Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teenage overdose

22 replies

par05 · 22/08/2022 23:15

Just found out my ds 14 has taken a overdose twice in once 2 days ago and another a few months ago , I thought he was behaving better but now just really scared for him! Both times when he argued with his girlfriend who he's still with. What do I do? I've had a talk with him over how dangerous it is and that we are always there for him no matter what. He dosent want to go to the doctors but I'm lost as what to do now. I just thank god he is ok. He won't finish with this girlfriend even though they argue alot.

OP posts:
Original poster
par05 · 22/08/2022 23:30

I really need to help him but don'know how

OP posts:
Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 00:09

Anybody dealt with similar?

OP posts:
Susue999 · 23/08/2022 00:22

I’m sorry to hear this. I wonder if he can think about other ways he can manage overwhelming feelings. Would he speak to a counsellor rather than a GP - eg at school - or is he just not wanting to talk to anyone. Did he share with you that he had overdosed or did you find out? So hard as you are understandably scared. I would think maybe even if he did end the relationship there will be other challenges he comes across so maybe focus on ways of managing overwhelming feelings rather than ending the relationship? Thinking of you though. This is tough.

WonderinFree · 23/08/2022 00:30

What did he overdose on OP? If it’s paracetamol you need to get him to A&E

littleblackno · 23/08/2022 00:32

My DD has taken a few overdoses, it is so utterly terrifying and just for that I am sending you a hug.
Even though I am in it I really wish I had more advice. My DD didn't tell anyone on both occasions until later- one was 4 days later the second time was the following day. Both times I took her to a&e where she had blood tests ecg etc.
How old is he? I think I would want for him to have blood tests done.
I am still waiting for her to be seen by CAMHS so am paying privately for counselling. We had to try a few different ones but have now got one who seems to be making a difference.

I have everything locked away in the house, as do other relatives who's house she goes to- and her best friends mum is aware and has also locked her medication away. I appreciate that may not be possible for you to do and to be honest I think if my DD wanted to she would find a packet of paracetamol.

I really would try to encourage him to talk to someone- anyone. The risk is so high and they don't/ can't appreciate that.
Good luck to you💐💐

littleblackno · 23/08/2022 00:34

My DD is 14, the seeing a doctor was not optional to her. I just took her to A&E.
I would advise you get him seen. Paracetamol OD can take a while to show any affect.

Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 04:18

Hi have taken him to hospital and waiting for bloodtests. Really don't think he realises how serious this is. They are going to keep him overnight I think and refer to cahms

OP posts:
MummyInTheNecropolis · 23/08/2022 04:27

Well done for getting him to hospital OP, it’s a horrible thing to go through. My DD has overdosed 3 times now, each one resulting in a hospital stay. She is also a chronic self harmer. After the third overdose she refused to go to hospital so I called an ambulance, she ran away when she saw them coming so they called the police who got her back and put her in the ambulance. It was an awful, heartbreaking time but we got through it, she is having therapy with CAMHS now (only just started, over a year after the incident as she refused to engage up until now). I really hope your boy gets all the help he needs Flowers

Mogloveseggs · 23/08/2022 04:32

sending a hug op.
currently in a and e with Dd who's a bit older and feels suicidal. She's now saying she wants to go home but I've said stay and talk to the nurse (been here many times).
hope your dc gets the help they need

custardbear · 23/08/2022 04:40

Good luck OP
CAMHS referral, also see if you can get in touch with Harmless as they're very good too (not sure what areas they cover in the UK)
Could he have ADHD or ADD? Or possibly ASD do you know? Any traits? Has he has any issues at school? My DD crashed with burnout and had been masking for years, girls are apparently more likely to mask but could happen with boys too
Good luck and I hope all is ok

Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 04:49

He is 14 nearly 15 and he took 20 paracetamol they have taken bloods now and waiting for results he has a drip thing in his arm and they gave him a medicine down there

OP posts:
ChangingStates · 23/08/2022 05:06

My dd, 14 at the time, took a large paracetamol overdose- she had also taken a smaller one before it turned out. Ended up in hospital for one night on a drip which made her feel very sick & throw up a lot and also had a psych assessment as well as a conversation with a very straight talking dr.
We were lucky in that the whole experience scared her and she felt so ill that it seems to have stopped it. This was over a year ago and there has been no repeats, she is even very reluctant to take paracetamol when she feels unwell and now generally finds swallowing any tablets hard. Also don’t be afraid to let him see how absolutely terrified you are- I am very good at holding it together in crisis but a few days later I got very upset and told her how scared I was and this seemed to shock her, I don’t think she had really thought too much about what she was doing and the reality consequences.

I hope your son is ok, and you are too. Talk to friends / family and get all the support you can x

Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 05:26

Thank you all for messages and replys, he seems quite upbeat as this is just a blip and keeps texting his girlfriend updating her I really hope he realises the seriousness of what he has done, his moods go up and down and his attitude has appalling at times but never thought he would do this. The nurse has just said about informing a social worker too..

OP posts:
Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 05:30

He's taking pics on his Snapchat and sending them to his friends. I really don't know what to say...

OP posts:
fannyfan · 23/08/2022 07:45

Take his phone off him for starters

Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 07:53

Did take his phone off him in the end and he has slept a bit. They started him on the 3 drips, currently on number 2. But just had his blood test results back and thank goodness his liver is ok. The doctors have now gone to discuss whether to continue treatment or stop as liver ok. Then we have to wait for cahms to come and see us. I still don't think he realises how lucky he is .
@Mogloveseggs hope things are OK for you and your dd

OP posts:
Dontjudgeme101 · 23/08/2022 08:43

I am so glad that your son is ok now. 💐💐💐

Original poster
par05 · 23/08/2022 10:09

Thank you, I've come home for a bit while he was asleep they have decided to continue the treatment as his paracetamol level was a bit high but liver is ok. He's now about to start drip number 3 which is 16 hours so will be there until 1am. I'm hoping this will scare him into never doing it again. Except he just wants his girlfriend there and I feel he still hasn't realised the seriousness.

OP posts:
Mogloveseggs · 23/08/2022 10:42

@par05 thank you.
He's in the best place and he hopefully will realise how serious it is.
Look after yourself too. Don't be worried about social services I have found them to be very sympathetic.

Original poster
par05 · 24/08/2022 22:21

Hi so we are home now, have a follow up appointment with cahms, they did a quick assessment on him, henis refusing counselling though. He said he now knows paracetamol doesn't work so will try something else next time. Didn't say that to cahms just to me apparently as a joke but I can not trust him to stop being so impulsive and not try anything else. He wants to go out tomorrow with his girlfriend I've I've no as he still needs to recover so he has taken this badly.

OP posts:
Bonkerz · 24/08/2022 22:31

My daughter took an overdose of propanalol when she was 13. She took 30 tablets over 2 days and her friend text me to tell me. Ambulance rushed her to hospital as heart rate was low.
That started the ball rolling with Cahms and she is working through things and improving with the help Of other meds etc.

Rightly or wrongly I let my daughter see how her actions affected everyone else. She saw the upset first hand and I was tough on her for the week that we had Cahms crisis visiting. She didn't leave my side. I made her sleep in bed with me etc. it was my way of coping and we talked a lot. We call it 'suicide watch' and thankfully I've only had to do it once.

It's horrendous to think your own child wants to die. The guilt is horrid. Please make sure you ask for support and push Cahms.

katieatietwo · 25/08/2022 23:37

#metoo

New posts on this thread. Refresh page