To be terrified - please help me.

[WhoisRebecca]

Dd, 15, has started taking sertraline after being prescribed it by a private psychiatrist. She took an overdose last year and school refused towards the end of last year.

She is now behaving erratically- running into classrooms at school shouting that she’s going to kill herself, but then laughing - her teachers think she seems very hyper and ‘excited.’ She’s running off when teachers challenge her or swearing at them. She was never like that before this year.

At the weekend she went for a walk and texted a charity helpline, saying she had no bed and was going to jump on the train tracks. We had taken her bed apart because a new double bed was coming on Monday. There was a spare bed upstairs for her. Dd knew this. The police arrived and I was able to show them dd’s location - she had tracking on her phone. They quickly assessed that she had a safe home and did, in fact, have a suitable bed. This was a reaction to being told off because she had bullied a student at school.

She was put in isolation at school for a nasty incident towards another student. She can sometimes be loving and calm. At other times she is very very high and erratic. School had to send her home today. She struggles to attend lessons. I don’t know where to go from here and feel utterly desperate.

The psychiatrist has no idea until the medication is stopped whether it is or it isn’t. As you have seen from this thread sertraline can trigger quite extreme side effects.

It may be a combination of DD issues + the drugs, but the drugs need to be stopped (slowly) to see if DD stabilises without them.

That’s true - but I can’t stop abruptly, so I’ll see where we are in two weeks and I guess she’ll review again at that point. She is highly experienced so I either trust her, or I don’t and I’ll trust her at this point.

I’ve read that autism and bipolar can look similar. Dd is v v rigid and controlling and always has been. I wonder if this is autism.

Do not stop serra line suddenly and please take medical advice before you do.

In respect of her behaviour, a psychiatrist needs to be involved rather than just the GP. I would be requesting this ASAP.

Look to keep a journal. Of her baviour, both highs/lows and 'normal' ready for the assessment.

I haven't had experience of thses symtposm with sertraline and it really is something you'll need to review with gp.

I'm so sorry, it must be terrifying. All. I can say is keep a log and document everything and keep trying with the gp, don't let them fob you off.

The first thing to find out is whether the sertraline is causing a manic episode.

If it isn't then it's possible that this is EUPD, Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder or something else alongside the Autism. The sudden onset of this means that even if she does have ADHD, it's not simply the ADHD, nor the Autism alone causing this.

The psychiatrist is involved, I’m not bothering at all with the GP unless I need a gateway to additional services. I’m going to request psychotherapy and an autism/adhd assessment privately as I’ve been waiting on the nhs since December.

She’s calm now and was yesterday, so it seems more of a reaction to school/sanctions than a manic episode. The psychiatrist felt it was emotional/behavioural from how I described some of the behaviours and not psychiatric.

@WhoisRebecca

I’m feeling a lot better. I actually don’t think I’m a bad parent. Dd2 and ds are both highly academic, in school council and chess club etc - so why is my parenting judged because one of my dc has difficulties that are from trauma, MH issues or disability?

It's because in BPD the trauma is sometimes bad parenting by abusive parents. Incredibly unhelpful to assume that's the case and your DD hasn't been diagnosed BPD anyway. So far the professionals are suggesting ASD/ADHD to you or possibly bipolar or mania triggered by sertraline. Your aunt can't diagnose her over the phone even if she was a doctor. The way she's behaving is ridiculous. All you can do is set people straight and have those on your side set others straight too. It's awful for a member of your family to turn on you like this. I don't know why some people can't behave nicely to others there's no need for nastiness.

No professional has ever suggested bpd to me.

It sounds like your psychiatrist is on the ball - I hope the next days go a bit more smoothly for you

This sounds like me at a similar age. I was being seen by a psychologist and psychiatrist from when I was 13 and bipolar was mentioned as a strong possibility although not diagnosed because of my age.

I was then raped at 14 and ended up shaving all my hair off and drinking, taking drugs and staying out all night. The problems I already had became much worse after the rape and things were awful for a few years.

