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Original poster

Son - mentally ill, sleep deprived or on drugs?

120 replies

ShatteredRose · 20/11/2017 06:44

Been having lots of problems with my 16 year old son. He hasn't done anything since leaving school and has been out every night smoking dope with his mates. I don't give him money anymore so I don't know where he's getting money from. He disappears for two days at a time lately saying he's staying at his mates.

This morning he got in at 4am (after been "at his mates" for two days.) I found him sat on the dining room floor in pitch black darkness staring out of the window. He said there were 3 men in "gigalo suits" hiding in the bushes watching him with cameras. He insisted on showing me where they were and couldn't understand why I couldn't see them. I've made him go to bed. I'm at a loss of what to do. Is he mentally ill or taking something other than weed? What can I do when I can't physically stop him leaving the house??

OP posts:
MuseumOfCurry · 20/11/2017 07:34

No advice, just Flowers and that it's time for drastic action.

Good luck.

Slartybartfast · 20/11/2017 07:37

that is a good point, at 16 he may listen to a male relative more.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 20/11/2017 07:42

Cannabis can cause hallucinations as well, it doesn't have to be more than that. Especially when coupled with sleep deprivation.

Wait for this to pass, then it's a tough conversation about what the hell is going on.

If he doesn't come out of it then you'll have to get him to a doctor to assess him.

Sleephead1 · 20/11/2017 07:44

Op it could well be drugs but either way hes unwell. I would stay off today and get a doctor to visit as either he is mentally unwell or he using drugs heavily either way he needs help asap. I understand hes 16 and you probably cant force him to doctors but if they could come out they could ser whilst he is in this state. Could you ring 111 now and see what they say to do.

Wolfiefan · 20/11/2017 07:45

You can't go to work and leave him hallucinating!
Call for medical advice. He may need admitting.

Nousernameforme · 20/11/2017 07:47

First off I would phone 111 to find out what they suggest with regards to his psychosis. I think you will need to get him in to gp this morning at the very least. Would he go if not would the gp be able to get to you?

If you think he is in danger of hurting himself you need to take him to a&e. I think it is pointless trying to guess what he has taken if it is drug related until this has passed. Then hopefully he will tell you

MrsOverTheRoad · 20/11/2017 07:49

I was a mess from age 16 to 20 OP....I'm just trying to give you hope here. I came out of it all with my parents solid, unswerving love and support....they never stopped telling me they loved me.

Art got me out of it....keep encouraging your son's photography as best you can.x

HappyGirl86 · 20/11/2017 07:51

Sounds like he might have been taking speed maybe? Either way, it doesn’t sound good and I’d ring 111 or the GP practice for advice. I hope everything is ok. Must be very scary and worrying for you.

blueskyinmarch · 20/11/2017 07:52

You cannot seriously be thinking of leaving him alone and going to work. He needs to know that you are immensely worried about him - so much that you have taken time off work to make sure he is okay. Not just leaving him alone to get up and go out and do it all again. Spend the day trying to speak to him, get support, get advice. Don't leave him.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/11/2017 07:53

Also try FRANK OP it's a drug advice website and line xxx

whiskyowl · 20/11/2017 07:56

He sounds high as a kite. I agree with PPs that it's time to take action. This goes nowhere good - not least in mental health/depression terms.

"didn't get any GCSEs other than a B in photography"

Is there any chance you can work with this once the medical issues are sorted? Get him onto art/photography courses at the local college? For him to have made an effort with one particular subject suggests that he really does love it.

Coconutspongexo · 20/11/2017 07:56

OP you cannot go to work if your son has been hallucinating, if you really have to go to work someone needs to be with him.

He needs medical attention especially if you have no guarantee he’s been doing drugs, I agree with previous posters saying he’s experiencing psychosis he needs help.

Sorry OP

TanteRose · 20/11/2017 07:57

another one saying do not leave him alone Flowers

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 07:57

It's impossible to say from your description whether it was drugs or psychosis.

He was certsinly experiencing paranoia.

That could have happened because he took a drug like acid that makes you hallucinate, a stimulant drug like speed or coke that can make you paranoid if you do too much, or a ridiculous amount of weed could make him paranoid - or it could be that he is psychotic.

As a parent I would be hoping it was acid or strong weed tbh as that would mean a one off experience. Acid is not addictive.

If it was speed or coke I'd be more worried as they're addictive. There are also drugs that are popular these days like Spice and meth that I know nothing about as they weren't arpund in my day but I would find them concerning too.

