13 year old taken tablets.

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My 13yo dd has suffered with parosmia (distorted taste abs smell) since February. She was never a big eater before but now she is living off protein shakes, crisps, cereal, waffles and sweets. Food does nothing for her and it’s a struggle. Her weight is fine as we have supplemented her diet but I had noticed her mental health was going downhill . We are awaiting on a call back from Mind.

Half an hour after I said goodnight to her tonight , she woke me up shaking and crying telling me she had taken tablets wanting to kill herself but then had regretted it straight away. She had taken 200mg of Sertraline (mine) and 1500 mg of naproxen (also mine) which she had got from the medical tin.
Currently in a&e waiting to see a dr and cahms nurse. She perked up and was behaving slightly manic, a bit silly. Refusing to lie down and stay still. Boredom has got to her and she’s drifting off now.
We’ve had a good family day and she has played minecraft with her friends online this evening, everything had been normal. Popped our heads in to say goodnight around 10:30 and she was waking me at 11:05. How does this happen? I am going to check her phone now in case she has been encouraged. I’ve had a cry, she’s had a cry. I’m angry and worried and upset all at once.

What a horrible shock for you. I have no relevant experience but didn’t want your post to go unanswered - I guess that the fact your DD regretted it and felt able to ask you for help are both things to build on. I hope you can now get the help she needs.

How terrible. I hope your DD recovers. If they’re making you wait then hopefully it’s not serious.

Yes, I don’t think they are too worried about the tablets. Naproxen can be nasty on a stomach, I know they have irritated mine before so they’ll definitely be hurting her.
It was a bit of a shock. I checked her phone and she had messaged her friends saying she was going to do it so I guess it’s a bit attention seeking and a bit cry for help.

Try not to show you are angry and disappointed with her, I still remember my mum reacting like this when I did similar with about 40 paracetamol- 30 years later and it does still hurt.
Let her know there is no judgement and you are happy to listen. If appropriate tell her she is a womble and if she feels like that again to come for a hug and a reminder that she is fab (a technique I use with my secondary school students).
Suicidal ideation is fleeting, I always try to advise someone to keep trying to make it through the next 5 mins, 1 min, 30 sec - however small a time period that gets them through. The pressure to kill myself recedes to just being at the back of my brain again until the next time. It becomes about management for a bit rather than cure.
I am sorry your dd did this, it isn't a reflection on you. I now understand my mums anger having been through this with students and having my own kids. I hope it all is ok and they discharge you soon, many hugs to you both xxx

Holy smokes, all the set op, hope all goes well.

*Best

Oh shit, I'm sorry. What a shock for you At least she's in the right place to get help. It's been very tough on young teens this last year. I have had two sons struggling with mental health issues so I've an inkling of what you are going through. It's terrifying, but hang on in there. She came and told you, that's a good thing and you can build on that.

@balloonsintrees thank you so much for the advice. I’ll definitely take heed. I want to shake her but I am keeping it in. She complained about a bad stomach and I said I didn’t think the doctor would give her any more tablets for the pain, she had a little chuckle and said “you’re probably right”.
She told the doctor she didn’t want to kill her self, she just wanted to harm herself. Cry for help I guess. She thinks we are not doing anything to help with her parosmia but there is so little to be done, all we can do is encourage her to try new foods. Only time will mend the nerves that have been damaged by Covid.

Oh what a shock op, I'm so sorry. My 13 year old took 300mg amitriptyline (sleeping pills) a few months ago totally out of the blue so I've been there and know how scary it is. I felt really bad for not noticing but they make big decisions in a moment at this age and their emotions are all over the place.

Yes, her hormones are raging. One minute she was saying goodnight, see you in the morning, next minute she was telling her friends she wanted to kill herself and taking tablets. Talk about escalating quickly. I feel like telling the doctor that we’d had a lovely day out at a local attraction but then I felt I sounded a bit “but we took you to stately homes” and that she couldn’t possibly have issues because we’d had a nice day out.

I’m so sorry for you OP. Being a mum knowing the your children had thoughts about not wanting to live must be the worst. As the other OP sai no judgement/anger. Just let her know that you are here for her.