Hello,
I have a sister that has hit rock bottom. I do not know how to help her. I am not sure if she is depressed or having withdrawals from a diet pill (Didrex), she doesn't take them to loose weight, she takes them for the high. She has been taking them for about four years and her tolerance went up to 30+pills a day. She was fired from her job in a pharmacy because they said she stole pain medication. She was almost taken to jail. She lost a second job also when we put her in an institution because she wanted to kill herself. She sleeps for days at a time, and usually only gets up if she has the pills, she acts happy when taking them but as soon as she gets off them she will not bath, she is very mean and abusive, she sleeps for days and will not answer the door or phone. She has no money and will be thrown out of her apartment in a couple of weeks. She has been abusive to her dogs. She doesn't want help and says she will lay in bed until someone moves her or she dies. Can anyone give me advice, is she depressed? Or is it withdrawals? I have no money to help her. She says if I try to put her back in the institution she will get back at me. She is known to do bad things to people who mess with her. I feel that the dogs should be taken out of the home too.
Thank you for any advice.

Might I suggest therapy then if you can or speaking to a doctor about it. It sounds like it could be a form of depression so may be the dr could have some meds that could help and at the same time she would be in therapy. Maybe the pills she was taking has caused some chemical imbalance. I would sugget removing the dogs but I'm not sure if she would take that lightly as you said she can do bad things to people and although she is your sister, you also have to look after yourself. Does she have any friends or someone that she listens to? Why did she start taking the pills in the first place? Maybe she had some issues before and felt that the pills help her escape from them? Sometimes when we sleep a lot, it could mean that our subconscious is trying to escape from things we have to face when we are awake.
Definitely try therapy, it does wonders!

Pamela, I feel for you. This must be terrible seeing your sister destroy herself like this. From what you have stated in your post about your sister, it sounds like a combination of both depression and withdrawals. She probably will die without some type of intervention. Could you and your mother contact a local mental health agency to set up an appointment for yourselves to find out how you can help her? Possibly set up an "intervention." not all therapists will do this and you may have to do a lot of checking to find one who will do an "intervention." if you do decide to utilize an "intervention" use someone who is experienced in this. Didrex is supposed to be prescribed for short term use. Do you know where she is getting it? Is there a possibility she would go for therapy herself? Have you asked her? You are in a tough situation and my heart goes out to you. Keep up posted.

sadiesmom--

I think you give really good advice. I am curious though why you always put your posts in bold script? It's kind of like SHOUTING with all caps. No offense, just wondering.

Well, I was not trying to shout. I just have bad vision (age) and have difficulty seeing regular script. I didn't realize bold script was taken to mean shouting. I will try and not use bold. Please forgive me if I forget. I also have a bad memory. :)

Hey, no problem. I certainly understand age-related impairment. I can't remember where I left my reading glasses. If you need to shout, go ahead. I'll turn down my hearing aid.

Lol :)

(I do hope I am responding in the correct area)
Thank you. I think she only started taking them for the feeling it gave her. But her tolerance went from 3 per day, up to 30+ per day in four years. I have tried to get her help the problem is I do not have the financial resoures to help,she doesn't either. I don't feel she thinks the drugs caused the depression. Put I will continue to search. Thank you, and I may have a foster home for the dogs worked out, she can have them back when she is well.
Thank you

I do hope I am responding in the correct area)
Thank you. I think she only started taking them for the feeling it gave her. But her tolerance went from 3 per day, up to 30+ per day in four years. I have tried to get her help the problem is I do not have the financial resoures to help,she doesn't either. I don't feel she thinks the drugs caused the depression. Put I will continue to search. Thank you, and I may have a foster home for the dogs worked out, she can have them back when she is well.

[QUOTE=Pamela203]

I think she only started taking them for the feeling it gave her. But her tolerance went from 3 per day, up to 30+ per day in four years. I have tried to get her help the problem is I do not have the financial resoures to help,she doesn't either. I don't feel she thinks the drugs caused the depression. Put I will continue to search.

I may have a foster home for the dogs worked out, she may can have them back when she is well.
I wonder if the withdrawals from didrex cause physical pain, she yells when I hung her. Her eyes are glazed she is not there at all. She talks strange, and she does scare me. She is really in bad shape and I can not sleep worrying.
It does help to here from you, family tells me that she is older than me and she should know better.
I know she can't help it. It is just me and her and no money. I really fear her dying soon. I guess that the poor are the ones that may not survive. But I will continue to try.
Thanks for responding it helps a lot.

[QUOTE=Pamela203]That's the sad thing about the world we live in today, no one wants to even look at you if you have no money! I am concerned about you though, you have to remember that you cannot help your sister if you are not in good shape yourself and all this worrying is not bound to be good for your health. I understand that you fear for your sister but you also have to be strong for the both of you. I think you are a wonderful sister to be this concerned and I know that you will find a way. Unfortunately I cannot advise you on how to go about getting therapy or intervention for your sister as I don't know how the welfare system works where you are but if you can do some research on the internet or maybe you could ask your doctor on how you could help your sister on your budget and hopefully they can find a solution. Please don't give up hope and I'll continue to pray for you.