Re: Update on in the hospital

February 23, 2005

Hi ,

Thank goodness that is finally in a decent

facility. I know that things look dark right now, but

she can get the help she needs to get better.

My dd 12 has been out for a month and a half now. RTC

was a horrible experience and I felt that admitting my

dd wasn't worthwhile at the time, though there weren't

really any other choices. But my daughter is getting

help now, and it's making a difference. She is in an

intensive outpatient program for self-injurers; like

, she uses her teeth when she doesn't have

access to anything else. At first my dd was very

therapy-resistant and hostile toward the group, but

yesterday the therapist managed to draw her out and

get her to participate for the first time. She isn't

completely on board yet, but she is making progress

and I have much more hope for her future. Some of the

kids in the group haven't self-injured for months, and

their healed scars help my daughter to see that it's

possible to overcome this problem.

, I know that can get better too. It won't

be quick or easy, but there is a lot of reason to be

hopeful. If she gets the right meds, she can learn to

live with her illness. In the meantime, while you're

waiting for her to get well enough to come home, try

let go of the worry a little and do something good for

yourself.

Take care,

PJ

--- Kidztalent@... wrote:

>

> Well....it's been a difficult week for as

> well as myself. It just

> feels so empty and quiet at home. Even the dogs are

> acting weird constantly

> pacing in front of 's room and whining. This

> is really freaky but one of

> the dogs (they're Labs) even went into this huge

> bookcase in the hall and of the

> hundreds of books I have in it.....he pulled the

> one book out that

> happened to have in there called " Kissing

> Doorknobs " ...about OCD.....he pulled

> it out and brought it to me! Then he found a pen

> somewhere on the floor that

> also belongs to and brought me that!! Crazy

> huh? So

> anyway......Although things are better at UCLA than

> they were at the other hospital she was

> transferred from...it still sucks. I cannot believe

> the other hospital would

> not give me any information at all. It was really

> weird and SO frustrating!!

> Even UCLA was upset & frustrated with them cause

> they took SO long to transfer

> . They were supposed to transfer her first

> thing the next morning and

> they didn't do it until 10 PM and they wouldn't even

> let me or UCLA know

> anything all day! UCLA kept calling them and they

> wouldn't even tell UCLA

> anything as to why it was taking so long. But

> anyway....she's now been in UCLA

> adolescent unit since Thursday night and although

> she says it's way better than

> the other hospital....she's still having a really

> rough time there. I keep

> trying to tell her that it will get worse before it

> gets better. But it's hard

> to accept that cause now since she can't cut

> there....she's resorted to

> biting herself. She is litteraly taking chunks out

> of her arm. She just needs to

> constantly be told not to give up and that she can

> beat this....but it's so

> hard to see the bites on her arm. She told me

> yesterday that the day she was

> caught, last Wed. at school.... that if she were

> sent home, that she was

> planning to take a bunch of pills and just end this

> whole frustrating thing. I

> wanted to just collapse in horror, but I held it

> together till I got home.

> Another problem she's having there is that she

> hasn't slept at all. They won't

> give her the Ambien sleeping pill that she's been

> taking at home....cause they

> want to try something less addicting. I forget the

> name of it but it's working

> in reverse for her. She's up all night and just

> bouncing of the walls with

> hyperness. So frustrating. I'm having a rough time

> this morning. Visiting

> hours aren't until tonight at 7:00 and I'm trying to

> keep myself busy cleaning

> her room and I've come across some piece's of paper

> she scribbled on saying

> she's ugly and stupid and all this other negative

> crap about herself. It's

> just breaking my heart. I just don't get it.....she

> has tons of friends and boys

> asking her out. I just have a difficult time

> understanding why she's so down

> on herself. I also wanted to let anyone know that

> they can send cards with

> words of encouragement to at the following

> address if you'd like. She

> knows all about this group and I've relayed the

> wonderful messages I've gotten

> from the group to her.

> Thanks again to everyone that has been supportive

> and concerned.

> M/CA

>

> McCroskey c/o

> UCLA Medical Center

> 760 Westwood Plaza

> NPI - 2 South

> Westwood, CA 90024

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

February 23, 2005

Hi ,

Thank goodness that is finally in a decent

facility. I know that things look dark right now, but

she can get the help she needs to get better.

My dd 12 has been out for a month and a half now. RTC

was a horrible experience and I felt that admitting my

dd wasn't worthwhile at the time, though there weren't

really any other choices. But my daughter is getting

help now, and it's making a difference. She is in an

intensive outpatient program for self-injurers; like

, she uses her teeth when she doesn't have

access to anything else. At first my dd was very

therapy-resistant and hostile toward the group, but

yesterday the therapist managed to draw her out and

get her to participate for the first time. She isn't

completely on board yet, but she is making progress

and I have much more hope for her future. Some of the

kids in the group haven't self-injured for months, and

their healed scars help my daughter to see that it's

possible to overcome this problem.

, I know that can get better too. It won't

be quick or easy, but there is a lot of reason to be

hopeful. If she gets the right meds, she can learn to

live with her illness. In the meantime, while you're

waiting for her to get well enough to come home, try

let go of the worry a little and do something good for

yourself.

