on another med, and assign her to outpatient therapy. They'll at least keep her for a 72 hour evaluation. From there, depending on her behavior, and what the psychs determine from counseling sessions, they'll either keep her a bit longer or release her.

And you need to get her to stop stocking up on the pills right now. That's going to make the situation ten times worse, both mentally and physically. It's going to fuck her up big time. She needs to go to a doctor, she needs to get help, whether she wants to or not.

If you want any more information on PTSD, email me through my profile or leave a comment and I'll send you a copy of an article I wrote on it a while back. It'll prove useful.

Good luck. kiss

Rachel

Rachel

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

OCT 22, 2004 01:13 PM

if she won't go to a doctor you need to consider getting the police involved... they can come and make her go to a hospital...

this situation will get worse if left alone...

good luck!! frown

Lolita

Lolita

SUICIDEGIRL

Oregon, USA

OCT 22, 2004 05:09 PM

Alot of medications, HAVE to be gradually reduced in dosage to be properly weened off of.

Doctors tell patients all the time to ween off gradually but dont tell them that qiutting cold turkey can cause a complete meltdown. If your brain is relying on a medication to feel good by supplementing the ''good stuff' chemicals, just stopping the meds altogether can leave the brain completely unable to produce those chemicals on thier own, the point of, and IMPORTANCE OF, weening off gradually is so your brain can start to produce those chemicals on their own.

Not only that but with some disorders and mental illneses the brain is completely unable to produce these stabalizing chemicals on thier own.
This episode she had might not be her fault it might have been a withdrawl reaction from going off her meds.
She might of thought she was doing better so she went off her meds, it sent her into a destructive tailspin and she might be feeling more depressed cuz she thought she was better and not 'crazy'.
I dont know the exact scenario...........BUT what I DO KNOW IS.......
YOU ARE NOT DOING HER ANY FAVORS BY NOT CONTACTING HER FAMILY AND/OR HER DOCTORS.
She is obviously not denying that she is capable of hurting herself or others, and is ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE by taking STIMULANTS AND DEPRESSANTS to self medicate, you have to realize she is adding more risk of danger to her sitaution by doing so!!!!!
I repeat:
YOU ARE NOT DOING HER ANY FAVORS BY NOT TELLING ANYONE.
do whatever you can to work with her family, or doctors, to get her back on track.

You can also look in the phone book for siucide prevention hotlines, and can call them for more information on how EXACTLY you can help her, and what avenues to take as far as local agencies. They are there to help, so let them, and they've got more answers than us suicidegirls can offer.
Do everythign you can cuz, even though this may sound harsh, you dont want to be sitting at her funeral thinking you coud have done more to help.
good luck.

Twwly

Twwly

SUICIDEGIRL

Ontario, Canada

OCT 23, 2004 09:38 AM

Call the police or local mental hospital and have her committed if she is a danger to herself.

There is likely nothing YOU can do to help her.

Wren

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

OCT 23, 2004 05:03 PM

If she is doing things she cannot remember when she is asleep or blacked out, she needs to be somewhere where she can be restrained and evaluated.

Lolita said:
YOU ARE NOT DOING HER ANY FAVORS BY NOT CONTACTING HER FAMILY AND/OR HER DOCTORS.
I repeat:
YOU ARE NOT DOING HER ANY FAVORS BY NOT TELLING ANYONE.



Word, Lolita.

Ayres

Ayres

SUICIDEGIRL

Argentina

OCT 25, 2004 01:24 PM

The girls sayed the right things.
She need to be under med care. Make her get there, or call the police.
Good luck kiddo kiss

Thistle

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

OCT 25, 2004 05:04 PM

It is understandable to be afraid that they will "lock her up for good," but they will not. Psych wards are very scary places to be, but psychological illnesses are still illnesses- they need to be treated by qualified doctors at a hospital. Your friend will be released and her doctors will recommend that she be weened off medication when she is better. Your attitude towards her needs to be similar to your attitude towards someone with a more traditional illness like cancer. Any negativity about psychological treatments such as medication on your part will encourage her to forgo them.

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