Please or to access all these features

SN teens and young adults

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on SN.

Please help - scared for my daughter

4 replies

Bepis · 30/12/2022 23:35

My daughter is 18 years old but she has special needs so is a lot younger in her mind. She has suffered with anxiety for the past 5 years or so, to the point where it stopped her attending school and she had to be under CAMHS. Her anxiety was mainly around people she didn't know and new situations.

The past couple of weeks have become so difficult and I just don't know what to do or where to turn.

I noticed her hearing things and she would say to me that her stepbrother swore, or I swore etc when that never happened. That went on for a while but now she is panicking if her sister is on the phone. Her sister will talk to her boyfriend in the evening in her room (they have separate rooms) but my eldest daughter is just flat out panicking about it and refuses to go upstairs. When I finally get her into her bedroom, she will not get in bed but just sits on her bed until 7/8 in the morning.

I tried laying with her this morning so she would get some sleep and she managed an hour or 2.

She's also started putting her fingers in her ears whenever someone talks. Not in a rude way but it's become a reaction. This is within the last couple of days.

She says she can hear her sister talking on the phone at 5/6/7 in the morning despite her sister being fast asleep.

She is also zoned out (I can't think of a better way to describe it). Like when I talk, it's like she doesn't understand me. She's also started whispering instead of using her real voice and is even starting to become non-verbal.

I'm so scared, I don't know what's wrong with her and I don't understand.

I took her to the doctors today and they prescribed Sertraline. She had her first tablet tonight. This seems like more than just anxiety though.

Has anyone else experienced this? Im scared and in tears.

OP posts:
Bepis · 31/12/2022 04:31

She's still awake. I can't cope with this 😭

OP posts:
Mossball · 31/12/2022 10:22

I really don't know what to advise. On what basis was she prescribed the sertraline? I can imagine you are worried about schizophrenia. Reading up on sertraline it is a drug with mixed results particularly in young patients.

Did the doctor give you any further information or avenues of support?

JustKeepBuilding · 31/12/2022 12:17

Is DD still under CAMHS or has she moved to the adult mental health team (or was she discharged)? If she’s still under CAMHS I would call them. If under the adult MH team do you have a named contact there? If discharged you can probably self refer to adult services.

Does DD have an EHCP? Does she have SALT, OT and MH input via that?

onlytherain · 08/02/2023 14:55

It sounds like she thinks that the sounds are outside of her and not thoughts. As far as I know, that is something that should be investigated.

I know quite a few teenagers who were prescribed Sertraline, it is definitely not uncommon.

If she does not sleep tonight, I would call the mental health emergency service and ask for their advice. I would also call CAMHS.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page