Hi all, I just thought I would give a Christmas update to this story.

Firstly, there was something of a breakthrough where it finally seemed to dawn on her that the only way to win freedom and trust was to stop trying to kill/hurt herself, and (as we had been saying for years) actually try and explain how she felt, and allied with upping her meds a lot.

From that point on, she was given a bit more freedom to leave the unit for longer at a time, leading to unsupervised release where she was able to go out for the day, e.g. Back to mums for a few hours, and just take her lunchtime meds with her (morning and evening meds taken in the unit.

The plan was made to try and transition her to supported living, at a specialist Aspergers facility (block of individual small flats with on site staff) about fifteen miles from mums house, thirty from me. She went through waves of liking and not liking this idea, us trying to point out what a bloody huge opportunity it was, but finally accepted it as the only realistic option (going back to mine or mums being a likely repeat of the past behaviours) went to see it and was suddenly massively keen, and agreed to it.

She was discharged from the MH unit two weeks ago, to spend the brief run up to Christmas at mums and have the opportunity to get stuff together for her move into the flat. As you would expect a stressful time with a potentially huge setback where she grabbed three days meds in one go off mum and downed them, ending up with a blue light job to A&E and two nights in hospital under observation, and another incident where she scratched up her arm with keys (knives and meds are kept in an electronic safe in mums kitchen)

Ho hum, we thought it was all going to fall apart at that point

However, light at the end of the tunnel. We have bought her some nice furniture and accessories, and on Thursday she moved into her new flat. The staff do her meds morning and evening and knives are given and used under supervision. And *so far* she is really positive, as she has the freedom to come and go and do what she likes, and her own space, but the risky stuff is being managed for her.

Thanks to everyone for the kind support offered and given here and offline.

Time to start getting myself back on track after the stress of the last couple of years now.

Some positive news there ninfan hope she continues to adjust to her new life.

Cheers Drac

Early days, there have been so many setbacks this far that it’s hard to have faith, but fingers crossed.

Hope everything works out for your daughter ninfan. Sounds like a really tough thing for you to deal with and I hope you as well as your daughter are getting the support you need.

It’s not easy being a parent, but it’s nice when there’s good news.

Good update, glad it’s going well.

This is my nightmare, I don’t know how I’d deal with one of my kids suffering from this sort of illness.

Glad to hear things are looking better for you all.

I hope that 2017 continues that way for you all

That sounds really positive news ninfan, great to hearing she’s making progress.

There’s some great riding here, so if you ever feel the need to have a break, just let me know.

Really glad to hear it’s working out OK. Hopefully it was just nerves about the leap into the unknown.

I don’t know how I’d deal with one of my kids suffering from this sort of illness.

Just thought it was worth pointing out that autism is not actually an illness (it’s more of a developmental disability) – though anxiety and depression are significantly more common among people with autism than the general population.

Anyway, good news!

😀

All good things in 2016 gratefully accepted. Hopefully things will go from strength to strength in the following months

Good news indeed

Glad things are on the up.

Take all the positives you can out of this, keep believing in your daughter and keep believing in yourself.

Let us know how it goes in the new place, hope 2017 treats you all a bit more kindly.

Thanks for the update. Nice to hear some good news

Good news that nf, glad to hear it. Hope next year is a better one for you and the family-

Hope that things carry on for the better and that next year is a calmer one for you all.
It’s great those place exist, I never knew that they did.

Never seen this first time, but best of luck to you ninfan, hope all goes well.

tough stuff to deal with, you have my sympathy with the self harm stuff, it can very distressing when you feel helpless and unable to have any influence over the destructive actions a loved one.

Great stuff OP.

My very best wishes to you and both your immediate & extended family.
It’s not a help at all, I know but still I sincerely wish you well.

Only just noticed this Ninfan, best wishes to you and your daughter