Daughter 21 refusing to take bipolar medication

[Lyinglow50]

My daughter has bipolar type 2. She normally takes her medication but 5 days ago she stopped taking all her medication. She managed to convince 2 GPs and a social worker in hospital not to detain her.

We are under the home team butI haven't contacted them as DD is asleep now. She was awake most of the night.

What happens to someone who suddenly stops all her medication?

If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. Thank you for reading.

💐 that’s promising news, hope you’ve slept too?

conveniently I can never ever remember how I felt or much detail of what happened, I think for me bipolar is one of those conditions that will convince you of anything to keep itself going - either driving you in so you can be further sealed into depression or out and off meds to fuel the buzz. Obviously lithium IS poisonous so that’s hardly a delusion, you know there’s a narrow range within which it works without poisoning people (hence all the blood tests).

I've got bipolar and a week off meds would spell disaster for me.
She really needs to get back on them. She risks losing her driving license, section, impact on insurance and work. I believe to suddenly stop lithium can be risky but I am not on lithium so am not sure. My own mood medication (lamotrigine) is very dangerous to stop immediately. Also the antipsychotics I am on cause rebound effects whereby psychosis comes back with a vengeance.
I hope she is ok.

She was sectioned this evening (thank God). She went missing this afternoon and was picked up by the police and taken to A&E. She's completely exhausted and so am I.

Thanks to everyone who supported me. I hope I can return the favour some day. Your advice was invaluable and completely spot on as it turned out.

Goodnight and sleep well. I hope my post hasn't caused anyone pain or triggered in any way. Goodnight and sleep well x

Sending Lyinglow50.

Lots and lots of love, hope you’re as okay as possible under the circumstances and she’s not too far from home. 💕 Hospital is really the only place for this, lithium can take a little while to work its magic. Please feel free to ask for support here xxx

Thanks Erin and Why. I'm just very relieved. She is not one bit happy needless to say. She hates the hospital she is in and if a place comes up in our local hospital she should get moved.

I hope this experience teaches her something about her condition but who knows? She might have to learn it a few more times. She is young yet .

One you're quite right about the implications. She is also very aware and won't be impressed. One of her major goals was to get her driving licence. We were also planning a long haul flight. She has a part time job and she won't be up to working for a while.

She was picked up by police in our local town and put into an ambulance. She will be very worried that people saw the incident. We have a lot of work to do to get things back on track.

Her decision to stop the meds has had big repercussions for her. She could learn from this or go the other way.

I hope she learns lass.

I hope she learns too

She’s really really young, I was late twenties and it still took ages. Obviously she won’t be able to drive for six months or so, DVLA have no flexibility with hypomania/mania, it’s an automatic medical disqualification until med compliant etc

Things that helped as much as lithium (or more than): self management course with manic depression fellowship (Now called bipolar uk), several months of 1:1 cbt working on accepting diagnosis, relapse signatures etc - I draw upon these all the time to keep up with sleep and daily routines. All very dull but over time it works.

Thanks folks.Her age is complicating things hugely. She just wants to be like her friends. I will investigate cbt.

Yeah, I didn't have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder but something else and someone once said to me that sometimes you have to "go around" a few times.

Do you as her family member have any support for yourself?

Pleased to hear she is getting help. But yes, I do echo getting some help for yourself.

Some bpuk groups have specific ‘carers’ meetings, worth checking out if you haven’t already.

I got 6 free face to face counselling sessions from Lifeline early this year which was amazing. It was literally a game changer but I still get terrified when crises happen. I'm so scared she will do something she can't come back from.

I am ashamed to admit that I use alcohol to blot out the fear sometimes. I need to see my GP about this and get back on beta blockers. I also need to join a carers group. Thanks for encouraging me. I had kind of forgotten how important self help is.

She is in a taxi now on the way to our local hospital. She was lucky to get a bed. She knows everyone there. God forgive me but she sounded so upbeat on the phone coming back up the road to see all her mates in hospital.

I was livid as she has put me through hell. I know what it wasn't easy for her but she bounces back. I swear sometimes I feel she is abusing this situation. I have wondered if she puts some of it on to get her own way.

My partner (we live separately) and a longtime friend of hers maintains that she takes the piss out of me.

I need to toughen up. I know she is unwell and non compliance is a big issue but honestly!!!!

I am now ranting buy you guys told me I could LOL. I need to clean my house as nothing got done during our latest crisis!!

It’s a bit unhelpful of other people to say she’s taking the piss (even if she is) but this is the thing with elation? People forget or can’t see it’s a form of mental distress, a dangerous one.

Do get in touch with BPUK, nobody gets it quite like those who have been where you are now xxx

I trust that the people who are saying it have my interests at heart. I know she manipulates situations. I 100% believe she is mentally ill. I've seen the decline. I've no doubt.

You're right I need to talk to the people who know own. I will. Thanks as always.

Are you and your daughter living together? Is this something that there is scope for changing?

My experience is that crisis planning can be helpful, but only if the planning is done when I am some distance from the crisis. It sounds as if you and your daughter could make a crisis plan together, and if she will not cooperate with that, you could make a plan for yourself so that you have a sense of what to do if her behaviour becomes problematic again.

Try not to beat yourself up for things you should or should not be doing. Caring for a family member who has a mental illness is notoriously stressful.

We don't live together but that's a recent thing. She moved into a flat nearby about 2 months ago. We Badly needed space from each other. It went well but she was socialising and not keeping regular hours. I think this is why she crashed.

To be honest I am extremely nervous about having her home. I am also very nervous about her going back to the flat. She takes things out on me but not on other people. I genuinely think war would break out.

She's still detained and not taking her medication. She could run out of the hospital and has left twice today for approx 10 minutes.

I spoke to a nurse who was very frank. She said a lot of her problem is she is immature and when she's upset she relies on bad habits e.g. drink or marijuna. The nurse said she attention seeks.

I am hoping things change and she gets back on track. I'm not optimistic though.

She needs to fall far enough to want to get back up. You have no control over it. Maturity comes when it ready. I was much like her. Im still ill but much more responsible.

One great advice. I'll have to grit my teeth and let her fall. It terrifies me though. I will just keep repeating 'I have no control over it'.

I wonder when/if she will start to take her medication again? I have to switch off. Thanks again. I'm getting amazingly knowledgeable advice from you and I'm very grateful.

She wont get released from hospital until she is compliant and stable.
They dont mollycoddle in their either. Ive been bollocked before numerous times, told im not being clever just letting myself and everyone around me down. Thats the point of nursing care. Plus i had psychology and occupational therapy x

In there not their!

I think it's for the best that you are not living together. It sounds terribly frightening for you though. Self care, self care, self care. .