Manic psychosis

LegacyUser

My wife is a nurse and with the pressures of working in the health service has had a break down, this is a recent event(last few days) and i have been unable as yet to get a GP involved but aim to as soon as i can with out traumatizing her any more than i have to, we have a two year old as well which adds to the problems as she misses her mummy, the question i have is as i am at the start of this situation can anyone who has walked this path give me an idea whats in front of me and what i can do for my wife to help her threw this, thanks, Francis.

prinz

Unregistered wrote: »

i have been unable as yet to get a GP involved but aim to as soon as i can.

Not good enough. Get a doctor.

Beruthiel

prinz wrote: »

Get a doctor.

Urgently.

LegacyUser

Your right, but she works in the community and the GP's here are her colleagues and that is adding to the trauma she feels, so i am getting her home to her family away from her working environment with the hope that i won't have to force her to see the GP, i am trying to get the help without effecting her anymore than i have to.

Wibbs

I know you're trying to help and protect her and your family, but she needs to be assessed and soon, by someone qualified to make a call. OK so she appears to have had a breakdown, but neither you nor anyone else can make a call as to what type of breakdoan she's had and whether she's a danger to herself. I understand this is a terrible time for you and her, but you NEED to get her help as soon as is humanly possible. Is there a family doctor on her side of the family you can get her to?

prinz

Unregistered wrote: »

Your right, but she works in the community and the GP's here are her colleagues and that is adding to the trauma she feels, so i am getting her home to her family away from her working environment with the hope that i won't have to force her to see the GP, i am trying to get the help without effecting her anymore than i have to.

GP's are well prepared for these kind of situations. I was once in one similar. Get your local GP now, inform them of the situation and he can get a colleague to attend to your wife from outside of your community A.S.A.P. She needs medical assistance, irrespective of how she feels about it tbh.

For instance I know my local GP has a list of his friends who are GP's in our area. If someone feels uncomfortable being examined by him he calls one of his friends from a neighbouring town and vice versa. Either way your local doc should know of your situation sooner or later.

LegacyUser

Thanks, her family will now be taking her against her will, home and she will be seeing their family doctor in the morning, thats the plan anyway.

Minxie123

I'm just wondering about the title of your post "manic psychosis"
Has she been diagnosed? Is this the first breakdown she's had or is it an ongoing situation?

LegacyUser

I have spent time on the phone with a consultant physiotherapist who has offered to have her admitted to St Patrick's and it's his over the phone diagnosis, so i could be wrong in the description, this is the first time this has happened but when she was a midwife in her first year she was wrongly accused by a Doctor in front of the family of killing a baby which had a big effect on her.

prinz

Utmost apologies and what not.That came across a bit wrong.

LegacyUser

Unregistered wrote: »

consultant physiotherapist

That would be consultant psychotherapists

prinz

Unregistered wrote: »

That would be consultant psychotherapists

One of a number of inconsistencies. I find it hard to accept a medical professional offering to admit someone, alledgedly mentally ill, based on an unqualified, non-medically trained, over-the-phone description/diagnosis.

Can only hope the OP in his distraught state is confused.

LegacyUser

Not confused i hope just sad, i may have jumped ahead with her being admitted, the offer was to have her see someone there privately via vhi so as not to let her work find out, it was the consultant who advised me that from my description she would need medication and rest which would be available to me at St Patrick's, i am unaware of any other inconsistency, i may not have stated all the advise i have been given and i may not have the definitive reason for what is happening to my wife yet, if she had a broken leg i would be rushing her to A & E, but as it's a mental health issue and i can't seek help locally i am doing my best to understand what is happening, what i can do to get her help and what the future will bring, i feel i have answers to some of my question and acting upon them to the best of my ability, she is now on her way to see a GP at home unbeknown to her as yet, the earlier post pushed me enough to get that sorted and without any problems thank god, so she is going to get the help she needs, while am looking after my daughter, the unknown thing for me is what happens now? i have spoken to close friends, family and nobody i know has experience with this, i am still getting over the shock and trying to focus on what i need to do so i don't let her down by not being brave enough to make decisions for her while she is sick.

prinz

Unregistered wrote: »

