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I came to this site last night looking for information on Ablify. I have a fifteen year old daughter who about a year and a half ago slipped into a major depression. She has been self-mutilating for about that long also, that I know of. She was in and out of the adolescent units 6-7 times within about a 8 month period. They tried numerous meds, even the Bi-Polar meds(they didn't work at all, just made her worse). The hospitalizations didn't seem to help at all. She had attempted suicide a few times last year. She has thoughts of suicide and death alot, and has said she hears voices and sees things. It seems as though she has a obsession with death. Last year when she got bad she started to wear all black all the time. She has since started wearing some colors, but I can tell when she slips further into her depression because she goes back to wearing all black. She went through some catatonic episodes, had an MRI and an EEG. The Neurologist said there isn't anything neurologically wrong with her. She refuses to go to a counselor for therapy, but will go to her Pyschiatrist for her meds. There was an incident about two months ago where I told her she couldn't go somewhere and she went under her bed and was tearing things up , cussing at me, and talking about death. This went on for about two hours, she finally calmed down and was ok for a while. When she gets really depressed she either goes into her closet or under her bed and tells me to leave her alone. A lot of times this is when she cuts on herself. She's a beautiful girl and it breaks my heart to see her do this to herself and I can't stop it. I've tried love, talking, anger, and I don't know what else to do. She is on 150 mg zoloft once a day and 100mg of Wellbutrin 2 X's a day. It seems to get worse when she has PMS, I really don't know if there is an actual connection or not. She actually had done well with the cutting until about a month ago. She has gotten bad again. There for a while she kept saying that she might have to go to the State Hospital. I've taken her razors away from her, but she finds anything to cut with, including her own fingernails. I just wish it would all go away and my daughter would come back to me. There are times when she can become very manipulative, especially if she doesn't get her way. She's very defiant against authority, she even cussed out a police officer to his face when she refused to come home with me from her friend's house and they were forcing her to come home. Then there are times when she can be so very caring for children or the handicapped children who can't take care of themselves and she will stick up for them no matter what. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what kind of support groups are out there for me and maybe if I can get her to go, a support group for her. What about meds? The doctor was talking about adding Ablify to her meds. I just don't know what to put her on, and I'm concerned that she's not going to function well as an adult. She is a Sophomore in Highschool, and only has two years left. I'm sorry to make this so lengthy. Any ideas? Thanks!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Please go to conductdisorders.com. It is a wonderful and supportive website for those who deal with this isse. On that BB my name is Judi good luck

If she has been diagnosed with any kind of Borderline Personality? Borderline traits it's just a thought but you could ask her psychiatrist about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). As far as the cutting goes... How about encouraging her to wear rubber bands on her wrist that she can snap against her wrist when she has urges to cut? For many people cutting actually brings them a sense of relief from tension or feelings of emotional upheaval. The are many resources online for reducing self inflicted injury written for an by people who do this.

this site has some good info and links re self injury

http://www.annaleahy.com/pages/4/

I am sorry for you and your daughter. I think you should look into seeing someone experienced in Schizophrenia diagnosis, because many of these symptons are indicative of that.

I read your thread and was touched. I am a student nurse doing rotations in the Adolescent Psych wing. I have seen several "cutters" that say they do this physical pain to take away emotional pain. Some have broken families, drug or promiscuality issues, abuse or neglect issues or parents that are ill and they cant "deal with" while others seem to be from the "perfect little families" with no forseeable reason for their problems.

