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Im at my wits end with my daughter

Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hello ...Im new here

I dont know if im in the right thread for this post

Our problem with my 25 year old daughter (who still lives at home) is going into its third year now

She is on medication for depression and anxiety

We first realized there was a problem when we got home one day and got a phone call from someone saying our daughter was sitting in her car with the engine running unconscious,it turned out she was intoxicated

For the first 18 months she tried to hide her drinking but now she just does it when she feels like it.

she doesnt just drink until shes pissed, she buys a bottle of spirits and sculls it then shes unconscious so its not like shes enjoying a drink

she has been taken to hospital on numerous occasions after passing out

she has been on life support twice ,she crashed her car during another bout,lost her licence,went missing in Melbourne on her own pissed, we found her pissed at Dandenong hospital recently(we are from the country) and to top it off she started a new job today and was found unconscious in the toilet pissed so it was another ride in an ambulance

We are at our wits end

She has done 2 stints at dayhab Ferntree Gully

She is a compulsive liar and wont even admit to drinking

After each episode she carries on as though nothing has happened

Her doctor has been changing her medication recently to try to get the balance right but i think she doesnt take the medication at all, shes 25 going on 16 if you know what i mean,its like its all of us ganging up against her

A bit of background for you.......My wife is a social drinker I dont drink due to health reasons but alcoholism is in my family history

I was a heavy drinker but when I gave it up I had no withdrawals or any side effects of any kind,I dont get the urge or feel the need to drink at all (its been over 2 years)

So any HELP on where to go from here would be appreciated and I will be more than happy to answer any questions

34 replies

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In response to: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hi @olmate

How you doing? I've not been around, but have read your posts. Sorry to hear that you had to ct your holiday short.

You might be interested in these courses that @3forme posted here. They're specifically for people who care for/about people with MI. Also, the Family Drug Helpline has some great free resources. These could possibly offer you some strategies to approach your daughter.

In response to: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hi @olmate

Just thought I'd check in and see how things are going?

Hobbit.

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hello guys

Not much to report, she has been back to the doctor and got the much needed referral so it will be interesting to see what happens from here.

I will be asking questions if i havnt got an appointment date by Tuesday. It will be get the appointment or get out, ill feel like a goose if she gets out

Thanks for the support you have all given me

Thank You

olmate

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Im back

Well after asking on Monday night about the appointment for the psychologist she told me she got the referral what else do i want Well that was it i went ballistic at her

That worked well, she got pissed the next day

My wife found her wandering home and picked her up,she lashed out at my wife hitting and slapping her while she was driving, she covered in bruises. Also did @ $600 damage to the car

I rung around and spoke to a mental health expert who said we are on the right track with who shes seeing and what we are doing. He also said as a mental health expert he couldn't comment to me about telling her to get out .

As a father he hinted that it would be the path he would take and said sadly it could end in one of two ways, he said hopefully for the best way

Today she rang the psychologist to make an appointment but they wern't open so she better do something about it today

I stressed to her today that another occurrence of being drunk will = OUT

The trouble is if she does get pissed we spend hours and hours looking for her and hope nothing untoward has happened to her

If she cant see she needs help now she never will

Oh well tomorrow is another day

In response to: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Baby steps @olmate...she has a referral which is a big step forward...have you contacted family drug help?
My mum had to be tough with my brothers years ago due to similar issues..not easy at all...

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hello

Thanks Sandy

I knew something was going on on Saturday when she fizzing around so i asked she told me she was meeting her b/f, we soon found out this was crap she was just trying to go and get pissed, so i told her dont come back

Anyway we got a phone call today saying she was drunk in a public place

The policewoman and the ambo said it seemed strange that someone with depression was acting like this and asked if she has been treated for bipolar

I know nothing at all about bipolar or the medication she should or should not be on any help would be appreciated

Thank You All

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hello Olmate,

My name is Baboo, i tried to explain in my own words what bipolar is a few times but instead i thought i should copy and paste a paragraph from the internet :P:

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is the name used to describe a set of 'mood swing' conditions, the most severe form of which used to be called 'manic depression'.

Bipolar disorder I is the more severe disorder in terms of symptoms- with individuals being more likely to experience mania, have longer 'highs', be more likely to have psychotic experiences and be more likely to be hospitalised.

