Is there anyone else up? I really need to talk to someone

[April2]

I've had the worst night ever. I just committed my 15 year old daughter into a mental hospital for a mandatory 72 hours and I don't know if I made the right decision. That was the hardest thing I've ever done. She's been cutting herself for almost 2 years. I thought she hadn't done it in a long time but she had, I guess. She just hid it from me. I really thought we were through all that.Tonight she blew up over something so small. She does that sometimes but hasn't done it in a long time. She has a trouble controlling her emotions sometimes.She wound up cutting herself and I was afraid she'd do something so I made her show me. I couldn't understand and asked her why? She told me she's been trying to tell me for a long time that she's depressed and needs help. I took her to the ER and they told me she needed to be watched for 72 hours and had her taken to the mental health hospital. I didn't know they'd make her stay that long. I feel so out of control. I'm her parent and I just left her with strangers for 3 days! I really didn't think she was a suicide threat, although she wrote some stuff on her myspace that sounded suicidal. When I asked her about it, she said she just said that to get attention from her friends. She wanted to see if anybody cared. I never know what to believe anymore with her. She's lied before. But tonight she was crying and asking me to not let her go there. I know she was scared. This is my baby!
Did I make the right decision? Has anybody gone through something like this? I can't even see her but an hour in the evening each day. I can't believe this. I just left my baby with strangers! And she was crying but trying to not show it. I couldn't hold back the tears either. I love her so much. I don't know how much is normal teen hormones anymore and what's normal or not normal. The cutting, I never did like or understand.
I'm having a really hard time dealing with this. I just don't understand why! She has a good family! She's not been abused or neglected. She has nice clothes and most things that she wants that we can afford. She told me tonight that she hates her family and she hates her life. The only one she doesn't hate is her baby brother. That hurt. I love her so much and I don't understand why she'd hate me when I've tried so hard to do the right thing and be a good parent. Sometimes I look at her and I don't even know her. I wonder what happened to my sweet, happy little girl. I don't understand any of this! And now I just left her with strangers and I have to trust them that they will diagnose her correctly and won't hurt her. A part of me wants to snatch her back and run away and hide her away from everything and protect her. But I can't protect her. All I can do is pray and ask God to be with her because I can't right now. This is the worst feeling in the world.

[gwofthenortheast]

hi april maybe what would do you better is some relaxation thereapy like a massage or facial, reflexolgy or something more beneficial than pills hun. as for tablets i dont know jack about any of it except what my partner experiencing and how useless they are for her. good luck april and best wishes for you and your family

[mayflowers]

It takes a few weeks before the medication builds up in her system to be effective.  The thing that concerns me is that she is nodding off in class.  That plus the fact that she is crabbier sounds like she is sleepy but forcing herself to stay awake. The meds may be a mild sedative which is fine if you don't have to do much during the day but school requires a lot of interaction and paying attention.

I would watch the meds for the next 3 weeks and if you don't notice that she is better, get the meds or at least the dosages changed.

[April2]

Are any of you guys still out there?
I was just wondering how long it takes before we'd see results from the meds she's taking. At first, we thought we saw a difference the first day. She seemed calmer, more relaxed. Could it have been a placebo effect? And then, once she got home she was just so happy to be home, she was pleasant and agreeable. No problems! The day before we forgot one dosage because I had to pick her up from school and take her right to an appointment and forgot to bring her afternoon dosage. She did seem crabbier that day. Yesterday, she was crabby too. I had to mildly discipline her by taking the computer away because she wasn't supposed to be using the laptop. She got mad and slammed off to her room. I'm thinking, "Why bother medicating my kid if we don't notice much difference?" The only difference seems to be she's sleepier. Her 2nd period teacher called me yesterday and said she only got 5 math problems done in an hour and a half and she kept nodding off. What do you guys think? Does this take more time? It's been a week. Or does she need something different? I just don't know what to think. Any advice would be great. Thanks, guys.

[April2]

Thanks guys. I actually did talk to my friend. I'm the type of person who likes to get things out in the open and deal with them. We've been friends for a long time. My friend said she thinks she was misunderstood. She said she loves our daughter and our family. She said she was just cautioning her son to be careful not to give her the wrong impression, to be a good friend but to not lead her on. She said she knew how vulnerable my daughter was right now and she didn't want to see her hurt. I don't want to see her hurt either.

I know I've been overly sensitive and touchy lately with all the stress I've been under. My husband actually just told me last night he's concerned about me and all the crying I've been doing and how I'm feeling. He thinks I should consider taking something myself. I've actually thought about that. Maybe just temporarily. All this stress has taken a toll on me. I'm tired and touchy. My stomach's always in knots. I'm distracted and unmotivated in some ways. I don't know. We'll see.

Thanks, guys, for all the support. You guys are great. I hope you all are doing well. Take care & God bless you!

[gwofthenortheast]

sounds like your daughters got a good freind with this young man andi can understand why you both feel hurt by his parents comments its very unchristian to make such judgements. if they talk online how can they be stopped chatting if thats what they both want to do and it sounds like he has been of great support to you girl. i would personally review what info you share with this couple regarding your daughters mental health. im glad she is home and doing well. take care

[mayflowers]

Hang in there April.  People will judge you & your daughter but someday they will be judged for their actions too.  Your friends son sounds like a nice friend for your daughter.  Even if she only had a little time with him, at least she heard about Jesus and His Love for her.  Be thankful for that.  And as for the people that judge her and her struggles, let your daughter know that they are not any better than her.  You can't judge someone until you've been walking in their shoes.  They don't know what your daughter has been through.  

Remember too that Jesus had friends that turned on him too.  He knows what you're both feeling.  Turn into Him and yes, He is enough.  He will bring you friends that will be good for you.  Maybe your friend will have a change of heart and realize she is wrong to judge another person.  At least you and your daughter realize there is a problem and are working on it.  It's not as though you are avoiding anything.
  
God Bless April.  Hang in there.