SkylarkContributor
My beautiful son
Hi,<br><br>My eldest son who is 19 recently spent a month in hospital after experiencing first episode psychosis. He also has aspergers which was never formally diagnosed but was confirmed by his treating psychs. The story of how he went to hospital is one for another day but it did help him. Mostly he doesn't think so and I can understand that. His psychosis wasn't drug related. Anyway he seemed very down today and this evening I asked him what was wrong and he said he didn't want to talk about it. I made some dumb jokes and encouraged him to talk to me. Thankfully he did. He said he didn't feel right like he was too light in his own body - like he wasn't grounded. He then told me he hadn't been taking his meds for 5 days. That means he stopped taking them the day his nurse came to visit. I had an inkling that the visit had made him feel crappy because his medication was discussed among many other things. Anyway he was afraid that the medicine would alter his brain forever or ruin it. But he said he didn't feel normal and he thought it was because he's been taking this medicine plus everything he's been given in hospital too. In hospital he was involuntary but on discharge he was voluntary. He was originally coming home on monthly injections as involuntary but that changed because the injection affected negatively and he asked for a certain other medicine instead and he seemed to have gained some insight. I was happy for him that he was able to responsible for his own health but also wary that he may not take medicine once he was feeling well because he would believe that he didn't need it. So he had been much much better and the visit seemed to help him decide he didn't need the meds anymore. He's only been home for around five weeks the injection would be wearing off now and he hadn't been taking his pill which is 2.5mg of an antipsychotic medication. Even though he's told me many times it helps him to think more clearly. I know he's not taken it a few times here and there but then decided to take it again. This time was the longest though. We talked and I promised him he would feel better if he took it. I managed to convince him and he took it. Thankfully he felt much better after a little while and said to me a few times mum thanks for helping me. I love this child so much. My question to everyone is how do I help him to realize or understand that the meds are helping and aren't meant to be damaging. He knows they help him he's told me himself but why does he change his mind. I don't want him to become unwell or have to go to hospital again. I don't police his medication but I do encourage him to stick with it - his Drs told me the outlook for him is very good especially if he follows the plan. I was told there would be all kinds of support and there is but it's a lot slower and less than I believed. He only sees the psych once a month and the nurse didn't turn up for 3 weeks so I rang to find out what was going on. I just want the best for him and at times I feel ill equipped to do what it takes. Thanks for listening. 😕
