re: Dealing with family/loved one with a mental illness--Update Page 11

Not that I am close to as serious as what nurse is describing but I have random episodes of high anxiety (stress gets high), depersonalization, suicidial ideation though I have no desire or ever have desire to end my life. I’ve seen first hand what that does to family. I worry about random things like death, etc. and it makes me feel numb sometimes I think a lot stems from losing my father when I was younger to suicide and I have PTSD from it.

Most of the time I am good. I take the lowest dosage of buspar there is, just once, every morning. I take vitamins. CBD, etc. but I still sucks arse when that anxiety hits. I really would prefer not to take an anti depressant because it’s not really depression what I suffer from, but what would be some good recommendations? I will start seeing a therapist very soon, too. Just want better control of things

I just started doing light therapy, take CBD, I exercise fairly frequently, just got a journal to keep track of daily goals/weekly goals, even a weighted blanket

Like I said it’s not like I’m in a depressive state. I occasionally do feel down but it’s really that anxiousness that creeps up. I can rationalize the feelings pretty well. Maybe it’s normal. About to turn 30, went back to school; etc etc.

I’ll look into that though. I’m taking every necessary step to ensure keep things in check.

Yes I’m very thankful I’m aware of it and can rationalize things. I know what it stems from, it just took year and years for it to hit me. I went through a traumatizing event, I’m in a wild transition period of my life. But I will not let that control me.


I hope things get better for you as well. I’ll be thinking about you guys.

Ugh, best of luck.

I’ve seen many patients in rehab (pt/ot) that had dementia until they cleared up a uti. Then they were completely normal. I wonder if that’s a similar situation

I’m sorry your dad’s still not doing well after you’ve been dealing with this so long. It just seems to me like they haven’t got the diagnosis right yet if they’re treating it without much relief

Have they considered doing an mri to see if it’s organic? Sorry haven’t read the thread

Usually if a provider is not contracted with your insurer, you will just have to pay the out of network charges, usually 80/20, which is still a lot

But you know all you have to do is send $5 a month forever and they can’t do anything. So try not to let that be an added stress. You’ve got enough going on. I hope things get better

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.I’m the one that has to take charge of everything at times.

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Talk to medicare about getting a social worker to help with medical issues. Also, there are probably programs through your local Council on Aging (or equivalent) that can help with doctor's appointments visits. A social worker should be involved to help navigate all the programs available not only for your dad, but also for your mom and siblings.

It's why you pay taxes, use the agencies that are there to help.

Contact your EAP. They can help put you in touch with both local and private agencies to help with all of the above.

I had paged his psychiatrist yesterday to tell him how delusional he was being Saturday and his recent hospital stay and meds getting messed up. Mentioned to him that his meds need to be changed. He's been seeing him for 2 years so he's very aware of all the stressors of the flood and knows what my dad's usual worries center around.

He agreed with me that my dad may need inpatient psych care to stabilize him. When I had called my mom to tell her where to go with him...she said he was really calm now. I spoke to him myself and he was calm. I knew if we go to an ER and he's that calm...they wouldn't have a reason to keep him for psych. So figured we would just closely watch him and if he starts slipping back....push for him being admitted to psych.

I spoke to the internal med doctor caring for him in the hospital and told him alll about my dad's mental health issues and that we would really like to consider him being stabilized on a geriaric psych unit once his medical issues are stabilized. I know they won't mess with his current meds while at the regular hospital (which is fine). Unless my dad makes a huge turnaround once his kidneys are ok...then I'm still gonna keep pushing for that. I'll also mention neurology evaluating him. They did do a head CT while he was in the ER and it was normal. He has had a more detailed MRI of his head within the last year cause his eye doctor saw something odd on his eye exam and that was completely normal as well.


I did just call his insurance company and got clarification that as long as he was brought into the ER for an emergency...the visit would be covered. I told her how 911 was called and that I was told to specifically bring him to that ER by his psychiatrist and she agreed that it should be covered and to call them if we do have any issues. So at least I can relax on that worry.


He is being seen by a kidney doctor. We actually saw her a few weeks ago and his kidney function then was around 43. She was very happy about his progress and told me that she is ok with his psychiatrist giving him stronger doses of his meds or adding other meds. That he could always call her to consult which meds would be ok on his kidneys. His kidney function last night was mid 20s with an elevated WBC and potassium.

That is insane about the insurance. They actually called the insurance company that quickly to find out, wow. But then again glad they caught it. How insane.

So he had a kidney infection wow. They say it can make you batshit if gone too far. This is gross so people that get grossed out quit reading. But one of the women I knew that had UTI/ kidney infection had pus in her vagina it had gone so long. The elderly pass off all of the UTI symptoms because they are used to being in pain and everything hurting.

The health insurance thing pisses me off. That is just wrong. I know someone that has BCBS of NC and if anything happens to them out of the State they are not covered. (I think ER's were an exception) as people can get into a car wreck driving through States.

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They actually called the insurance company that quickly to find out, wow.

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No I think it was when they were registering him they realized his insurance wasn't one they have a contract with. It's why he was transferred to another hospital in a completely different hospital system.

She had told us his insurance may not cover it. The woman I spoke to on the phone said each insurance policy is different but that with my dad's plan as long as he was in the ER for an actual emergency...it should be covered.

My mother in law has dementia, which only becomes more progressive. She no longer even knows my wife is her daughter. Terrible situation, my brother-in-law stays with her but she has even become combative, fighting with health care workers. The thing is, the condition only gets worse, there is nothing you can do, so I understand the dilemma...