One thing I thought of when I was reading your story was if your daughter doesn't want to physically talk to a counselor, maybe you could get her to come to a sight similar to this one, or who knows...maybe even this one and find someone she feels comfortable enough to open up to. You could get "reports"

on her talks and give them to her Psychiatrist. You would want to make sure that you could find someone reliable because if not it could be another let down or disappointment in her life that could bring about more problems or episodes.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

I haven't seen anyone mention it so I will. Have you seen the information coming out on SSRI's, ie effexor,zoloft,paxil etc... Very scary stuff about anger aggression, suicidal tendencies in teenagers on these medications. I speak from experience. My son was on Paxil for 13 months for "mild anxiety" and was one angry, aggressive, death obsesssed, wearing black within 2 months of being on Paxil. Long story short, weaning from paxil(which in itself is a nightmare!!) attempted suicide twice, luckily not successful. He is now off paxil after a 3 month wean and is my son again. Involved in life, smiles, shows interest in things again!! This was a long process to get him off but it was the only thing that worked. Please do some research on SSRI's!! It sounds like your daughter is in the same boat my son was!!! I've listed some sites that might offer some more insight into to SSRI situation.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-suicide6apr06,1,4908684.story?coll=la-news-a_section

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040223/debtext/40223-31.htm#40223-31_head0

http://www.paxilprogress.org (this is the message board that helped me save my son)

Edited to add: my son wanted no part of a psychologist while on paxil and now that he's weaned off he looks forward to seeing the psychologist on a weekly basis.

I couldn't believe it when I read your story. Though hardly the same situation, my HUSBAND was prescribed Paxil about a year and a half ago for mild anxiety and stress. I had quit my job to go to school, he was having trouble with his dad, he feels like his job of ten years is a dead end... numerous things. BUT, he wasn't "crazy." He could cope, he still had hobbies that occupied his time. My parents have helped out tremendously, because they are very supportive of me finishing school. Anyway, it was as if God has made everything "ok" at home. When bills get tight and he gets overly stressed somehow something came through. (One of his hobbies is bow shooting, hunting, collecting and selling bows, etc.) Maybe he got a good deal on a bow and made three times the profit or something... Its just always worked out. Well...ever since he was given Paxil... which I was highly against... he has been a TOTALLY different person. There will be times that I swear I think he's gonna kill himself, or lose his mind. I'm not making light of it either. Recently he went out of town with a friend to a bow shooting competition, he was on his way back and I simply called him on the cell phone and asked when he would be home. He became very aggitated and told me that I didn't have to check up on him every 10 minutes. (I hadn't talked to him for 18 hours.) When he got home, I noticed he had on a new Bow Company t-shirt, when I said, "New shirt, you don't shoot for that company, shame shame" (I was kidding with him - teasing) he jerked the shirt off and threw it at me screaming, "There, it was $10, you want that too!?" It has got to the point when I see that he is getting aggitated I just distance myself from him.

I constantly urge him to stop taking the Paxil, I've even tried to "ration it." I thought if I could get him on a pill every two days that might be better, then keep tapering. The one time I did that it was pouring the rain outside and I had placed the pill bottle behind the bathroom window curtain. The cat knocked it down when she had been sitting in the window and it fell behind the cabinet. When he went to get his pill and couldnt find it, he went "crazy." My 9 year old daughter had a friend over and I honestly had no idea where the pill bottle was- at first. My husband started screaming, he had the wildest look in his eyes. I can honestly say, I was scared of him that night. He went into the basement and came up with a rope and went in the back yard in the pouring rain. It was dark out and I couldn't see him. I had no idea what he was doing, or had plans of doing.

My daughter, her friend and myself were in the house trying to find out where he had gone. I'm sure my daughter was embarrassed too death. I was afraid that he was going to hang himself from the tree or the garage rafters... I didn't know. Obviously it turned out that he was ok. I didn't know how to get him back in the house to try to calm him down. So, I got the keys to the truck and "pushed the alarm" button. I watched from the window and saw him run from the back yard to the truck. Then I went out. When he finally came back in, my husband sat down on the couch and started crying. He told me he "had lots of problems in his head." I dont know what to do. I'm terrified that something is going to happen to him and I would NEVER forgive myself.

