Update:

[Guest guest]

Finally, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. After 6 months of

watching his mental health deteriorate, 2 hospitalizations and lousy

psychiatric care, is on his way back to being the old

. After discontinuing the SSRIs that were the start of

his decline, several weeks on lamictal, and, most recently,

eliminating ativan, his moods are stable and he's cheerful most of

the time. For the first time at the psychiatrist's office yesterday,

instead of curling up in a ball and refusing to speak, he was

talkative and answered all of the doctor's questions. For months he

hasn't responded when I've asked how he's feeling or whether the

intrustive thoughts and voices have decreased. It was a surprise

when he told the doctor that the bad thoughts bother him a lot less

now.

I was glad that the doctor got to see the happy, friendly and

outgoing because one of the reasons why he had said he

couldn't rule out schizophrenia is the way showed no

expression, he wouldn't talk, and he seemed mentally fragile. I'm no

longer worried that it is a possibility.

School is his current issue. He has missed several days because he

hasn't been able to focus, read, do math problems or write without

switching letters. The psychiatrist said that the 2.5 mg. risperdal

is causing the cognitive difficulties as well as the impaired

coordination that makes him unable to catch a ball or play soccer

well. He said that ativan made the problems worse.

should feel more and more like himself again as he tapers

off the risperdal over the next few weeks. After having endured this

emotional roller coaster, I feel a tremendous sense of relief. My

family can start living again instead of just coping.

The advice and support I've received from this group has been what's

gotten me through this.

Tamara