My 17-year-old son is in the hospital for depression......

[Soapets]

He got expelled from the residential treatment center he was in, after assaulting another youth there. We had to go pick him up last Wednesday night. He was making comments that he wished he were dead, or he wished he would fall off the face of the earth, so we took him to our counselor on Thursday. He wouldn't talk much with the counselor, but did admit that he'd made the statements to me. He also told the counselor that on a suicide risk scale of 1 to 10, with "1" being not at all and "10" being he'd already tried it, that he was probably at a "7". The counselor made some phone calls and got him admitted to the hospital yet that night. We weren't sure how long he would be there, but it looks like he will stay there until they can get him admitted to a longer-term treatment facility now. He's still extremely depressed, and they're watching him very closely. They started him on the antidepressant Effexor on Saturday. He won't talk to them much about any issues, but they said they can tell that he has a lot of anger inside and he has the potential to "explode", which is why they want him somewhere that he can be monitored 24 hours a day for now. He won't be able to come home for Christmas. He won't be able to come home at all now for awhile. He will probably be made a ward of the State at some point, due to the assault charges and the violation of probation associated with that. We know he is safe, and he is where he needs to be, but it is very difficult to go through all of this. Please keep him in your prayers, that God will put the right people in his path to steer him in a more positive direction in his life!

Thanks.

[borzoimom]

wow- you are in my prayers.
I do not know why this type of thing happens with kids of this age. I do not understand where this anger comes from with normal parents. All I can say is be there for him, and let them try to help him with the medications etc. It's like at some point this switch comes on, and things change. I have a dear friend that has a similar problem with her son out of no where. Advanced in school and it changed in a year. Drugs had something to do with it, but no one knows.
I will keep you and him in prayers as well as the family. It sounds like he is getting the help he needs.

[lvpets2002]

:( I am so sorry & saddened for you & your family.. You are for sure in My Thoughts & Prayers..

[moosmom]

Soapets,

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I've suffered from depression for years and it finally came to a head in September. I checked myself into the hospital and they changed my meds. It was the best move I ever made.

Your son is in the right place. Hopefully they will help him get better through counseling and meds.

You, your son and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers honey.

((((HUGS))))

[Karen]

He - and you - will be in our prayers.

[kittycats_delight]

Oh Deb I am soooo sorry. I know if love and devotion have anything to do with it your son will be put on the right track to getting his life back in no time. But I also know this is not a quick fix situation. Just be there for him. Tell him you love him often and that you will stand beside him. Tell him he always in your thoughts and if you could snap your fingers and make him feel good again you would do it. Just let him know in everyway possible you are there and are not going anywhere and will never give up on him. I know support is importand even when they don't see it. If you even need someone to talk to PM me ok. :)



(((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))) Deb
Your son, you and your entire family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Michelle

[kimlovescats]

Oh Deb, my heart aches along with yours! There is just so much pain and sadness in our world today, and so much pressure on our young adults. I just don't know where this world is heading. :( :(

Hugs and prayers,
Kim

[buttercup132]

Sorry to hear that.

I think I can understand why he wouldn't want to talk to them though.
My parents wanted to do the same thing but I said I would refuse to talk to them , I'm not going to spit out all my problems to some stranger who is just going to tell me what I already know.

I hope he starts to get better though.

[catnapper]

I am so sorry to hear about this. What an awful thing for a mother to hear about her baby. ((hugs))) to you and your family. Prayers that he gets better soon and starts to see the beauty in this world.

[mike001]

Very sorry to hear about your son Soapets. Be assured he is in the right place and he will get the help he needs.

[caseysmom]

I am so sorry, I am glad he is getting help.

[mugsy]

Prayers and positive energy flowing to him as I type. Is there any chance that he is bipolar? I am sending you prayers as well...Be strong, even though I know it's hard.

[cyber-sibes]

You are all on my prayer list. (((hugs)))

[Alysser]

I'm so sorry your family, especially your poor son, has to go through this. ((Hugs)) I'll be praying for you.

[Jadapit]

I'm so sorry your son is having such a diffuclt time. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayres. (((HUGS)))

[Zippy]

You and your son are in my prayers.

[Argranade]

Hope he'll do well,

Yeah I say I'll kill my self to my parents & I wish I was dead but of course I never realy mean it, life can be so darn stupid sometimes .. it's ok to get mad as long as you don't realy think about suicide for real, maybe get him involved with something he like's ... like photography make's me feel so good inside, I just love seeing all the photo's I take of life after I load em up on the Pc.

