My granddaughter has been in counseling for the past 3 years. It appears that the major problem is the divorce of her mother and father. Her father never lived up to promises he made and my daughter was a permissive parent and lax disciplinarian. The therapists are saying that she is depressed and has anxiety issues. I went to CT the first week of December and stayed with my granddaughter a week when her mother had to go out of town. I arrived back home on Sat. night. During the night Sunday night my granddaughter smoked pot laced with PCP and cocaine. She then did jailhouse tattoos on 9 places on her body. She decided to try to remove them with a razor. My daughter took my granddaughter to the hospital and because her dad has her insurance and CT was out of network my granddaughter was placed in a drug and alcohol facility in Baltimore. What a hellhole! We have learned that in the past my granddaughter has tried to "numb out" by drinking!, smoking pot and taking Valium. She is coming up onto the last 28 days in this facility. It stresses the 12-step program and that is about all. Since Dec 14th she has had 3 counseling sessions with her advisor and one session with a psychiatrist. Her original therapist in CT suggested a "therapeutic boarding school" I believe because neither home situation is very nurturing. My husband and I have suggested that she live with us and have intensive therapy and go to a private school here in our city. This option is one I not would relish because of my work travel situation BUT we would do anything for my granddaughter.
I appreciate your help and information on these schools Family Foundation School and Bromley Brook because really do not know where else to turn. Having done an Internet search for allegations against therapeutic boarding schools has given me nightmares. Please give us some guidance?
4 comments:
Taking a tour of the school will give you the most insight into what the campus is like. schools.com is a good website as far as finding them within certain parameters and location. Good Luck
Wow, I am sorry first off and wish you all good luck dealing with this issue. Kids are so rough to deal with sometimes. They leave us confused, hurt and not knowing what to do next. Do not give up...You are doing the right thing so far. Keep fighting for her. Someone has too. She may get it eventually and then again some do not ever get it. Stick with her and keep rtying to help her. She may not appreciate it now but someday she WILL look back and see how much everyone loved her. Try to start an intervention. Remember to get yourselves help too, talk to someone, anyone! Do not feel like anything falls on you. You are doing what you can. Keep that up! Until she is 18 you have to do whatever you can!! Good luck..hope the site below helps some.~~~
Nearly 75% of all Americans have experimented with or used alcohol and other drugs. Many people don’t realize that alcohol is actually a drug. There are two basic reasons why people misuse drugs. Some drugs work in such a way that a person’s body will actually get used to a drug and then depend on it. In some cases, when a person stops taking a drug, their body can have a lot of unpleasant symptoms. These symptoms may go away when the person uses the drug again. The other reason people misuse drugs has a lot to do with the effect of the drug on their mind and emotions.
For many people, certain drugs seem to make them feel better mentally or emotionally. In some cases, starting with one drug can lead to the use of other drugs. Some drugs require larger and larger amounts to produce the same effect. Some people take additional drugs to help them reduce the unpleasant effects of the drugs they are already misusing. Eventually a person may take too much of a drug to feel the same effect. This can cause permanent medical damage or even the loss of life. Some drugs can be dangerous to take and some can be dangerous to stop without proper evaluation and treatment.
Knowing why a person is using drugs is not as important as knowing what drugs the person is using, when they are taking drugs and how. Dealing with drug abuse can be difficult without information and support. Recognizing the symptoms of drug use can help you understand and seek help for yourself and others affected by drug abuse.
Problems And Behavior Checklist
Will go see doctors to help cope with the symptoms and side-effects of drug use
Unwilling to tell a doctor about drug use
Friends and family suspect a drug problem
Denies solid evidence of drug use
Sincerely believes they can stop if they wanted but refuses to stop even for a while
Minimizes the amount of drugs used
Admits to using a less dangerous drug to minimize a problem with a more serious drug
Refuses to acknowledge even the obvious consequences or symptoms of drug use in their life
Makes frequent excuses for strange, bizarre or irresponsible behavior
Blames others for their problems
Cannot stop using drugs for more than one month
Feels the urge to use drugs several times a week
Has difficulty controlling the amount of drugs they use
Won’t stop using drugs until they run out
Spends money on drugs which should be used to pay for basic necessities
Spends money on drugs which should be used to provide for their needs (or children)
Believes they are going to be harmed by people who want to help
Will use their children to control, manipulate, threaten or hurt others
Can’t manage money and will resort to lying to get more money
Borrows money from others that they cannot pay back for drugs
Will take money or steal belongings from family or friends for drugs
Will act abusive or threaten others who confront their drug use
Will act self-destructive or suicidal to get what they want
Justifies hurting others who resist being manipulated
Starts treatment but then doesn’t cooperate
Finds reasons or makes excuses to quit treatment
Has repeated problems with the law or other legal problems
Often late or absent from work or school without good reason
Can’t keep a job or won’t get a job
Is suspended from school
Easily upset or quick to react with anger
Frequent displays of temper or anger
Frequent emotional outbursts and mood swings
Reckless or irresponsible behavior
Repeated problems acting as a responsible parent
Unstable, extreme and intense relationships
Pushes people away but then desperately wants them back
Easily frustrated and upset
Their efforts to solve their problems don’t make sense and are not effective
Doesn’t seem to learn from mistakes or change their behavior
Seems unable to see things from another person’s point of view
Reacts to criticism with feelings of intense guilt, anger or depression
Responds with rage and anger when their point of view is not accepted
Requires an excessive amount of attention and support
Seems to ignore the impact of their behavior on others
Avoids healthy family or social activities
Does not follow through with promises
Symptoms Associated With Drug Abuse
Symptoms of Anxiety or Panic
Symptoms of Depression
Destructive thoughts, feelings and behaviors
Suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviors
Violent thoughts, feelings and behavior
Strange, bizarre or psychotic thoughts, feelings and behaviors
Information And Steps You Can Take
Seek advice or consultation from a qualified mental health or drug and alcohol treatment professional regarding an evaluation and intervention for suspected drug use.
Work with a mental health or drug and alcohol treatment professional to establish a crisis intervention plan.
Seek medical advice or consultation if you suspect health problems or if there has not been a recent medical evaluation.
Seek advice and consultation for any mental and emotional problems as well as difficulties that are not covered in the treatment of drug abuse.
Encourage family members and close friends to consult with a treatment professional about the potential involvement in a support group that can provide information, focus on coping, deal with problems and support treatment.
Develop a plan that will minimize and limit arguments and unproductive conflict.
Do not yell, scream or talk to people in an abusive or threatening manner.
Avoid confrontations that are not part of a crisis intervention plan and are not supported by family or close friends.
If there are issues involving abuse or neglect of children, seek advice or further investigation from a crisis intervention specialist or a state human service agency. (Keep records of all relevant contact, conversations, behaviors and especially threats, self-harming or violent behaviors made including dates, times and witnesses.)
I don't think that you should never give up on your child. If one treatment doesn't work continue forward until you find the one that does! There are hundreds out there. Please don't allow your child to become a statistic and fall by the wayside, she has the rest of her life to do better, but if you give up now she'll surely waste away. Good luck!
Please know that your nightmares about any type of residential treatment are simply your gut talking to you. Help her, but don't send her away that will just cause more problems GAO report on residential treatment abuse
Post a Comment