I have NO IDEA why that I typed this whole thing, maybe for therapeutic reasons... :) Talk about flight of ideas... I was everywhere with that, huh?How long did it take your son to not "rely" on it? Or did he? I know my husband does. I am at a loss and don't know what to do.

My biggest problem with Paxil is that my husband NEVER acted like he does now that he takes it. It says that its non-addicting. The drug may not be, but there's something there, because my husband refuses to stop!

Guess I needed to vent.

I haven't seen anyone mention it so I will. Have you seen the information coming out on SSRI's, ie effexor,zoloft,paxil etc... Very scary stuff about anger aggression, suicidal tendencies in teenagers on these medications. I speak from experience. My son was on Paxil for 13 months for "mild anxiety" and was one angry, aggressive, death obsesssed, wearing black within 2 months of being on Paxil. Long story short, weaning from paxil(which in itself is a nightmare!!) attempted suicide twice, luckily not successful. He is now off paxil after a 3 month wean and is my son again. Involved in life, smiles, shows interest in things again!! This was a long process to get him off but it was the only thing that worked. Please do some research on SSRI's!! It sounds like your daughter is in the same boat my son was!!! I've listed some sites that might offer some more insight into to SSRI situation.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-suicide6apr06,1,4908684.story?coll=la-news-a_section

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040223/debtext/40223-31.htm#40223-31_head0

www.paxilprogress.org (this is the message board that helped me save my son)

Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Busy girl what you describe is PAXIL withdrawal!! I saw that crazed look in my sons eye for 4 hours and ended up calling the police to have him admitted to a psych unit. Paxil must be weaned VERY slow! It is addicting regardless of what the drug company says. My son was on Paxil cr 50mg, we weaned every two to three weeks until I was cutting pills in half(6.25 mg) and stopped last Monday. Think about it, paxil interferes with seratonin and nor epinephrine and when those chemicals are "turned back on " again think of the havoc that can reek on a brain! My son remembers nothing of these episodes, except for the episode on the wean from 25.mg to 12.5. He related afterwards that he knew what he was saying was horrible, but had no control over it. Just a sidenote, his psychiatrist that prescribed paxil dropped him after the suicide attempt!!!! We ended up doing this on our own and with the help of those who have been through it(and with a very supportive psychologist and pediatrician) Please go to paxilprogress.org and read the anecdotal section. It will be an eye opener and you will see your husbands story over and over again.

I haven't seen anyone mention it so I will. Have you seen the information coming out on SSRI's, ie effexor,zoloft,paxil etc... Very scary stuff about anger aggression, suicidal tendencies in teenagers on these medications. I speak from experience. My son was on Paxil for 13 months for "mild anxiety" and was one angry, aggressive, death obsesssed, wearing black within 2 months of being on Paxil. Long story short, weaning from paxil(which in itself is a nightmare!!) attempted suicide twice, luckily not successful. He is now off paxil after a 3 month wean and is my son again. Involved in life, smiles, shows interest in things again!! This was a long process to get him off but it was the only thing that worked. Please do some research on SSRI's!! It sounds like your daughter is in the same boat my son was!!! I've listed some sites that might offer some more insight into to SSRI situation.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-suicide6apr06,1,4908684.story?coll=la-news-a_section

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040223/debtext/40223-31.htm#40223-31_head0

www.paxilprogress.org (this is the message board that helped me save my son)

Edited to add: my son wanted no part of a psychologist while on paxil and now that he's weaned off he looks forward to seeing the psychologist on a weekly basis.[/QU

