I called my mom and told her the take her to the hospital thing. I’m pressing the issue as much as I can. My mom doesn’t think it’s a big deal because she did it over a week ago (she just got around to telling my mom on Sunday, and my mom just got around to telling me today) and now says she only finished 3/4 of the bottle; I’m making sure she at least gets blood tests. If I were at home, I’d take her myself, but I’m stuck at school until Thursday, at which point I will probably take her if they don’t. My mom really resents the fact that I’m being so insistent, because it seems like I’m telling her what to do. Which, admittedly, I am. Thing is, my mom’s all like, “we need to take this one step at the time.” I’m trying to tell her that, while she can’t do everything under the sun at once, she’s going to have to deal with multiple things at the same time.
She got in to see the school counselor. She seemed happy when I talked to her tonight, but it’s not as though I could see her facial expressions.
BTW, if she’d just downed the bottle of NyQuil, I wouldn’t be going on about counseling. I wouldn’t even be posting here. I’d’ve been going approximately 100mph down I-90 to get home. She is not, as far as I can tell in need of immediate medical attention–this doesn’t mean I don’t think she SHOULD get it, merely that she wasn’t on the floor in convulsions.
BTW, my sister’s 14.
norinew, I remember the thread you started. I don’t know if she’ll get professional help. I don’t know how likely it is in my family that my parents’d go for it. They like hiding their head in the sand. I’m considering going behind their backs. I think the situation is bullshit, and that she should have an appointment to see a psychiatrist and a doctor’s appointment to determine the extent of the damage to her liver, if any.
I’m so sorry, Angel of the Lord. My younger sister went through some bad stuff at that age too. It’s an extremely difficult time in life. She probably feels very alone. Just let her know you’re there for her and you care about her. I hope she feels better soon.
I’m not sure you understand the gravity of the situation. Acetaminophen overdoses can be FATAL – as in DEATH. But it does not happen right away – I’ve heard it can take up to two weeks. This site indicates that a poisoning victim, if left untreated, could die within 96 hours, so she might have gotten lucky. But only a doctor can tell for sure! If no one can take her to the hospital, call an ambulance.
It’s not an issue of whether someone can. They WON’T. And I’m not AT home, I’m at college, and I’m scared out of my mind, and my parents will. Not. Believe. Me. They think I’m overreacting, and I don’t know what I can do aside from hauling my ass home, taking my sister out of the house against her will and against my parents’ will–and this isn’t exactly FEASIBLE!
Jesus fucking Christ, ricksummon, I know you’re not trying to be a prick, I know you’re just trying to tell me things that are very important…but I know these things! I’ve sent my mom links to webpages, she isn’t LISTENING, and I am sitting here, going out of my mind with worry, and I can’t do jack shit. I know the risks. I know the gravity of the situation–I’ve been there when a friend tried to OD on mostly Tylenol. I’m not a moron, and I know how to use Google. And my hands are fucking tied, and I don’t know what to do. I have SAID that I think she should go to the doctor. I have SAID that I’ve done what I can. Please give me the benefit of the doubt here, OK?
I’m sorry if I offended you. Believe me, I have no desire to make this situation harder for you than it already is; I simply felt that the previous warnings posted were not strong enough. I did not know that you were not living at home, but now I realize you have no further power over the situation. Please believe me when I say I never intended to cast aspersions on anyone. I will certainly keep you and your family in my prayers.
I know you weren’t trying to be mean. I just freaked out, is all. I love my little sister to death, and the thought of anything happening to her makes me sick, and makes me lose all rational thought. I’m sorry for yelling at you…
Look, tell your mom that there is a 47-year-old mother here at the SDMB, who has three kids age 12, 16, and 18, who is most definitely NOT overreacting.
I know you take this seriously. You are to be commended for being a sensitive brother (I assume?). I can only speak from my own experience, and so with that caveat…
Comparing your sister’s situation and actions with my own at a similar age, she is in much danger. Not just from the Nyquil. She is calling out for help. The details don’t much matter in my opinion. She must have sympathetic, adult help now. I, too, was suicidal as a teen. I, too, was blown off by my family. (Hell, I was told that I was selfish for wanting to die!) I realize that many people cannot accept serious depression and suicide attempts because of ignorance and fear. This is not a character defect. She is acting out, IMO, because she does want damage to come to herself. Trying to run away may be her attempt to put herself in a very dangerous situation, and then the “choice” will be out of her hands.
I don’t mean to freak you out further. I can clearly see that you are. Tell someone, please. Tell another adult. Make the call to her school. Call her friend’s parents. Ring the alarm bell. Take her seriously. Call her. Tell her you love her, that you’re freaked out. Tell her you want to talk to her and that what you discuss will be held in confidence, but that you love her enough to know she is serious and that you, as someone who loves her, have to take action because you cannot bear to think of her being dead.
