Panic Attacks In 6Ft Tall 15 Yr-Old Boy

[jourdain2]

Some of you may remember that 6 yrs ago there was an episodend when my grandson attacked his mother and was found to be full of Cortisol.  Things calmed down.

He has ducked out of serious school-work since and (t.b.h. not been made to get on with working etc. whilst having lovely hoidays, treats etc.).  He is v. intelligent, but academic reports are dire (work not done etc.).

This Summer he's become more withdrawn and refuses to go to school (start of GCSE year). Self-harming, threw himself onto the floor when dragged to GPs surgery, banging his head on floor and wall.  Ran out of waiting room.  When dragged to see GP he said he thought there could be poison in his food. She gave highly addictive medication and referred to CAMHS at Leeds.  He fought against getingin car to go there and endedup with video link interview.

Ran out of GPs waiting room again today.

How do you get a 6ft tall, strong 15 yr  old refusenik - to the doctor's please?  This is the big question.

Ran out of house at 1 a.m. Sunday, threw himself on road, stark naked, so this is really rather serious and NHS doesn't sem to know how to react.  I'm trying to protect his little sister and my daughter.

[andres]

This is serious,jourdain. I think that the only way to deal with this is to get him hospitalised as soon as possible. You need to protect ,not only your daughter and the little girl but also your grandson from injuring himself. The GP should  tell CAMHS about him self harming and hopefully they will prioritise him. 

[Smowball]

Agree with andres - this is SERIOUS. Throwing himself onto the road in the middle of the night stark naked shows all the signs of serious mental health issues and for his own safety as well as his family he needs urgent urgent help. 

[andres]

^^^^As a last resort if you can't get him to the doctors then the Dr.  should visit his home and assess him . Stress that it's urgent.

[calmck]

I don't want to alarm you unnecessarily. To me this doesn't sound like panic attacks but some type of paranoia or disease. Was the cause of the high cortisol ever solved. It seems as though he might need a complete blood screen and mental health evaluation. If he kicks off again I would suggest calling emergency services before he hurts himself or a family member

[Smowball]

Was going to say what calmck just said but didn't want to alarm. Sounds very like my brother in law when he was very ill. Ended up being sectioned for his own and everyone else's safety.

[wolf63]

I agree with calmck, it sounds to be more like a psychotic episode than a panic attack.

He needs to be in a safe environment where the doctors can work out if there is anything causing the episodes.

It is bound to be a frightening experience for all involved.

His GP may be able to give his parents guidance on what to do if something like this happens again.  Then his parents will know what to do - probably call for Ambulance and Police to help

 

 

[jourdain2]

Thank you all.  You are echoing what I am suspecting.  GP didn't seem to know what to do.  I'll try to find out what is happening now (I'm 48 miles away).

My daughter is a teacher and has to be in school. She and his father are separated so Grandson spends time at his dad's - where there is the new partner and 2 yr. old baby. Very stressful to say the least.  I'm waking up in the morning v. fearful in case something else horrible has happened.

I also think he needs admitting.  But if he can't be got to CAMHS - how?

[Auntypoll]

When he has an attack call 999. He will be taken to hospital to be assessed. Two things concern me, the use of 'dragging him' to the doctors and the reference to poison in his food.  Also what has not being studious at school got to do with having nice holidays and treats? Do you think children should only have holidays and treats if they are perfect little swots? He seems like a very poorly young man not getting support from either his family or mental health services. You seem more concerned about his affect on his parents and siblings than pushing for a correct diagnosis. The only way to work the NHS is to be proactive and tireless. The squeakiest wheel always gets the most oil.

[jourdain2]

Auntypoll - it is not within my ower to push for a correct diagnosis, that is for the parents.  All I can do is try to help with their well-being and, in particular, my granddaughter, who is very distressed by all this. 

I used the word 'dragged' figuratively, but for all I know his parents may have had to have hold of his arms to get him through the surgery door.  They did have to stand in front of it to stop him running out again. The receptionists etc. were in uproar and waiiting patients were alarmed.  

He has had every support going, incredibly supportive parents. He doesn't seem to understand reality, hence the 'food being poisoned'.  When the GP pressed on this he said no-one was trying to poison him, but it might be poisoned. Some of your comments  re.'perfect little swot' are uncalled for, ignorant and unhelpful.  He has had every help available from everyone including school, but apparantly started walking out of lessons last term.

The comment about calling 999  is helpful, thank you.

 

 

[Auntypoll]

My comment regarding perfect little swot was in reference to you saying he did'nt stick in at school 'despite having holidays and treats. ' That's as helpful as saying ' she is depressed despite having a fabulous lifestyle'. 
I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic about me suggesting calling 999 as 'very helpful' if not it amazes me that supposedly educated parents would not call emergency services if their child was having a psychotic episode. Maybe it's the parents that have a problem with acceptance that their child maybe seriously mentally ill ,rather than just 'difficult'. Unfortunately you as a grandparent can do very little  except advise and support.

[jourdain2]

I wasn't being sarcastic Auntypoll.

Police and paramedics in attendance yesterday early evening, but chatted and calmed then went away.  I daresay they're writing reports.

[Peter Pedant]

Auntypoll - it is not within my ower to push for a correct diagnosis, that is for the parents.

yes, basically all you can do is observe - ( encourage educate advise, etc)

yesterday the police.... clearly not called by you, so you are getting a partial story that you cant fit together. You just have to wait and see ( as above you have no powers here)

[Smowball]

This post really really worries me. I'm finding it hard to comprehend that this clearly very ill young man is seemingly being ignored by all the authorities, despite incidences such as running out into the road stark naked in the middle of the night. That is NOT the behaviour of a well boy! If it was my child, or grandchild, I would be at the daughters house, or wherever he is living, and I would be causing every fuss imaginable until someone listened to me and took me seriously. What are the authorities waiting for to happen?? Some kind of dreadful new incident?? And from what you say there is a 2 year child now in the mix? What on earth does the dad have to say on it all??

Sending you much love jourdain - all sounds incredibly stressful.

[jourdain2]

Smow, my instincts are to rush over - but my elder daughter (lives nearer) went instead.  Things have calmed down and we are trying to find a 'holding pattern' until something happens from CAMHS or GP, or some source. I have a problem in that OH (91) is not very well at the moment and though he says I should go if needed - I'm very torn and don't like to leave him.  Grandson has an appt. with CAMHS in Leeds on Monday - if they can get him there. 

The last outburst was caused by trying to get him into the car to go to his Dad's house - where grandson had asked to go.  He then panicked about being outside, hit the car with his water bottle so hard that it has been dented and I've seen the video of what happened next - not good.  This has been seen by police & paramedics.  

Thanks

 

It's a terrible strain, waiting for some help.

[johnny.5]

Has your daughter tried to get help from their local CRISIS team or MIND ? 

my local crisis team were very helpful when I needed help

[jourdain2]

johnny.5  Thank you so much for that.  I hadn't thought of it. I'll pass it on. :)

[jourdain2]

OKBig video meeting today with  all authorities - result......... haveanother meetingonWed.!!!!!!!!!

[Smowball]

Hi jourdain. Hope your OH is a little better at the mo(you said he wasn't too good at the mo).

So was anything constructive said in the meeting that you had the other day?? I can't imagine how stressful this all is x

[jourdain2]

I don't know, Smow.  Just parents, child & verious agencies. All very vague if what my elder daughter was told is true.  Another meeting tomorow.

OH has pressure bandages on his legs - on Sunday his legs swelled up alarmingly - I made him lie down with feet elevated & it helped, but they are red in colour now.  Going to the surgery at 12.00.  Thnks for asking, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.