Ups and Downs of Husband`s Mental Illness

Hey @Shaz51
Checking in to see how you and Mr Shaz are going.
Darcy

Hey @Shaz51

Very wise to write things down. I do hope that you feel confident in monitoring the changes.

I hope you don't mind but I have written down a few personal thoughts around discontinuation of drugs. These thoughts came to mind as after many years of not knowing and of complete ignorance. It is only in recent times that I looked things up extensively and that I felt I understood enough to really know what I was doing. No reflection on you in any way, shape or form, but these tips might help someone who is going through a similar process.

Knowing why a drug was given in the first place is a good starting point as to what you need to watch for if it is being withdrawn.

Knowing the expected discontinuation symptoms and how they differ from relapse is also important.

A mood chart is a good tool to use for monitoring discontinuation. Even though they are for bipolar patients, the purpose is to monitor depression ratings, the drugs and doses taken as well as how much sleep a patient gets (I note night hours separate to siesta times). That way you have things in black and white. Examples of mood charts are on this website.

http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-mood-chart.html


Having a plan in place should relapse occur is also important, sometimes it is best written down.

Since his last admission, I have seen Mr Darcy successfully off two drugs, with a possible taper down in a third to happen later in the year . If Mr Darcy relapses, the stakes are high, he is likely to have psychosis and become suicidal again. He knows that if I perceive he is starting to go downhill, it is not negotiable, I will activate our relapse prevention plan. This does not mean he will need to go to hospital, but in the first instance would mean seeing the doc and a tweakage of his meds.

Will be thinking especially of you.

Darcy

@Shaz51 @Determined @Faith-and-Hope
A big wave to @Former-Member too, you have been on my mind.

Ups and downs continue at our place too Shaz.

On the up side today Mr Darcy had his first afternoon of volunteering and I think it went OK as he says he is planning on going again. Hoping it will be beneficial to him.

On the down side Mr Darcy said he might not go into footy tipping comp. This is something he loved doing previously, will see over the next couple of days if he does or not. Finding joy in things is something that has been missing, but I hold onto hope that it will return, seeing glimpses, a few more smiles.

He has just dropped something and has got all upset, hoping he will be able to recover a bit better than before. Hoping for another up...

Darcy

@Determined I wonder if there's any apps that could make things easier and stay consistent (maybe we have just come up with a multi-million dollar idea)

Hey @NikNik

Sorry to ruin your multimillion idea, there are aps out there already. Have seen references to them but have not tried any. I don't think Mr Darcy would use one. He doesn't use the breathing one his psychologist put him on to. As it is I fill out all the info on the paper one we do for Mr D with the exception of the mood rating which he does.

@Determined, do write those questions down, don't be afraid to ask. There is very little the docs have not heard. I couldn't get a satisfactory answer in relation to one drug that was offered and did not want to put Mr D through yet another drug trial unnecessarily so have put it in hold. I have had to raise some personal matters too as things went pear shaped in the bedroom.

Can tell Mr Darcy is not going to self soothe this evening, half suspected it.

Take care
Darcy