Psychosis

[hayleyB79]

Hi I'm new to mumsnet and am posting my for the first time. I am currently experiencing my second episode of psychosis, even tho I don't believe I'm I'll at the moment but that's the thing u wouldn't if your I'll. Just wondering if anyone else has had experience of this and if its something I can expect to live with for thee rest of my life or whether it is possible to experience it a couple of times then never again?

Yes you all seem to know your stuff which is so helpful (apart from psycho gate)off to take my zopliclone now and head to bed. Night all.

Night Hayley hope you get a good nights sleep.

You might like body balance if you like zumba Hayley, it;s yoga to music. I went today and think it helped a bit xx

That sounds good. Ive never done yoga before but heard its good for the body and mind. I'll look into it and see if they do it local to me. I like the idea its done to music.

How did you get on with the zopiclone hayley?

Really well. I took it just after 9 then went to bed not long after and I was asleep by 10, usually it takes me up to 2-3 hours to fall asleep. I slept through until 6.30! Best nights sleep I've had in a long time. I did have a bad dream which I haven't for a long time but not sure if that was the zopliclone or the fact I haven't slept long enough to have a bad dream in a while.

Does anyone know of a good book for children who have a parent with a mental health problem? I have a 12 year old daughter and she doesn't talk to me about my illness even though I've told her she can ask me anything. I've asked her if she wants to speak to my care coordinator but she said she doesn't like talking to people she doesn't know and I'm worried she's bottling it all up. She loves to read though and I thought there must be a book out there to help someone her age better understand mental health and to help her feel she doesn't need to cope alone.

Theres a book called "pretend friends" mentioned on the rethink website. I don't know what age its aimed at. Your care coordinator might have some resources available too.

DHs early intervention team work with the whole family with a family liason CPN allocated to each family. They have worked with us jointly. I wonder if they could do some whole family work with you all so your daughter could get to know someone that way and then might feel better able to talk to them if she needed to. Psychosis often starts as a teenager and early intervention teams have a lot of kids on their books, so will be experienced of supporting kids whether its as patients, siblings or children of patients.

Also schools can get councellors in for pupils, you could ask them about this as another route if you feel she needs it.

I found the TED talk by professor Elyn Saks on utube really useful in understanding psychosis although she has schizophrenia so it might be confusing for her and would probably be best for you or DH to watch it first to check if its age appropriate. She has written a book called " the centre can not hold " which I have just started reading, but from what I've read so far I don't think it would be suitable at 12, as its quite graphic and disturbing from the prologue (treatment in american MH hospitals seems barbaric and I'm pretty sure what shes describing would be illegal here, so I think it is intended to shock the reader)

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I'll talk to my care coordinator and see if she has any suggestions like you said. I don't think she's talked to her friends about me having psychosis because kids can be cruel and I think shed be worried about other people finding out as there's still so much stigma at their age.

Must be difficult for your DD if she hasn't got anyone to talk to about this, hope your care coordinator can help.

With regards to the bad dream - I've found most sleeping meds make me have more and more intense dreams including bad dreams (had a period of several months where I dreamt every single night about someone trying to kill me) but I got used to it very quickly and don't get that stress/fear response to bad dreams any more so its not a side effect that bothers me any more. I think it took a few weeks to get used to it.

Thanks natsku. I thought it was just coincidence I had a bad dream the first night I took it but then I had one the next night and had a bad dream then, not as scary as yours but I was being chased and kept falling over every time I tried to run away.

Hopefully you'll get used to them soon like I did.

My DD is 11 she had some counselling via butterwick hospice it was more to do with me being in hospital then the actual diagnosis but it did seem to help. It was my CPN who put her forward for her so the equivalent of your care coordinator.

I have two DD's and MH problems run in my family, females in particular and I'm worried one or both will inherit it.

How is your increased dosage going?

Mh problems run in my family too and that's why I want my daughter to speak to someone because I'm so worried about her developing something in the future. She already has the worry gene and even though I've tried to keep as much as I can from her so not to worry her, she's 12 so she's not stupid. Increased dose going well, I do feel a bit more relaxed. I actually have plans monday to Wednesday but am thinking about trying to stay at home on my own Thursday which is the first time I've even thought about it in weeks so increased meds must be doing something.

Really glad you are starting to feel a bit better hayley is it psychosis that runs in your family? It seems to run on the male side of DHs family on his GMs side though it seems to have been dormant (as far as we know) for a few generations before this one and suddenly popped up in 3 men DHs generation. All 3 also had abusive childhoods which I believe is often a trigger. We don't have kids yet but its obviously a major consideration for us.

DHs early intervention team say they work with young people at risk of developing psychosis and try to pick them up and prevent it ever developing, so if there is a family link that might be worth discussing with your care coordinator too.

My care coordinator is aware that we have a history of mental health problems but has never mentioned anything about my daughter other than if she wants to talk to her she can. Maybe I should talk to her about my concerns. Its not just psychosis in my family but schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and anxiety and depression.

Hayley, Jacqueline Wilson wrote The Illustrated Mum which is a good read for a 12 year old - it's about living with a Mum who has bipolar.

Thanks Finsbury. I don't think she's ever read that one so will buy it for her. Someones also just told me about a book called I'm not alone by an author who's surname is Sherman so will look into that too, its aimed at teens so hopefully won't be too advanced for her as she is 13 this year.

I don't know how they decide if someones at risk of psychosis before a first episode tbh. I just know its come up in discussions with my family liason CPN, as we don't have kids yet our discussions have been much more focused on issues that may arrise during pregnancy and early years. One of DHs relatives has schizophrenia too, it wouldn't shock me if he ended up with that diagnosis down the line.

I'm hoping my episodes of psychosis don't lead to schizophrenia. Ive never hallucinated as of yet but I don't know if that means I never will.

Don't worry I think a large percentage of people don't go on to be diagnosed with it, and I think psychiatrists are less quick to give people that label these days. DH halucinates and looking back before his diagnosis I thinknthere were about 10 years where he had low grade psychosis pretty much constantly, so I'm not expecting him to ever be completely away from it. Just hoping that with meds and following advice of early intervention we can maximise the stable times. We had 3 stable years before his latest relapse, which was amazing, hoping we can manage longer next time.

The fact that you are typing in a rational manner makes me feel as if your psychosis is currently mild, plus your aware, thats a good thing.

I have had psychosis unfortunately I have become violent and actually tried to kill my ex husband.

When it comes to why I had an extremely abusive childhood, in a group therapy session another patient said it sounded like a horror film.

To the poster asking about why her relative won't give up, well it's purely will power but also drink and drugs blot stuff out so it is horribly hard to not do it.

Nolongeranxious sorry to hear your DH hallucinates, must be scary for both of you and I really hope he manages a longetr stable time this time round. Butterfliesarefragile really sorry to hear about your abusive childhood, I can't imagine how awful that must have been for you. I thought the same thing if I can type like this I cant be that I'll but the mh team say itsd because I got caught early this time.

You do sound better hayley or at least a bit more positive which can only be a good thing.

for anyone's who's struggling with themselves or loved ones.

Thanks. Fingers crossed I feel brave enough one day this week to stay home alone. That will be the test of how much better I am.