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Dealing With Rage
(Note: This was a comment I left on http://www.januaryfirst.org/ – The Milk Keeps Spilling.) We learned to perform what’s called a “therapeutic hold” to keep our son from hurting us or others or himself. It’s sort of like a wrestling maneuver, but will restrain someone so that they are immobile but not in pain. It…
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First Visit
So – Tim’s been in RTC for two weeks now. We saw him twice over the holiday weekend, for about an hour on Friday, and about 15 minutes yesterday. Friday was a good visit – he told us about his “friends,” was happy to say he got the posters I sent him for his room…
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One Week
A week has gone by since we checked Tim into ODTC for residential treatment. We’ve talked to him on the phone three times, and all three times were pretty much the same: he’s fine, so far everything is good, when are we coming to visit. I think he’s realized that, unlike when he was hospitalized,…
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All Checked In
After two years of ICG applications, denials, appeals, IEP meetings, inpatient hospitalizations, broken doors, bruises, rages, locks, letters to elected officials, and vigilance, Tim was admitted to and settled at ODTC yesterday. They were very thourough at intake – took him for a tour, show him his room, then asked us a ton of questions…
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What It’s Like Driving With Tim
Here’s a recap of my car ride with Tim to Walmart yesterday: (incoherent mumbling while staring down in his lap) “When are the Marines gonna be here? For the war?” (I replied, no Marines, no war here) (whispering) “She says there’s no war here. I don’t know….” (more incoherent mumbling) “Woooo Wooooo!!” – while making…
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The Time In Between
Tim was discharged from the hospital last Saturday. I’d taken our daughter up to Wisconsin to visit my parents for a few days on Thursday, and Tom and Tim joined us on Saturday late afternoon. I wouldn’t normally take him straight from an inpatient stay to visit family, but this was his last chance to…
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We’ve Got A Date
August 25th. That’s the official date Tim will go to ODTC for residential treatment and school. It’s so close, but the anticipation, hoping that date sticks, is killing me. It’s been such a long road to get him an ICG grant and get him into residential that it almost doesn’t seem real. Plus, the guilties…
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Guilt and Anger
We have a date – August 24. That’s when Tim can be admitted to ODTC. Between state budget issues (like not having one), and good old fashioned bureocracy, it will be nearly 50 days between getting the ok to admit and actually getting admitted. Mind you, none of the bureocracy was ODTC’s fault. Today Tom…
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Insomnia
I don’t sleep much. I used to. My husband Tom used to call me a stress narcoleptic – when I got stressed out, I’d get tired and nap a lot. Not depression tired, just brain-tired. Now I’m lucky if I get 5 hours a night. About once a week, I don’t sleep at all. It’s…
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Hospitalization #12
It’s gotta be some kind of record. Not that we’re trying to set a record, or anything. Tim’s been destabilizing all week – two admissions on his part of hearing voices, two other that we’ve recognized (pacing, talking to himself). Hygene refusal. MAJOR bed-wetting – his room smells like a bus terminal. Irritation. Paranoia. This…