Not confused i hope just sad, i may have jumped ahead with her being admitted, the offer was to have her see someone there privately via vhi so as not to let her work find out, it was the consultant who advised me that from my description she would need medication and rest which would be available to me at St Patrick's, i am unaware of any other inconsistency, i may not have stated all the advise i have been given and i may not have the definitive reason for what is happening to my wife yet, if she had a broken leg i would be rushing her to A & E, but as it's a mental health issue and i can't seek help locally i am doing my best to understand what is happening, what i can do to get her help and what the future will bring, i feel i have answers to some of my question and acting upon them to the best of my ability, she is now on her way to see a GP at home unbeknown to her as yet, the earlier post pushed me enough to get that sorted and without any problems thank god, so she is going to get the help she needs, while am looking after my daughter, the unknown thing for me is what happens now? i have spoken to close friends, family and nobody i know has experience with this, i am still getting over the shock and trying to focus on what i need to do so i don't let her down by not being brave enough to make decisions for her while she is sick.

Best of luck to you both.

beth-lou

You poor thing. You have done the right thing. The GP will be able to guide you from here.
Just wanted to offer some encouragement and hope that she gets better soon.

All the best to you and her.

sam34

Unregistered wrote: »

the unknown thing for me is what happens now? i have spoken to close friends, family and nobody i know has experience with this.

not being smart with you OP, but noone can answer that because we simply dont know what is going on with her.

you called your post "manic psychosis" but that may not be the diagnosis at all.

basically, the GP will assess her and take it form there.

it may be possible for her to be treated at home.

she may require admission to a psychiatric unit.

if that is teh case, she may agree to go voluntarily.

if she refuses to go voluntarily, and if she is deemed to be a danger to herself and/or others, then ther GP can make a recommendation that she be kept in hospital against her will.

it's impossible to say which of the above will occur.
the important thing at the moment is that GP assessment, its crucial for her.
good luck OP. hope it works out OK for you and her.

aare

Many many years ago, and a long way away from here, one of the GPs in the practice I was signed with was found too late, in his car with an exhaust running into the window...

Afterwards, all anybody would have wanted was that they could have had a chance to help.

I only met him once, a couple of weeks before that, and he was really out of line with me...but I let it go...when I heard what happened I really wished I had done something about it instead...

Luckyduck

If it is psychosis it is best that she gets help as fast as possible as it can lead to a lot more problems otherwise. I have a bit of understanding from past study and my current job. The longer psychosis is left untreated the less likely she will return to work etc. Early Intervention is key. Everyone around her needs to make her feel safe and that she is being understood.

She will have to go voluntarily for help and unless as she is considered a risk to herself and/or others she will not be sent for treatment against her will. This is the from the mental health act of 2001, you can google it. You did well to get her to her family. It is such a terrible reflection of our society that there is such stigma associated with mental health problems. I have met many wonderful people with mental health problems who have gone on to lead a normal life and returned to work.

Try and get some independent support for yourself, there are plenty of organisations out there that will listen. Also read as much information as you can so that you can help in her recovery as understanding on all sides is important.

Best of luck, she is very lucky to have your support.

Ann22

If it's been triggered off by work related stress she may be entitled to full or a percentage of her wages while she's off, check it out...you don't need money worries on top of this. My brother suffered two psychotic episodes that lasted for about six weeks each. He's been on long term medication since...thank God he is well now though it's always something we're keeping an eye out for. I know how distressing it is dealing with mental illess but medication works wonders, I hope she gets well soon.

LegacyUser

I don't want to sound disheartening OP but please do not place your wife's return to health solely in the hands of the medical profession. I have a close family member who has been suffering with mental illness on an ongoing basis for the past two years and 8 months. He has been sent from one psychiatric professional (including hospitalisation in a 'specialist' psych unit) to the next and his condition has been steadily worsening rather than improving.

I understand that every situation is unique however, in my experience, I have found that those whom I have known to receive professional psychiatric help have grown increasingly dependant on these professionals and have been unable to re-establish healthy lifestyles.

I am by no way suggesting that you decline medical assistance however I think it is important that people are aware that the psychiatric health system in this country is worryingly dysfunctional. Please ensure that you make supplementary support networks available to your wife in addition to any medical attention she may receive.

Good luck to you both.

CDfm

I hope your wife is ok.Many people have events in life and cope well and others coping skills are not great.

Cycalogic

Best of luck. I hope shes ok.

LegacyUser

Thanks, she's now in hospital sleeping and she accepted her medication voluntarily, so fair to her, it will be 2 or 3 weeks before she can come home, but they think with 6 months medication and help she should recover OK, thank god, and again thanks for the help it very difficult when an illness like this has to be whispered about or spoken behind a hand in case the wider family or the village find out so it's helpful to get feed back without that worry.