Bipolar disorder II is diagnosed when a person experiences the symptoms of a high but with no psychotic experiences. These hypomanic episodes tending to last a few hours or a few days, but longitudinal studies suggest impairment is often as severe as in bipolar I disorder.

The high moods are called mania or hypomania and the low mood is called depression.

However, it is important to note that everyone has mood swings from time to time. It is only when these moods become extreme and interfere with personal and professional life that bipolar disorder may be present and a psychiatric assessment may be warranted.

Little steps forward can only be made with your doctors assistance and your daughters co-opperation in this process.

When does your daughter go to the doctor next- do you go with her?

This must be very frustrating- have hope- dont give up 🙂

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Thanks Baboo

My wife says her mood swings are really bad. I don't see all this because im at work and she behaves well when im around but i have noticed that when an episode is coming on she struts around like she in full control and well aware of whats going on. When i ask her why did she have a drink she says she cant remember

I have been in to see the doctor a couple of times on my own then she goes in, the reason i have is because she seems very normal but i can imagine the lies she would be telling him. I even went as far as telling him that we are a reasonably normal family that has the odd fight and all the rest of what happens with familys. None of the kids have ever wanted or gone without anything and our marriage is probably as good as anyones after 30 years

I tried ringing the doctor today but wasn't open so ill try tomorrow

Thank You All

In response to: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hmm @olmate, given your daughter's recent history I think maybe try and be more open with the drs you see. Hard to help a family if the family is painting whitewash over their situation.
The question is not about what material things you've provided your family but its emotional security.. And you have posted in the past you have been a bit of a drinker? So maybe that may have influenced your daughter's tendencies with alcohol..
And please, I am not wanting to offend or blame anyone, sometimes addictions and mental health happen in families for no reason..just increases risk factors when there are any addictions..
So in my family, my brothers have had drug addictions and battled depression, anxiety and impacted on their lives in adult years from adolescent times. Me, I got diagnosed after becoming a parent, nicotine my addiction but really struggled with anxiety..
Our family when I grew up provided a home, but trauma came with it...so financially stable but emotionally crappy..
Please be kind to your lovely wife who has been copping the brunt of your daughter's miid swings, and be kind if you can, to your daughter, she sounds as though she is battling alcohol as well as mental health.. Perhaps Al Anon might be a good place for you to contact to help cope with your daughter's addiction? Or Sharc's Action Recovery Course, Sharc is based in south Caulfield but run groups for carers all over Melb. Sharc.org.au.

In response to: Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Re: Im at my wits end with my daughter

Hello Sandy

sandy

Hmm @olmate, given your daughter's recent history I think maybe try and be more open with the drs you see. Hard to help a family if the family is painting whitewash over their situation.

I would hardly say I am whitewashing the situation, how you come to this assumption after reading a few paragraphs on this web site is beyond me. The doctor was informed about any addictions or mental health problems within our families (including my previous drinking)

sandy

The question is not about what material things you've provided your family

I was trying to give more information on her upbringing background rather than spruik about material things

sandy

in the past you have been a bit of a drinker? So maybe that may have influenced your daughter's tendencies with alcohol..

I would hardly say the way i used to drink has any connection at all with her situation.I was never really a spirit drinker and i never sculled a bottle of anything to unconsciousness. Her two brothers had the same upbringing and they are only social drinkers. If she was drinking when i got home from work until late and went to bed a bit drunk i would totally agree with you but shes not. Shes sculling a bottle of spirits to unconsciousness

sandy

Please be kind to your lovely wife

Always am

sandy

your daughter's mild swings

according to my wife they are more than mild

sandy

and be kind if you can, to your daughter

I love my daughter with all my heart but im hoping a bit of tough love may help the situation because kid gloves hasn't. Im hoping she will see that if we have had enough she might realise she does need help and willingly get it

sandy

Our family when I grew up provided a home, but trauma came with it...so financially stable but emotionally crappy..

Im sorry you had a troubled childhood but thats life

We had a roof over our heads, my father worked his guts out, mum was very hard on us, yes meant yes and no meant no and we had very little but we had one of the best childhoods you could imagine

I dont blame anyone or anything for the way i am

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