PEOPLE PLEASE BE WARE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO YOUR CHILDREN! TEENAGERS COMMITED FORCED TO TAKE MEDICATION THAT DAMAGES THEIR BRAINS. GET DR. WILLIAM GLASSER'S BOOK PSYCHIATRY CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. W HAT HE SAYS ABOUT HAPPINESS IS AT THE ROOT OF MOST THINGS. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF ON AN SSRI AND GOD KNOWS THE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT I RECEIVED AFTER THAT WOULD SCARE THE WHATEVER OUT OF ANYONE! THE FOLLOW UP TREATMENT DID NOT CONSIST OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT. WHAT IS THIS BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT THAT PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONALS SPEAK OF? RULING OUT PHYSICAL DISORDERS BEFORE GIVING SOMEONE A LABEL? PUSHING PILLS. I COULD TAKE ANYONE OF YOU TO LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INTRODUCE YOU TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN MEDICATION AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BENEFITED THEM, OFTEN TIMES IN SEEING THEM YOU WONDER.......GEE, WHAT WERE THEY LIKE BEFORE THEY GOT MEDICATION? WE ARE TOO EAGER TO GIVE PEOPLE PILLS. AND TO THE PERSON THAT WAS QUESTIONING SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR THAT WOMAN'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER........THAT GIRL HAS THINGS GOING ON.....BUT BETTER MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT SHE HAS WRONG WITH HER BEFORE GIVING HER A LABEL LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW I WAS ON AN SSRI AND IT MADE ME CRAZY. I AM GRATEFUL TO BE OFF DRUGS AND WELL.

OOPS! Sorry, if I just messed up writing a response. I think it ended up in someone elses posting! How did that happen, anyway?

PEOPLE PLEASE BE WARE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO YOUR CHILDREN! TEENAGERS COMMITED FORCED TO TAKE MEDICATION THAT DAMAGES THEIR BRAINS. GET DR. WILLIAM GLASSER'S BOOK PSYCHIATRY CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. W HAT HE SAYS ABOUT HAPPINESS IS AT THE ROOT OF MOST THINGS. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF ON AN SSRI AND GOD KNOWS THE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT I RECEIVED AFTER THAT WOULD SCARE THE WHATEVER OUT OF ANYONE! THE FOLLOW UP TREATMENT DID NOT CONSIST OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT. WHAT IS THIS BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT THAT PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONALS SPEAK OF? RULING OUT PHYSICAL DISORDERS BEFORE GIVING SOMEONE A LABEL? PUSHING PILLS. I COULD TAKE ANYONE OF YOU TO LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INTRODUCE YOU TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN MEDICATION AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BENEFITED THEM, OFTEN TIMES IN SEEING THEM YOU WONDER.......GEE, WHAT WERE THEY LIKE BEFORE THEY GOT MEDICATION? WE ARE TOO EAGER TO GIVE PEOPLE PILLS. AND TO THE PERSON THAT WAS QUESTIONING SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR THAT WOMAN'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER........THAT GIRL HAS THINGS GOING ON.....BUT BETTER MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT SHE HAS WRONG WITH HER BEFORE GIVING HER A LABEL LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW I WAS ON AN SSRI AND IT MADE ME CRAZY. I AM GRATEFUL TO BE OFF DRUGS AND WELL.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

nancynurse41, I couldn't agree with you more. The stories that are being made public regarding SSRI's are mind boggling!! My son is now completely off Paxil and is "back to normal". I'm lucky he's alive. I've now become very involved with this subject and its horrifying to hear some of the stories. If I hadn't intervened and stopped the medication, by son would now be on Paxil and Depakote and have an official diagnosis of a "Mood Disorder"!!. I was blinded by my "trust" in the medical community. I had no reason to not believe what they were telling me until I started reading and researching the information out there not provided by the pharmaceutical industry. I'm no activist, but THESE DRUGS ARE DANGEROUS!! Once you take the time to really delve into clinicial trials the true story comes out. Positive effect the same as a placebo, increased aggression and suicide in "well" subjects, 100 % increase in prescribing to 0-5 year olds!!!

Its so easy to blame the disease! In the mean time children are dying who were never suicidal, never aggressive.

Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
You MUST get this child into therapy.

I agree with luci about meds and the cutting- No it's just not BPD.

No but other pieces of the picture like the manipulative behaviour sure sound a lot like BPD though, don't they?

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