teenmom2111
02-19-2007, 12:15 AM
Dr. Bradley/Parents
I had written to you about our therapist and psychiatrist's recommendation to have my daughter take an anti-depressant. She takes adderall for adhd and generally it works well both academically and socially. About 4-6 weeks ago, the dr. put her on zoloft for what she thinks (and I agree) is depression. Dad abandoned her when she was 7 and never saw her regularly. A couple of years ago she decided she didn't want to see him at all. She didn't feel comfortable at his house with his new wife. So i stopped fighting it and stopped forcing her to see him--this on the advice of our therapist. So, she has some serious abandonment issues and I believe that she's been suffering fromj depression for a number of years--either triggered by her father leaving her life or possibly she is chronically depressed. She is on 50 mg of zoloft and I suspect this will be increased until we have the optimal effect.
This brings me to the concern I currently have. I am sure she smokes pot from time to time. I did find a tiny bit of pot in her back pack and took it and conftronted hera few weeks ago. She also smokes cigarettes. I do not condone either. She does not drink alcohol after 1 bout of getting sick almost a year ago. I have used an over the counter drug test and thus far she has not tested positive. I have been told that this is because it is occasional use. She is my only child and I feel that I have a good handle on what she does and always check with parents before she goes to anyone's house. Today I found some empty packages of coricidin cough and cold in her pocketbook. I went on the internet and researched illicit use by kids. I confronted her and after much pressure from me, she admitted that she took 5 yesterday with a friend. I massively overreacted and got pretty hysterical. Yes, I read your book but I lost my head and it got ugly here. After things calmed down, we talked quite a bit about this tonight--lots of tears. I've threatened to send her away to a live away drug rehab program, but I don't know if things are serious enough for this. It is a drastic step AND I don't believe you want to play this card too soon. I am however extremely concerned about the mix of drugs that she is taking--zoloft and adderall and added to it over the counter cold pills. I have tried to explain to her that she cannot do this because of the unique circumstances with her brain chemistry and the medication she must take.
Dr. Bradley, I will consult with our therapist and psychiatrist about whether or not rehab is the next step, but I would like your input also. Should I immediately move to an outpatient program, admit her to a residential program? Am I overreacting. I think back to the things I did as a teen and frankly I did much worse things and survived and became a responsible, conservative adult and parent. I would appreciate your insight.
Thank you!
I had written to you about our therapist and psychiatrist's recommendation to have my daughter take an anti-depressant. She takes adderall for adhd and generally it works well both academically and socially. About 4-6 weeks ago, the dr. put her on zoloft for what she thinks (and I agree) is depression. Dad abandoned her when she was 7 and never saw her regularly. A couple of years ago she decided she didn't want to see him at all. She didn't feel comfortable at his house with his new wife. So i stopped fighting it and stopped forcing her to see him--this on the advice of our therapist. So, she has some serious abandonment issues and I believe that she's been suffering fromj depression for a number of years--either triggered by her father leaving her life or possibly she is chronically depressed. She is on 50 mg of zoloft and I suspect this will be increased until we have the optimal effect.
This brings me to the concern I currently have. I am sure she smokes pot from time to time. I did find a tiny bit of pot in her back pack and took it and conftronted hera few weeks ago. She also smokes cigarettes. I do not condone either. She does not drink alcohol after 1 bout of getting sick almost a year ago. I have used an over the counter drug test and thus far she has not tested positive. I have been told that this is because it is occasional use. She is my only child and I feel that I have a good handle on what she does and always check with parents before she goes to anyone's house. Today I found some empty packages of coricidin cough and cold in her pocketbook. I went on the internet and researched illicit use by kids. I confronted her and after much pressure from me, she admitted that she took 5 yesterday with a friend. I massively overreacted and got pretty hysterical. Yes, I read your book but I lost my head and it got ugly here. After things calmed down, we talked quite a bit about this tonight--lots of tears. I've threatened to send her away to a live away drug rehab program, but I don't know if things are serious enough for this. It is a drastic step AND I don't believe you want to play this card too soon. I am however extremely concerned about the mix of drugs that she is taking--zoloft and adderall and added to it over the counter cold pills. I have tried to explain to her that she cannot do this because of the unique circumstances with her brain chemistry and the medication she must take.
Dr. Bradley, I will consult with our therapist and psychiatrist about whether or not rehab is the next step, but I would like your input also. Should I immediately move to an outpatient program, admit her to a residential program? Am I overreacting. I think back to the things I did as a teen and frankly I did much worse things and survived and became a responsible, conservative adult and parent. I would appreciate your insight.
Thank you!