There's way too much presure in High school, that's another reason why I left the stupid place, are kids doing drugs there? sometimes even tho your not doing drugs & stupid things, seeing others do it can me hard .. you want to be bad sometimes but you know in your heart you have to be good & sometimes you'll just hate it .. but in the end .. you'll be thankfull.

Hope your son finds some peace in his life ( In a different kinda way).

Oh ya, I'll say a prayer for him. :)

[Soapets]

Thanks so much for all your words of comfort, and prayers.

Yes, Mugsy, there is a chance that he is bipolar. He also has ADHD, and has been on Adderall XR for that for awhile. He is on Depakote for possible bipolar mood swings---has been on that for a few years now. He had told his doctor in November that he was feeling more depressed, and his Depakote dose had been increased then. He has been on antidepressants before, with good effect, but that was stopped once he had been on the Depakote for awhile.

He was on the honor roll in school the first quarter. After Thanksgiving he just stopped doing his school work, and his grades slipped, and he was extremely depressed, and nothing would motivate him. Things just kept getting worse. He hasn't been on any illegal drugs, because they test him for that routinely since he's on probation.

I have been on antidepressants for years, so was able to recognize the symptoms and the seriousness of his words and expression and mood, etc. We know he is safe where he is, and he is being evaluated, and his medications are being monitored closely, and the people who are monitoring him are aware of all of the symptoms of various other disorders that he may have. They called me today and want to try the medication Seroquel, because he's been having problems getting to sleep at night. I told them he has ALWAYS had a problem getting to sleep at night, and that I am willing to let them try the Seroquel and monitor it's effects, etc.

He still won't talk to me, and he's been there since Thursday night. But I told him before we took him there that it's OK if he gets angry with us for it. At least we know he's safe and being monitored. He did admit in a group session that he takes his anger out on me by trying to hurt me emotionally by not talking to me.

My husband went to visit him yesterday, and he did talk to him a little bit. He wouldn't look him in the eye, though. My husband asked him how he was feeling re. the suicidal thoughts, and my son said that had been worse again yesterday after learning that he won't be allowed to come home any time soon.

My husband and I have a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings associated with all of this. We have had to use "tough love" a lot with our son, because of the trouble he's been in. We keep telling him we love him and we will help him through it, but we won't bail him out of it. He'll have to do a lot of work on his own, but we'll be supportive of his efforts, all the way.

I guess that's about all for now. Thanks again for your prayers, and please keep them coming, especially for my son, Alex. He needs them more than ever right now.............

[cassiesmom]

Soapets,

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I've suffered from depression for years and it finally came to a head in September. I checked myself into the hospital and they changed my meds. It was the best move I ever made.

Your son is in the right place. Hopefully they will help him get better through counseling and meds.

You, your son and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers honey.

((((HUGS))))

I wouldn't say I've suffered from depression as much as struggled with it. It is a struggle I would not wish on anyone, especially a young person. Add me to the list of those who are praying for your son and you too... elyse

[rg_girlca]

Deb, I am so sorry to hear that Alex has taken another turn. The last update you gave me, it sounded like he was doing better.

He is still young and how I pray that this time, being closely monitered and being put on new medication, will help him 100%.
I can't even imagine what it must be like for you and your hubby to go through this. To see your son go through this. I pray that the both of you stay strong and continue with the "Tough Love" as I have heard it does help in the end. I also pray that the New Year will have a big turn around for everyone in the family and all this turmoil will be in the past.

You, your hubby and Alex will be in my prayers.

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Deb.

[wolfsoul]

Deb, I'm sorry to hear this. I also suffer from depression, though the doctors do not know what to diagnose me as since I have so many different problems (borderline personality is most likely in my case). I have been through almost everything (meds, hospitals, counselling, psychotic episodes, being suicidal, etc), and learnt to understand it and accept it, so if you need to talk to anyone or need to understand anything better, I will always be there for you.

A product that I recently started is called Truehope EMPower Plus (http://truehope.com/_about/aboutus.asp) . It's alternative, but the research results are quite amazing as well as the success stories. I am on the message board on their website and alot of people have vastly improved since starting it. The website also has your own information, charts, etc.

I was on Effexor XR for 10 months and I do not recommend it. Effexor withdrawal acts quickly and is horrible to experience. Coming off my meds was excruciating -- I stopped taking Effexor in September and I still have the "brain shivers" associated with Effexor withdrawal -- I will have them for life.

Good luck with everything, I'm here if you need to talk! My worst year was last year, when I was 18. Those last few years of teenagehood can be tough.

