D.I.D....

Thoughts and prayers are with you as you head away @Smc.

Trust everything goes as well as it can at both ends.

@Smc

Thinking of you and family as you head off in the morning for your week away.

Hi @Smc

Quick check in.

Thinking of you and family @Smc

Trust the travel home has gone ok and time away was successful.

Hello all, yes I'm back. 🙂 Arrived on the train dinnertime-ish, so we dropped off a few things I'd collected for our Younger Son, then went out for a Chinese dinner. Got back very sleepy and ready for bed.

The visiting and sorting went pretty well. Mum is actually voluntarily giving me things that she's not using now. Yay! She seems to have gotten a bit of a reputation in the aged care home as one of the crafty ones (in the right sense... I hope?? 😉 ) so others are passing on their bits and pieces to her. I think that means she's feeling "safe" that she's not going to be left with nothing to do, and therefore able to let go of what she doesn't want instead of hoarding it in case she needs it. And Dad, with the encouragement of a visiting art tutor, has gotten back into drawing. It's something he used to do a lot, but he hadn't done it for so long that he'd lost confidence, so that is really good.

But back at home base... Older Daughter has for years had occasional episodes of mild psychosis. Hearing a voice behind her when no-one was there and suchlike. Lately it's become more serious and constant, and that's part of what has contributed to the recent changed pattern of SH. Her psychologist is recommending anti-psychotics, which would mean another clinic inpatient stay, which will probably mean she won't be around for the combined 50th Birthday/Anniversary party coming up. Maybe her grandfather (Hubby's Dad) will be able to bring her out just for the day, since they can get approval for weekeknd leave from the clinic. Will see what happens.

I meant to tell you @Smc that I loved the “pre-packing” of the trailer.

I hope it all works out with your daughter and the 50th Birthday / Anniversary party and the clinic stay.

Love that your Dad has taken up drawing again, and that your Mum is passing things on that way .....

💜

Thank you @Faith-and-Hope.

Yeah, I ran out of time for actually doing the "pre-packing", but quite some time ago I went around and measured all the furniture, so I can use the dimensions I've got to do a virtual "pack". It never works out exactly the same in reality, but if the load is well jigsaw-fitted together, I've found it's much easier to keep everything stable while traveling.

Hope things sort for your daughter and she stabilises @Smc

Thanks @Former-Member.

She's got us worried at the moment. I had a "sleep with the phone next to me" night last night, because she rang saying the "voices" were strongly urging SH. Positive thing was that she did contact the mental health unit's helpline. Their best suggestion was an extra dose of one of her medications, and thankfully that worked, but it's a short term solution. She sees her psychiatrist later this week, so we'll find out then if an admission is recommended. I'm really hoping she handles the train trip down there OK, because the appointment falls on the same day that Younger Daughter has a GP appointment re. her anxiety, plus parent teacher interviews. We can't change those or skip them, so I can't accompany Older Daughter this time.

This has been going on for so long. Close to 10 years, and we can't say that she's levelled out yet. Over time, there's been slow deterioration- almost in line with what you'd expect of the psychological equivalent of a degenerative disease.

And a little thing...which sounds almost petty. If she's admitted on Monday, she'll need our support, and she'll need us to transport her there. This Monday is the town Garden Club's day, and I look forward to that as my "me-time". I always try to keep that day free of appointments, and try not to be away from home. Am feeling a bit flat about the prospect of missing it.

I'm also feeling out of sorts after a nightmare a couple of nights ago that just seemed too close to a possible "worst case scenario". Realistic nightmares are the worst. 😞

@Smc

It is such a worry when we see things deteriorating and our 24 hour standby mode is activated. In these times of crisis it is hard not to think the worst. Am wondering if pdoc would want to admit her straight away given the increase in intensity of her symptoms.

I understand what you are saying about seeming pettiness when it comes to supporting loved ones vs a function ... am feeling your exhaustion which comes with caring for someone with long term illness - looking after them, often at the expense of our own mental health, not getting in the quality time out we so desperately need, living grief as life is not how we imagined it should be. There are times when others might be able to help with transport etc but you may feel you need to be there given recent events.