Take care,

PJ

--- Kidztalent@... wrote:

>

> Well....it's been a difficult week for as

> well as myself. It just

> feels so empty and quiet at home. Even the dogs are

> acting weird constantly

> pacing in front of 's room and whining. This

> is really freaky but one of

> the dogs (they're Labs) even went into this huge

> bookcase in the hall and of the

> hundreds of books I have in it.....he pulled the

> one book out that

> happened to have in there called " Kissing

> Doorknobs " ...about OCD.....he pulled

> it out and brought it to me! Then he found a pen

> somewhere on the floor that

> also belongs to and brought me that!! Crazy

> huh? So

> anyway......Although things are better at UCLA than

> they were at the other hospital she was

> transferred from...it still sucks. I cannot believe

> the other hospital would

> not give me any information at all. It was really

> weird and SO frustrating!!

> Even UCLA was upset & frustrated with them cause

> they took SO long to transfer

> . They were supposed to transfer her first

> thing the next morning and

> they didn't do it until 10 PM and they wouldn't even

> let me or UCLA know

> anything all day! UCLA kept calling them and they

> wouldn't even tell UCLA

> anything as to why it was taking so long. But

> anyway....she's now been in UCLA

> adolescent unit since Thursday night and although

> she says it's way better than

> the other hospital....she's still having a really

> rough time there. I keep

> trying to tell her that it will get worse before it

> gets better. But it's hard

> to accept that cause now since she can't cut

> there....she's resorted to

> biting herself. She is litteraly taking chunks out

> of her arm. She just needs to

> constantly be told not to give up and that she can

> beat this....but it's so

> hard to see the bites on her arm. She told me

> yesterday that the day she was

> caught, last Wed. at school.... that if she were

> sent home, that she was

> planning to take a bunch of pills and just end this

> whole frustrating thing. I

> wanted to just collapse in horror, but I held it

> together till I got home.

> Another problem she's having there is that she

> hasn't slept at all. They won't

> give her the Ambien sleeping pill that she's been

> taking at home....cause they

> want to try something less addicting. I forget the

> name of it but it's working

> in reverse for her. She's up all night and just

> bouncing of the walls with

> hyperness. So frustrating. I'm having a rough time

> this morning. Visiting

> hours aren't until tonight at 7:00 and I'm trying to

> keep myself busy cleaning

> her room and I've come across some piece's of paper

> she scribbled on saying

> she's ugly and stupid and all this other negative

> crap about herself. It's

> just breaking my heart. I just don't get it.....she

> has tons of friends and boys

> asking her out. I just have a difficult time

> understanding why she's so down

> on herself. I also wanted to let anyone know that

> they can send cards with

> words of encouragement to at the following

> address if you'd like. She

> knows all about this group and I've relayed the

> wonderful messages I've gotten

> from the group to her.

> Thanks again to everyone that has been supportive

> and concerned.

> M/CA

>

> McCroskey c/o

> UCLA Medical Center

> 760 Westwood Plaza

> NPI - 2 South

> Westwood, CA 90024

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

February 23, 2005

Hi ,

Thank goodness that is finally in a decent

facility. I know that things look dark right now, but

she can get the help she needs to get better.

My dd 12 has been out for a month and a half now. RTC

was a horrible experience and I felt that admitting my

dd wasn't worthwhile at the time, though there weren't

really any other choices. But my daughter is getting

help now, and it's making a difference. She is in an

intensive outpatient program for self-injurers; like

, she uses her teeth when she doesn't have

access to anything else. At first my dd was very

therapy-resistant and hostile toward the group, but

yesterday the therapist managed to draw her out and

get her to participate for the first time. She isn't

completely on board yet, but she is making progress

and I have much more hope for her future. Some of the

kids in the group haven't self-injured for months, and

their healed scars help my daughter to see that it's

possible to overcome this problem.

, I know that can get better too. It won't

be quick or easy, but there is a lot of reason to be

hopeful. If she gets the right meds, she can learn to

live with her illness. In the meantime, while you're

waiting for her to get well enough to come home, try

let go of the worry a little and do something good for

yourself.

Take care,

PJ

--- Kidztalent@... wrote:

>

> Well....it's been a difficult week for as

> well as myself. It just

> feels so empty and quiet at home. Even the dogs are

> acting weird constantly

> pacing in front of 's room and whining. This

> is really freaky but one of

> the dogs (they're Labs) even went into this huge

> bookcase in the hall and of the

> hundreds of books I have in it.....he pulled the

> one book out that

> happened to have in there called " Kissing

> Doorknobs " ...about OCD.....he pulled

> it out and brought it to me! Then he found a pen

> somewhere on the floor that

> also belongs to and brought me that!! Crazy

> huh? So

> anyway......Although things are better at UCLA than

> they were at the other hospital she was

> transferred from...it still sucks. I cannot believe

> the other hospital would

> not give me any information at all. It was really

> weird and SO frustrating!!