Psychosis would be the most serious situation. A friend of mine had his first psychotic episode at 16. He was very unwell and in and out of mental hospitals for the next decade. 30 years later he's in fact one of my most accomplished friends - has a great job he enjoys, doing something he loves but also very well paid - one of my richest friends and has an awesome wife and lovely children. But you wouldn't have guessed that when he was 20 - he was ill for a long time.

As you know your DS takes drugs i' d guess it's probably not psychosis - sounds like drug induced paranoia.

But I mention the psychosis not to scare you but to show how serious it could be, if his paranoia / mania hasn't gone away tonight you may need to call someone. Hopefully not.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 07:57

I would agree with others best he's not left alone.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 07:59

Also I phrased one bit badly - even the smallest bit of weed can make you feel paranoid if it doesn't agree with you. But you'd have to take a lot for the kind of delusions your DS was experiencing.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 08:00

Also I phrased one bit badly - even the smallest bit of weed can make you feel paranoid if it doesn't agree with you. But you'd have to take a lot for the kind of delusions your DS was experiencing.

Lily2007 · 20/11/2017 08:00

I would phone 111 or doctors for advice, that's definitely not just tiredness.

Given he's just been to a mate and previously admitted taking weed I would guess drugs, not a drug expert but the exact drug doesn't matter, what matters is he's seriously ill and going down a very dangerous path. Feel for you.

mum11970 · 20/11/2017 08:09

Pschycosis due to smoking skunk. My dss had to be committed to a psychiatric hospital for months due to this. The weed that was around years ago is nothing like the strength they are smoking now.

Somerford · 20/11/2017 08:10

That doesn't sound like LSD. Of course drugs affect people in different ways so it's possible but I've seen people on "bad trips" so to speak, hallucinations and paranoia etc, more than once. They are rarely thinking clearly enough to have a discussion with you about what they're seeing and the paranoia is usually so intense that they can't articulate a great deal. Also the hallucinations tend not to be prolonged and drawn out scenarios, its a general fear and a dark place where all kinds of different images and thoughts are swirling around in their minds and they become overwhelmed. Him saying that you've given away his position when you switched the light on doesn't sound right for someone on acid. Just speaking from my own experience of trying to guide friends through bad trips at house parties back in the day, as I say drugs affect people differently but it sounds unlikely that LSD is behind this. I'm struggling to think of any other drug that would leave him so highly alert and yet so deeply entranced in a hallucination.

If your son had a pre-existing MH issue it could have been exacerbated by a period of prolonged cannabis use perhaps. My initial feeling from your OP is that it's unlikely to be the immediate effect of intoxication from any drug that I have experience with, perhaps it could be an amphetamine of some description. That would explain the alertness and could explain the state of paranoia also. Amphetamines come in many forms, some of which are prescription drugs sold on to dealers by addicts and others are produced specifically for recreational use. Some of the prescription amphetamines are used to treat relatively common conditions, perhaps a friend has shared pills that they have been prescribed and your son has taken a high dose in order to achieve the intoxicating effect.

GrumpyOldBag · 20/11/2017 08:11

Another one who thinks it's psychosis caused by smoking too much cannabis. A close male relative around the same age as your DS had this. Still struggling with it a few years on.

You must get him to a doctor as soon as possible.

Sensimilla · 20/11/2017 08:11

ONE, the GP can't/won't do anything, if he doesn't want to seek help himself. If it is hallucinations and he had come down this morning, it isn't a medical issue. It is only medical if it is psychosis and then you can have him sectioned. See how he is this morning

I would be more concerned at his lack of ambition than his drug use at this stage (if it isn't psychosis)

Sensimilla · 20/11/2017 08:13

He is unlikely to be dealing, if he is using to that extent

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 08:14

That doesn't sound like LSD not a typical bae trip, no amd it wouldn't be my first guess but it depends on what else he's taken with it and how sleep deprived he was before he took it etc etc.

I met someone at a festival once who was so paranoid he thought he was an undercover cop and was spying on his friends! That was a sustained delusion. He was fine once the drugs eventually wore off.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/11/2017 08:14

That doesn't sound like LSD not a typical bae trip, no amd it wouldn't be my first guess but it depends on what else he's taken with it and how sleep deprived he was before he took it etc etc.

I met someone at a festival once who was so paranoid he thought he was an undercover cop and was spying on his friends! That was a sustained delusion. He was fine once the drugs eventually wore off.