[tikeyas_mom]

He got expelled from the residential treatment center he was in, after assaulting another youth there. We had to go pick him up last Wednesday night. He was making comments that he wished he were dead, or he wished he would fall off the face of the earth, so we took him to our counselor on Thursday. He wouldn't talk much with the counselor, but did admit that he'd made the statements to me. He also told the counselor that on a suicide risk scale of 1 to 10, with "1" being not at all and "10" being he'd already tried it, that he was probably at a "7". The counselor made some phone calls and got him admitted to the hospital yet that night. We weren't sure how long he would be there, but it looks like he will stay there until they can get him admitted to a longer-term treatment facility now. He's still extremely depressed, and they're watching him very closely. They started him on the antidepressant Effexor on Saturday. He won't talk to them much about any issues, but they said they can tell that he has a lot of anger inside and he has the potential to "explode", which is why they want him somewhere that he can be monitored 24 hours a day for now. He won't be able to come home for Christmas. He won't be able to come home at all now for awhile. He will probably be made a ward of the State at some point, due to the assault charges and the violation of probation associated with that. We know he is safe, and he is where he needs to be, but it is very difficult to go through all of this. Please keep him in your prayers, that God will put the right people in his path to steer him in a more positive direction in his life!

Thanks.

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this... It can be VERY hard.. I went through what your son is going through.. I think the best thing you can do it stay with him in the hospital, give him all the support you can.. be there for him, and say positive things to him all the time, say "I love you" in access... He will get better... I was on Effexor too, but it wasnt the right med for me, i had to try a couple other meds as well... i finally found the one for me... and now (4 years later ) I am off meds all together and back to normal (I do have my moments though)... Im sure your son will get through this, I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

[luvofallhorses]

I'm so sorry! :( your son, you, and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. ((((HUGS)))) will you guys get to visit him often? I hope you'll be able to visit him on Christmas atleast. :(

[Twisterdog]

I'm so sorry you and your son are going through this. There is absolutely nothing more difficult in the world than seeing our suffering and not being able to help them.

My son was in the state boys' reform school for three months this year. He had just turned fifteen. I have recently been in a similar situation to yours. If you would like to PM me, please feel free.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Bless his heart - at least he is getting the help he so obviously needs. Prayers for you all

[trayi52]

I am so sorry that your son is going through this, I know what it is like to go through depression. I am taking meds right now for depression. I am also Bi-polar, so if I get off my meds, I would really be in trouble.

I will be sending prayers for you and your son, that he will get better, and that they will get his meds right for him.

Willie

[cassiesmom]

soapets, how are things going?
[[hugs]]

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I'll be sending good thoughts.

[kimlovescats]

My sister is Bi-Polar and I am Bi-Polar II. Recently my regular doctor assessed Amy Beth and feels that she is Bi-Polar as well. I hope and pray that after we get through all of this court mess, that she can also get the help she needs medically /mentally. I think it is a huge source of her problems, as it seems to be with your dear son!

My prayers are with you and your family during your difficult times as well! :(

Kim

[Soapets]

Thanks again for all your prayers and emotional support. I haven't heard anything at all from the hospital yesterday or today. I called them two days ago and he was still doing about the same. He still wouldn't talk to me, though. I will call tomorrow again to find out how he's doing, and if he wants to talk to me. We will visit him on Monday (Christmas Day) whether he wants us to or not. We may go visit him on Saturday as well. My heart is breaking over all of this. I just don't know what else we could have done. He needs help, and we did what we had to do by taking him to the hospital when we did.

[joycenalex]

my prayers and thoughts are with you, alex and your husband. best wishes fir all of you.

[kimlovescats]

YES, you certainly DID do the RIGHT THING by taking him to the hospital! He will get the right combination of meds and feel so much better! It may take some time to find the right mix of what works for him, but when they do, it will make a huge difference in his whole outlook on his life!

HUGS,
Kim

[Soapets]

I called the hospital tonight, and he finally came to the phone to talk to me. He told me they had to call a "code gray" on him. I asked him what that meant, and he said he refused to go to his room when he was supposed to, so they called a "code gray" and a bunch of people came in and he ended up being sent to a "quiet room" for awhile. I asked him why he had refused to go to his room, and he said it was because he didn't want to go. I told him that he needs to follow the rules and instructions, and start talking to them about what he's thinking and feeling. He told me he didn't like my attitude, and hung up on me!

I am hurt by his words and actions, but also somewhat angered. It makes it easier to have him there. He needs help. PLEASE continue to keep him in your prayers! He needs all the prayers he can get right now, and so do the doctors and people working with him, so they can figure out what's going on with him and how best to help him!

Thanks.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear about your son.:( Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.