I attempted suicide a few times and was prescribed carbamazepine, Prozac and a few others at different stages. I missed my GCSEs and virtually stayed in the house for a whole year. When I got to 17 or 18 I was much better.

I eventually got married, started a business and had a baby and was then diagnosed with autism in my late 20s (private diagnosis because my GP was totally dismissive). It made perfect sense when I read up on it but no one even mentioned it at the time.

I've read a lot that bipolar can appear to be similar to ASD. Being diagnosed is such a relief and gives you back some control over your life, at least that's how I felt. I've been on citalopram for years now as I had PND after my child was born and I can recommend that for autism.

Sorry for the essay. Your daughter's situation just really resonated with me and I wanted you to know that things do eventually work themselves out. It's not her fault and it sounds like you're being really supportive so all you can do is give her time.

I wouldn't be jumping/ rushing to get any child diagnosed with a mental illness when another thing might fit. Having autism assessed first is very sensible. If she is autistic then she is likely to be over or under responsive to meds and then once she's in a treadmill of a bit of this and a bit of that then it will be impossible to know what's her and what's side effects.

I speak from absolute experience that bipolar and autism can look really similar. Trauma on top of autism will need a different approach to autism without it.

None of us can diagnose third hand on the internet. The professionals can assess her and we should only be offering support to the OP imho, not throwing labels upon labels at her.

@WhoisRebecca

I’ve read that autism and bipolar can look similar. Dd is v v rigid and controlling and always has been. I wonder if this is autism.

Yes inflexibility is a part of it. The need for structure and certainty. The world isn't really like that so it causes a lot of anxiety and stress. Small children's lives are very structured and repetitive and lacking in responsibility compared to a adults life. The older someone gets the more they have to cope with and some people with ASD can't.

Yes, her issues began at about 13 when friendships became more complicated.

Every professional we have been involved in has suggested autism and ADHD first - so I think it’s probably sensible to pursue that. She’s very calm if she’s not challenged.

OP I don't want to add to your worries, but do you think it's possible she been experimenting with any unprescribed "social" drugs ? Even cannabis can have a very bad effect on some peoples mental health.

I'd be conducting a secret but minute search of her room/pockets.bag etc when she is out of the way .

Sorry you're having such a tough time.

She has had cannabis - I found some evidence in her room. I search her room regularly and she has no cash available at the moment.

I'm surprised your psychiatrist said no to ADHD medication as they are stimulants given her apparent reaction to SSRI.

The whole point is that if one has ADHD then the drugs, which cause stimulation in non-ADHD people, actually serve to calm someone with ADHD. If I took amphetamine with a non-ADHD friend, I'd probably clean my house, write a short story and have a lovely long sleep. My friend would go absolutely mental. I have ADHD.

ADHD medication operates completely differently to SSRIs.

Good luck OP, you sound like a great mum.
Good lu

Also, coffee calms people with ADHD. I have two mugs full before I go to sleep.

I thought she was wrong about adhd meds, but I guess I’ll get a second opinion with the private assessment we will have. She does drink energy drinks sometimes, she finds them helpful though I haven’t encouraged that!

Dd stayed at my mums this weekend and has had a lovely time, but DM found loads of clothes that belonged to her and my stepdad in dd’s bag. Dd claims they got in there ‘by mistake.’ It’s not completely out of character for Dd to steal. I’m going to discuss it with her youth worker and maybe role play some scenarios to help her develop empathy.

@WhoisRebecca

I thought she was wrong about adhd meds, but I guess I’ll get a second opinion with the private assessment we will have. She does drink energy drinks sometimes, she finds them helpful though I haven’t encouraged that!

Lots of people with ADHD self medicate with coffee / energy drinks without realising why.

That makes sense. I’m worried about the stealing. She compulsively hoards clothes that she never wears as well. I’ve been very calm with her though and I’m trying to praise good behaviour.

I just asked Dd how energy drinks make her feel. She said they calm her down.

I am glad she is calmer - please don't underestimate how the sexual assault has effected her. There were different periods in my life were I was assaulted but it was the episode where I was a young teen that effected me the most.