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New to this forum

New to this forum

My 19 year old daughter with OCD, anxiety, potential ADHD (diagnosed online Feb 2021), eating issues and is unable to sleep much, has resorted to trying various drugs (not sure how often) to numb her feelings. She wants to talk non stop about her drug taking and the effects it has on her. She is fascinated and obsessed with the effects of drugs and says she is studying psychology online to learn more. She says she thinks she has borderline personality disorder as well and/or bi polar. This all sounds like OCD in full swing.
She says that I am the only one who she can talk to and recently our commutation has broken down to the point where she has cut me off (has happened previously and she will come back apologetic and devastated). She is very manipulative, argumentative and it's hard to know when she is being truthful as she lies alot. She can get very angry and then feel overwhelming guilt. She feels overwhelmed by everything and looks for constant distractions and avoids situations that she finds hard to cope with. She is barely holding down a casual hospitality job and paying rent. She is depressed and has recently been so frustrated that she hurt herself. She often says she doesn't want to be here but would never end her life. She is very creative and I give her lots of art materials to encourage her to express herself, which she does when she feels like it. She lives on her own (moved out just after being diagnosed) but says she now might like to live with someone as she is very lonely. I recently gave her an anxiety journal which she started to use and write her issues in. She shared it with me and I was astounded at her self awareness (it's hard to see that side of her when she presents such a complex personality). She is very resilient and resourceful on the one hand yet so needy and not very good at looking after her personal hygiene. She stopped taking her medication (again) and broke down yesterday saying she hates her mental illness and what it does to her and everyone around her and hates having to rely on medication and that all she wants is to feel happy. She knows that the medication does help (I can attest to that). But as soon as she feels good she goes off it again. She often texts me to say she is so stressed or having panic attacks, yet on the other hand tells me she is happy but cries herself to sleep every night. She says I don't understand her and that my opinions on some things are not valid as I haven't experienced what she has. It's so frustrating and so terribly sad. I am learning to not get emotionally involved and to set boundaries but it sooo hard.

My daughter refuses any help and that is the hardest thing to deal with. I have said that her conditions are treatable and people live very successful lives with the right help but she refuses any help.. I am overwhelmed and don't know where to turn. I miss the beautiful girl we once knew, only seeing rare glimpses of her under all her struggles. My husband is very frustrated and also sad at all of this. I have had counseling for myself and was told to let her fall into crisis. Maybe she just needs time. At 19 her brain is still developing. I have tried to use Natasha' Daniel's fantastic online resources to help improve communication and to educate myself and family on OCD and anxiety. It was fantastic support and worked for a while but I'm just not able to keep it up. It's all so overwhelming to have to be so proactive and constantly mindful! I love my daughter so much and I want to keep communication open and so I will try to keep working on that but it's so hard to know how to talk to her without upsetting her. I don't know where to turn.

39 replies

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In response to: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Hi @Stargirl

I believe we are not permitted by the Forum Guidelines to name actual doctors here, and we can’t name our own suburbs either, but I am sure services like Headspace will have doctors they can refer you to, or be able to refer you to someone who can refer you ….. 😏

In response to: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

It seems like you have made considerable headway in sorting some things out @Stargirl I hope your daughter feels the love and support from you - you certainly deserve it. Keep reaching out here and also the Helpcentre if you need - you are definitely not alone ❤️

In response to: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

It might be a good idea to take out the place your daughter lives in your previous posts @Stargirl - less identifying if your daughter does read anything here.

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Agreed @Zoe7 …..

In response to: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Hey @Stargirl, I'm not sure if your daughter would need or want face-to-face peer support? As you mentioned earlier that she struggled to make her Telehealth appointments. If so, the Mental Health Line might be the best resource to locate an appropriate peer support service. (I linked you to the QLD line as I believe you mentioned you were based in QLD before).

At SANE we have 1-1 and group peer support services , and these are online / by Telehealth. It's possible that she could find your forums posts if she were to go onto SANE's website, find the Forums, and read what's there. If you wouldn't be comfortable with this idea, you can direct her to other organisations who do peer support, for example eFriend who offer up to 15 sessions with a peer support worker by call, video call, or online chat 😊

I hope that peer support can seem like an approachable first step for her, if previously she hasn't felt like other options were right for her. The focus is ultimately on connecting with someone else who can understand what their struggles might be like, which may seem less intimidating than clinical services 🌻

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

@Former-Member I believe our @Stargirl 's daughter is in Victoria not Queensland. Do you have the same link for Vic?

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Oops I was a bit naughty and named a suburb. Won't do that again ☺️

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

All good @Stargirl - want you to feel as safe as you can to talk here 😁 You can edit your posts by clicking on the Post Options at the top right of each post - a drop down box will appear and the first one on that list says 'EDIT POST' - then you can edit and repost 👍

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Hi @Stargirl ,

Thank you for reaching out here on the forums.

I can hear how hard things can be as a carer of a teenager. Being 19, your daughter is in between youth and adult mental health services.

Is your daughter on the NDIS? (doesn't sound like she is, but thought I'd ask). There are different services available if she is.

Unfortunately, recovery is a two-way process. You daughter needs to want the support in order to achieve the best outcome. Definitely refer to @Former-Member 's post about accessing the peer services supports on SANE. This is especially helpful if she prefers webchat (as many teenagers do). Just a note, the SANE website says 'Chat not available', keep checking in because peer workers may be on other webchats.

Services in Victoria may include: Breakthru and Neami

Look forward to hearing from you about her progress.

tyme

In response to: Re: New to this forum

Re: New to this forum

Okay I will do that
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