There is very real relief to be had for her suffering. Someone to talk to - namely, therapy - and medication will make a tremendous difference. Once she is stabalized she can, with the help of a good therapist skilled in adolescent depression, begin to get well and deal with the family issues. It works. It really works. She does not have to continue to suffer.
I wish I had had someone to take me seriously when I was 16. You obviously do. Call a suicide hotline and tell them your story and find out what actions you can take under the circumstances. I honestly think she should be hospitalized. Not as a punishment, but because she is in crisis, and a crisis center sounds like what she needs. She is not bad/wrong/burdensome/worthy of castigation. She is a real, suffering young woman who needs to be taken seriously and told that she matters. Your words and actions can go a very long way in that regard.
Angel, can your sister tell your parents she needs help? What about the school counselor?
I know it’s difficult doing stuff long distance, and you are not the legal guardian, but can you call the school, express your concern, and get the counselor to call your parents? It seems like your parents are deep in denial (This can’t be happening to me) and they’re hoping the situation was a fluke and everything is peachy keen now.
Believe me, that’s a very dangerous situation for your parents. Can you go home for the weekend and have a family pow-wow about this?
Please know that I do not mean to load on to you. Upon review, my post may seem like I do not take YOU seriously. I do.
It may be that you are afraid to go directly against your parents on this (VERY assumptive on my part. If I am totally wrong, I sincerely apologize). You may be the only one in right mind right now to do the right thing. (Again, very assumptive.) Have you considered calling the police? (Not on your parents, but to tell them about the suicide attempt.) Yes, that may result in your sister being locked up against her will. It is drastic, and she may not understand, and she may be enraged with you. And it’s okay. You can deal with her anger. And, I believe, you can deal with your parents’, as well.
Believe that you can do something. You can. You can do this. You can get through this. And your sister can, too. I mean everything I say with the utmost compassion and understanding for what you are going through.
My sister is already seeing a counselor at school–she went yesterday. The counselor is currently giving her tests and had a meeting with my dad this morning–which, incidentally, I don’t know the results of.
My mom called our PCP this morning and explained the NyQuil situation. They are going in tonight for blood work and other stuff, although, since this apparently happened over two weeks ago (the numbers keep on changing, yeah, I know–it’s not like I’m getting first hand accounts, here. My mom said that my sister said that it was two weeks ago–before, I was assuming about a week), and is symptom-free, there probably isn’t any immediate threat. The PCP will also refer her to a “real” psychiatrist, who is going to commence evaluations. Based on my (extremely limited) knowledge of psychology, psychopathology, etc., I’m guessing that she will probably be put on anti-depressants. Based on what my parents have told me, I think she needs them.
I’m not saying that my parents are being inept–just that they aren’t rushing her to the emergency room, which is kinda what I want them to do. They fully understand what is going on in terms of the psychological; they
I, personally, will be spending a lot of time with her this weekend. She won’t talk to me over the phone, though. She doesn’t like talking on the phone (which is characteristic of our family).
My parent’s are looking out for my sister’s well being–they’re doing better than I thought they would, especially my dad. They’re just not acting in the way I–and a lot of y’all–think they should.
Thank God. It’s very reassuring that your 'rents are getting her in to see the PCP and are taking her to a psychiatrist.
I would assume most definitely that she will be put on anti-depressants. They may take awhile to kick in. She may have to fiddle with doses and different meds if there is no improvement. It can take a lot of patience.
If your sister doesn’t seem to have any symptoms of an overdose, perhaps it’s possible that she hasn’t taken any and just said she had to freak your parents out, or as a way of letting them know what she is capable of in her current mental state.
Obviously the worst case scenario, that she actually took the stuff, must be assumed, but hopefully she’s not being entirely truthfull or is exagerating about the quantity taken.
I agree with CRorex: Call the police if your mom isn’t responsive. Tell them that your sister has attempted suicide, that your mother has not sought medical treatment for her life-threatening condition, and make it very clear to them that if your sister is left to her own devices, she will kill herself.
Hopefully, just the sight of the police checking up on your sister will be enough to snap your mom out of her denial. If it isn’t, the police will already have her number.
i have thought about suicide on a daily basis for a few years now. i’ve talked to many people who were also suicidal. i believe i have gained some insight into the mind of such a person. there are few definites, but i do think there is one thing that is universally necessary for happiness in life…
EMPATHY
the more you understand her the more you can help. don’t allow your feelings to influence your ability to keep an open mind.
i have thought about suicide on a daily basis for a few years now. i’ve talked to many people who were also suicidal. i believe i have gained some insight into the mind of such a person. there are few definites, but i do think there is one thing that is universally necessary for happiness in life…
EMPATHY
the more you understand her the more you can help. don’t allow your feelings to influence your ability to keep an open mind.
