Monday, February 22, 2021

Check in Feb 2021

Almost another year gone... wow.

Not much has changed here. 

It was my son's birthday last month so he's been struggling a bit with his drinking. Meaning drinking too much. A family member gave him all the ingredients for his favorite drink so he went a little overboard with it. As usual it causes some conflict between hubby and I. Not much I can do about that one either.

My son went down 25 mg of Clozapine with his psychiatrists approval and my support. It's my son's goal to go down from 400 mg to 200 mg. Currently at 375 mg. His psychiatrist is being extremely cautious with how often and how much he will decrease which is a good thing. While my son isn't overly happy about it, he is continuing to be med-compliant. I think it's been about 5-6 months since the decrease and I haven't noticed any changes in my son because of it.

I'm grateful that he understands that he needs them, even if only in the context of helping him with his anxiety. I make it clear if he wants to continue to drink and smoke weed then he needs the medications so that he doesn't lose all that he has gained and end up back in the hospital. He in no way, wants to go back to living like that and very much enjoys being able to spend money like he does, so it's good motivation. I was very surprised to hear him the other day telling someone that they didn't need to worry because his pills protect him from schizophrenia. 

He's still working 3 days a week and enjoying it.

He actually took himself to work today for the first time in a long time. Usually my hubby takes him however hubby started his own job last week so he can only take my son on Sat. and Sun. now. 

I guess about a year ago my son bought an electric scooter. Had some issues with it and decided to sell it. Then he bought an E-bike... Decided he wanted a scooter again. So we sold the E-bike and used that money to get another scooter. This time was better as he had more reasonable expectations on what the scooter can and can't do. 

My son still struggles with wanting things, now... However I can't say that is a trait only belonging to someone diagnosed with mental illness. He is getting better at having, a little, patience. Sometimes if I can put off him getting what he is asking for then within a couple of days he will have changed his mind on wanting it. There has been several things over the past 2 months. A new PSP, contact lenses, glasses... His need for instant gratification may never go away as it doesn't in a lot of non-diagnosed as well. Due to the pandemic, some of these things are just going to have to wait, like contact lenses, as the services are not easily available in a way that he can deal with.

Back to my day... Just wanted to touch base and let everyone know that all is good. 

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