Sorry, this is long....
My daughter was discharged from psychiatric hospital yesterday and sent home with an appointment for follow-up care with the same psychiatrist that "cured" her of lying by asking her to promise not to do it again.
husband and I begged for a referral for more treatment. We had even put our request in writing....but to no avail.
It turns out that difficult child was discharged more for insurance purposes than anything else. She was at psychiatric hospital for ten days....the maximum allowed by Medicaid.
The psychiatric hospital is about a an hour's drive from our home. On our way to pick her up yesterday, she was "inappropriate" with another patient (again!!) and was confined to her room. This time, instead of just hiding under a desk and refusing to eat, she locked herself in the bathroom and went into a full-blown rage. Screaming, growling, kicking and beating on the doors and walls of the bathroom.
They were just about to have the orderlies move her to the "Safe Room"--when lucky for them, we arrived to take her home. Isn't it wonderful? We were able to spare them from having to deal with this violent and out-of-control child.
The nurse that saw difficult child's rampage asked us why we hadn't requested that she be "placed" anywhere.
husband and I were flabbergasted. We've been begging for a referral somewhere!!
"O" said the nurse. "We don't do 'referrals'--we only do 'placements'."
So we were not able to get difficult child any more help, apparantly because we used the wrong word. We asked for a referral to an Residential Treatment Center (RTC). But because we did not ask for a placement at Residential Treatment Center (RTC)--we are out of luck.
So difficult child is home and is angrier than ever. Her medications are the same. She is supposed to start seeing the useless psychiatrist again. Nothing at home has changed....
However, the SW who arranged the appointment with useless psychiatrist assures us that everything is different now. difficult child has everything under control. She is going to be a "new person".
I accused the SW of sending my child home with a "white knuckle" treatment plan. "Hold yourself together--or else!!" Naturally, the SW does not see it that way...
So we laid down the rules last night for difficult child. No running off, hands off your brother, no threats--we will call the police.
difficult child is already making excuses "Well, if I just go to my friend's house...."
And difficult child has made it clear that she does not want to be asked to do any chores or be interrupted when she is "busy", because that's what makes her so mad about living with us.
And so we are stuck in this "holding pattern" until the next horrible thing happens....
And then I will be sure to use the correct vocabulary word....
God help us all!!
--DaisyF
My daughter was discharged from psychiatric hospital yesterday and sent home with an appointment for follow-up care with the same psychiatrist that "cured" her of lying by asking her to promise not to do it again.
husband and I begged for a referral for more treatment. We had even put our request in writing....but to no avail.
It turns out that difficult child was discharged more for insurance purposes than anything else. She was at psychiatric hospital for ten days....the maximum allowed by Medicaid.
The psychiatric hospital is about a an hour's drive from our home. On our way to pick her up yesterday, she was "inappropriate" with another patient (again!!) and was confined to her room. This time, instead of just hiding under a desk and refusing to eat, she locked herself in the bathroom and went into a full-blown rage. Screaming, growling, kicking and beating on the doors and walls of the bathroom.
They were just about to have the orderlies move her to the "Safe Room"--when lucky for them, we arrived to take her home. Isn't it wonderful? We were able to spare them from having to deal with this violent and out-of-control child.
The nurse that saw difficult child's rampage asked us why we hadn't requested that she be "placed" anywhere.
husband and I were flabbergasted. We've been begging for a referral somewhere!!
"O" said the nurse. "We don't do 'referrals'--we only do 'placements'."
So we were not able to get difficult child any more help, apparantly because we used the wrong word. We asked for a referral to an Residential Treatment Center (RTC). But because we did not ask for a placement at Residential Treatment Center (RTC)--we are out of luck.
So difficult child is home and is angrier than ever. Her medications are the same. She is supposed to start seeing the useless psychiatrist again. Nothing at home has changed....
However, the SW who arranged the appointment with useless psychiatrist assures us that everything is different now. difficult child has everything under control. She is going to be a "new person".
I accused the SW of sending my child home with a "white knuckle" treatment plan. "Hold yourself together--or else!!" Naturally, the SW does not see it that way...
So we laid down the rules last night for difficult child. No running off, hands off your brother, no threats--we will call the police.
difficult child is already making excuses "Well, if I just go to my friend's house...."
And difficult child has made it clear that she does not want to be asked to do any chores or be interrupted when she is "busy", because that's what makes her so mad about living with us.
And so we are stuck in this "holding pattern" until the next horrible thing happens....
And then I will be sure to use the correct vocabulary word....
God help us all!!
--DaisyF