Please help - Scared for my daughter

[Bepis]

My daughter is 18 years old but she has special needs so is a lot younger in her mind. She has suffered with anxiety for the past 5 years or so, to the point where it stopped her attending school and she had to be under CAMHS. Her anxiety was mainly around people she didn't know and new situations.

The past couple of weeks have become so difficult and I just don't know what to do or where to turn.

I noticed her hearing things and she would say to me that her stepbrother swore, or I swore etc when that never happened. That went on for a while but now she is panicking if her sister is on the phone. Her sister will talk to her boyfriend in the evening in her room (they have separate rooms) but my eldest daughter is just flat out panicking about it and refuses to go upstairs. When I finally get her into her bedroom, she will not get in bed but just sits on her bed until 7/8 in the morning.

I tried laying with her this morning so she would get some sleep and she managed an hour or 2.

She's also started putting her fingers in her ears whenever someone talks. Not in a rude way but it's become a reaction. This is within the last couple of days.

She says she can hear her sister talking on the phone at 5/6/7 in the morning despite her sister being fast asleep.

She is also zoned out (I can't think of a better way to describe it). Like when I talk, it's like she doesn't understand me. She's also started whispering instead of using her real voice and is even starting to become non-verbal.

I'm so scared, I don't know what's wrong with her and I don't understand.

I took her to the doctors today and they prescribed Sertraline. She had her first tablet tonight. This seems like more than just anxiety though.

Has anyone else experienced this? Im scared and in tears.

Sending strength @Bepis

I hope things are continuing to improve for your dd OP.

@Bepis I have a daughter who is autistic and has psychotic episodes. We used to live in Derbyshire (you uploaded a leaflet earlier in the thread) so I have had similar experiences. I think you should consider not posting in quite so much detail. Our young people are vulnerable and although I expect you appreciate the support of individuals on the Internet, maybe keep her information a bit closer. Hope things improve very soon.

I hope this will let me post. I'm the original OP but have changed my username since.

On 11th April my daughter was finally moved to a specialised learning disability psychiatric unit. She is slowly improving with regards to getting out and about. The staff have been taking her for trips into the countryside and for a takeaway etc and she seems to enjoy going.

Since moving to the new place though, she doesn't talk at all. She has been practically mute for over a month now which is sad to see. She will say the odd word but barely. When I visit her, it is me making all the conversation but she does smile and laugh at things I say.

She is still on a section 3 and her psychiatrist is predicting possibly a 3 month stay at the facility but will have to see how it goes.

Still deciding whether to take matters further with the police due to the harm caused to her by those teenagers. It is ABH and possibly GBH but I don't know if I can be bothered. It would unlikely achieve anything. What does everyone think?

I think that taking into account the behaviour of her father both immediately before and during her admission (as you described elsewhere), there's no chance of convincing the CPS, never mind a jury that it's all down to a couple of kids kicking doors.

Perhaps, I just don't think I can be bothered with it all (police stuff). I just want to focus on getting her better.

Her psychiatrist has said that was the trigger (door kicking) but I accept that other things will have contributed to it.

It's my husband and dad that want me to go forward with it all but it won't change anything so I don't see the point.

How is DD? And, as importantly, how are you and your family? I think of you often.

Hi, OP here. I closed my old account and then didn't come on here for ages but decided to come back on, so apologies for another different username. Thank you for thinking of me and my daughter.

So, my daughter finally came home on 18 September and she is doing well. There is still a long way to go though and she is on so many medications but the paranoid thoughts have mostly gone now. She's under a lot of professionals and has carers coming into the house to help me care for her. She has remained incontinent unfortunately but this may improve. She has started eating properly again while being at home and has put on 7kg in 3 months. She lost so much weight, we were really worried about her.

She sleeps through the night now and is fairly settled compared to this time last year. I can't believe it's been a year since she first got unwell. It's been one hell of a year for sure.

I'm glad things have improved somewhat. How are you doing yourself?

I'm not too bad, thank you for asking. It's been a tough year and my own mental health is suffering a bit but I will keep going for my daughter. She thankfully has so many professionals involved in her care now so I don't feel as alone.

I do at times wonder if she will ever get back to how she used to be but only time will tell.

@ChihuahuaMummy glad to hear things are starting get better