> Even UCLA was upset & frustrated with them cause

> they took SO long to transfer

> . They were supposed to transfer her first

> thing the next morning and

> they didn't do it until 10 PM and they wouldn't even

> let me or UCLA know

> anything all day! UCLA kept calling them and they

> wouldn't even tell UCLA

> anything as to why it was taking so long. But

> anyway....she's now been in UCLA

> adolescent unit since Thursday night and although

> she says it's way better than

> the other hospital....she's still having a really

> rough time there. I keep

> trying to tell her that it will get worse before it

> gets better. But it's hard

> to accept that cause now since she can't cut

> there....she's resorted to

> biting herself. She is litteraly taking chunks out

> of her arm. She just needs to

> constantly be told not to give up and that she can

> beat this....but it's so

> hard to see the bites on her arm. She told me

> yesterday that the day she was

> caught, last Wed. at school.... that if she were

> sent home, that she was

> planning to take a bunch of pills and just end this

> whole frustrating thing. I

> wanted to just collapse in horror, but I held it

> together till I got home.

> Another problem she's having there is that she

> hasn't slept at all. They won't

> give her the Ambien sleeping pill that she's been

> taking at home....cause they

> want to try something less addicting. I forget the

> name of it but it's working

> in reverse for her. She's up all night and just

> bouncing of the walls with

> hyperness. So frustrating. I'm having a rough time

> this morning. Visiting

> hours aren't until tonight at 7:00 and I'm trying to

> keep myself busy cleaning

> her room and I've come across some piece's of paper

> she scribbled on saying

> she's ugly and stupid and all this other negative

> crap about herself. It's

> just breaking my heart. I just don't get it.....she

> has tons of friends and boys

> asking her out. I just have a difficult time

> understanding why she's so down

> on herself. I also wanted to let anyone know that

> they can send cards with

> words of encouragement to at the following

> address if you'd like. She

> knows all about this group and I've relayed the

> wonderful messages I've gotten

> from the group to her.

> Thanks again to everyone that has been supportive

> and concerned.

> M/CA

>

> McCroskey c/o

> UCLA Medical Center

> 760 Westwood Plaza

> NPI - 2 South

> Westwood, CA 90024

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

February 23, 2005

-

(((hugs))) to you and . You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Keep updating as you are able. My heart goes out to you, but I

admire and agree with your positive attitude...things WILL get

better-

Blessings-

(Ohio

February 23, 2005

Hi ,

(((hugs))) to you and ! You hang in there and really try to

take some of this time for yourself! And I can only imagine just how

tough this has to be for to conquer/get past, but she will!

She might not feel like she will, but she's just tired and been

dealing with it so long. I KNOW she'll find the inner strength to

fight this and she'll come out on the winning side!!

Those put-downs about herself - low self-esteem for any reason can

cause that, but could that BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder or whatever

it's called) be involved too? Haven't read a lot about it but seems

sufferers always find something wrong with themselves, never see the

positive so far as physical aspects.

I'm so glad she's at a better hospital now. I'm sure they'll switch

from that activating med if she doesn't soon calm down. Thanks for

updating us and PLEASE keep us updated! By the way, smart dog!

>

> Well....it's been a difficult week for as well as myself. It

just

> feels so empty and quiet at home. Even the dogs are acting weird

constantly

> pacing in front of 's room and whining. This is really freaky

but one of

> the dogs (they're Labs) even went into this huge bookcase in the

February 23, 2005

Hi ,

(((hugs))) to you and ! You hang in there and really try to

take some of this time for yourself! And I can only imagine just how

tough this has to be for to conquer/get past, but she will!

She might not feel like she will, but she's just tired and been

dealing with it so long. I KNOW she'll find the inner strength to

fight this and she'll come out on the winning side!!

Those put-downs about herself - low self-esteem for any reason can

cause that, but could that BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder or whatever

it's called) be involved too? Haven't read a lot about it but seems

sufferers always find something wrong with themselves, never see the

positive so far as physical aspects.

I'm so glad she's at a better hospital now. I'm sure they'll switch

from that activating med if she doesn't soon calm down. Thanks for

updating us and PLEASE keep us updated! By the way, smart dog!

>

> Well....it's been a difficult week for as well as myself. It

just

> feels so empty and quiet at home. Even the dogs are acting weird

constantly

> pacing in front of 's room and whining. This is really freaky

but one of

> the dogs (they're Labs) even went into this huge bookcase in the

February 24, 2005

Please know that is were she will get the most help! I know it

is tearing you apart but hang in there and distract yourself see

friends or talk to somebody. I understand were you are coming from

because my daughter was hospitalized for 8 months. I remember feeling

that our lives were changed forever and I was numb for at least a

month. Was angry at our situation and could not believe what was

happening. My daughter had a sudden onset of OCD we did not know she

had it. However, now we know that she had OCD from a very early age.

You need to take care of yourself in order to be there for your

daughter. I believe that this is the best thing for your daughter

and she will get help in dealing with her problems.

How far are you from the hospital and do you have other children?

If you wish to talk to somebody I am there for you!

All the best!

Remember take care of yourself! We are all there to support you!

Give a lot of hugs to your daughter and tell her we are praying for

her!

February 24, 2005