Help! DS (12) has just taken overdose!

[BoffinMum]

I am just leaving London to go home. DS2 just rang me to say he had taken an overdose. AP has managed to get into the bathroom and is sitting with him, I have phoned ambulance etc. Currently on train not knowing what the hell is happening, and very shaky. On my way to meet them at hospital but won't be there for over an hour.

[SummerRain]

Oh lord boffin, I'm sorry this is happening.

I took an overdose at a similar age, I didn't tell my parents as I genuinely wanted to die. My mother happened to have a headache that night though and spotted the entire packet was gone. I was yelled at, told to drink milk and had to listen to my mother wailing about how embarrassing it would be if I needed to go to hospital. Unsurprisingly I remained suicidal after that.

It sounds like your boy has a fantastic support network, mental illness is horrendous but having strong supportive people around you genuinely does help.

I hope it was just a cry for help and he hasn't actually taken much/any.

[BoffinMum]

I had no idea so many kids take overdoses and do cries for help.
I have to say he had very good care from the NHS in the CAMHS clinic, world class. Which almost makes it worse that this is happening. If he gets this bad with good care then there is nothing else we can do.

[thecatfromjapan]

Wishing the best for you. It really is good that he told you.

[BoffinMum]

well clearly he was not wanting it to actually happen or he wouldn't have rung me

[BoffinMum]

I was happily standing in WHSmith looking a a copy of the Spectator and suddenly I was propelled into a nightmare. I have to say my AP has been amazing and 999 were very good too. But it's difficult managing at a distance.

[thecatfromjapan]

BoffinMum, I'm sure it's never a straight road, and there will be dips along the way. It doesn't mean that what you've all been doing hasn;t worked. The fact he told you must be a good sign.

[jonicomelately]

Exactly. Cry for help. He'll recover from this. He really will.

[BoffinMum]

well tbh the kids tell me most things. On the surface I am unflappable.

[Badvoc]

He obv feels he can talk to you.
That's such a positive (even at a time like this)
You must feel like you have stumbled into an alternate reality :(

[BoffinMum]

That's true, Badvoc. It's very disorientating to deal with something like that surrounded by other commuters.

[jonicomelately]

I've had several moments in the past few months when my world has turned upside down. It feels surreal and unfair as everybody gets on with their ordinary lives but at sometime these moments happen to everybody. The important thing is to focus on the job at hand. Getting to your boy and helping him start his recovery.

[BoffinMum]

well i thought we were a long way through his recovery. i was very wrong.

[dottyaboutstripes]

I'm really sorry. My dd has done this twice. Hope he is ok

[BoffinMum]

Nearly at station, may be some radio silence while I get up to the hospital and find him.

[jonicomelately]

I know how you feel to some extent. I thought we were well on the road to recovery with DP, who had a serious physical problem. We weren't and it rocked our world but two months on, after what we thought was the worst case scenario happened, we're fine. A bit shaken but fine. It's not fair that you and your DS are going through this and it's terrifying but just keep breathing and you'll be ok.

[mummytime]

I'm hoping for you.
A good friends DD had anorexia, and there were a lot of ups and downs, but she has really turned a corner now (and is living away from home at Uni).
CAMHS can be great, but there are often ups and downs along the way.

[BoJolly]

This is a good website : www.youngminds.org.uk/

[Annietheacrobat]

Thinking if you. Give him a big hug and tell him everything's going to be ok. Because it will be.

[FreeLikeABird]

Thinking of you, hope your ds is ok x

[Applefallingfromthetree2]

You mention that your son took extra ADs recently hoping to speed up his recovery.A family member increased the dosage of the drug on the psychiatrists advice and became suicidal as a result. The dosage was reduced immediately. So the frightening suicidal behaviour was a result of the dosage rather than the drug itself. Could this be a factor?

Until you experience it no one can imagine the horror of mental illness, but hopefully it will pass and there is no reason why it should colour his whole life. It is surprising how many people experience serious problems and make complete recoveries.

Thinking of you and your DS

[starlight1234]

Very frightening situation to be in..

Thinking of you..Hope your son gets the help he needs

[bigTillyMint]

Thinking of you. Like Annie said, give him a big hug and tell him everything will be OK. As you already know (from the previous incident) a drug overdose will trigger the CAMHS services to intervene much more quickly.

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

Very much hope everything is ok at the hospital and your son gets the help which will make the difference.

[BoffinMum]

To be fair CAMHS have always been amazing.

I am in here with him now and he is very apologetic.

[jonicomelately]

It's great to hear you're there with him. Give him a massive hug from all of us on this thread