Friday, September 07, 2007

Waiting

The wait continues! My son returned home 10 days ago from his first 30 days of treatment. Although we knew which Clinic he would enter to finish his extended 60 day program upon his return home, we have had to work within the Mental Health Care System to get him to his first day of aftercare. He phoned the Clinic while still in California and was given a date for a "meet and greet" (last Thursday). Then, he was given an intake appointment (this Tuesday) and we are now waiting for the Director to review his case with the Clinicians this morning at their Staff meeting. They meet at 8:00 a.m. and he should receive a phone call around 9:00 a.m. to let him know if he meets the criteria necessary to be part of their DBT program (that's Dialetical Behavior Therapy program).

It is quite stunning to me the way you have to fight your way through this system. I have come to understand why there are so many homeless people who suffer with Mental Health issues. It is not an easy program to navigate through. When your loved one is of legal age, your impact and influence in their treatment is not welcome. I avoid political issues on a regular basis, but I am tempted to start a groundswell political movement against HIPPA! In an effort to protect the rights of adult patients, this legislation has paralyzed the ability of families to intervene and actively represent the very real needs of said adult patients!

There is a sad irony in this fact; my adult son, who has been resistant to treatment for more than a decade, is now willing and ready to continue his program, and there has been a 10 day delay in his after care. It seems to me that the system would prioritize a speedy continuation of care.

So we wait.

Not knowing what to do with my frustration.

So I blog!

So I begin to think about the urgency with which we are waiting. I am reminded of the many Scriptures about waiting on the Lord; do I wait on the Lord with the same urgency as I await this phone call? I must confess, my answer, at first glance, is lacking!

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40: 1

"wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope." Psalm 130: 5

"My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." Psalm 130: 6

"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3: 24

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Michah 7:7

"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:21

THEN, I say to myself, "But as for me......The Lord is my portion. I will watch in hope for Him!" Instead of using this time to complain, I will pray! "My God will hear me!"

My urgency is in His hands! Somehow, the wait has become bearable!

13 comments:

someone else said...

Waiting is SUCH a hard thing! I pray your wait will be a short one.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I have had varying results in my dealings with patience. Some things I'm very patient with; others, I really need to work on with God's help.

This will happen in God's time, just like everything else in your prodigal's journey. I pray He comforts, feeds and tends you in this waiting period, and that in His mercy it won't be long.

Love you,

Diane

Linda said...

I think that so many of our programs designed to "help" people have somehow left the people out of the equation. I know how frustrated you must be feeling.
We will just continue to believe that God is indeed in conrol of all of this. There is a southern gospel song that just popped into my head. It is a song about Jesus delaying coming to see Lazarus when he was sick and dying. The last line of the song says, "Isn't it great; when He's four days late, He's still on time." Even time is in His hands.

Sema said...

Diane,I hope the Lord opens up the right door for your son, so he can continue his aftercare. I can relate with you on so many levels as far as the HIPPA issue goes. When Kevin was leading his destructive life and getting in and out of hospitals, though I was his wife and I knew he was in dire need of help, trying to have the doctors talk to me about his health was a nightmare. They would not let me discuss his health/addiction AT ALL. I was so frustrated so many times. But in the end I realized that relying on God's power and trusting He will work out all the kinks-whether it is to my liking or not, was usually more comforting and assuring to me. Sorry, I didn't mean to go on and on.

Brenda said...

THANK you, Diane, for this post! Always when I think I've waited long enough, the Lord seems to be saying "not yet." And then I remember that I did pray for patience. Obviously, my prayer is being answered. :-)

((HUG)) Praying for you!

Dawn said...

The HIPA thing is the most frustrating thing (well, one of them anyway) that I have encountered. As Sema said, when we were working with Kev's situation, there was one roadblock after another, because he was over 21, though unable to take care of himself at this time in his life. Very destructive, in my humble opinion.

Once again, great words of wisdom you have gleaned from The Word!

Sharon Lynne said...

How hard it must be to wait, when your son is ready. And then...to fear that he might change his mind...
I will continue to keep him in prayer.

I have run into similar situations with my son, who is over 18 and he has to do many things on his own...and many of those things--it's very hard to get him to do!

Praying....

Saija said...

you are a wise woman to pray scripture ...

i am glad that God has begun a work in your son ... and what He has begun, He will finish ...

may God bless you and may He answer speedily!

Nadine said...

Waiting is so difficult. I pray that the red tape you face will be cut quickly.

nancygrayce said...

Waiting is hard, but I'm thankful he's willing to do this. I pray my son will be someday!

Barb said...

Your frustration is so justified, Diane. It's got to be maddening that the "system" lets him just sit and wait that long when immediate continued treatment is so obviously imperative.

I admire your stamina. (And his.) I'd be foaming at the mouth!

Dawn said...

Still waiting???!!!

Just Me said...

Whoever said that 'waiting' was doing 'nothing', well that person is CRAZY! Waiting takes more energy and wear and tear on the body, soul and spirit - it's like warfare..and it's exhausting! I'll be praying for you..and your son! I'm praying that 'in the waiting' your son's resolve will be strengthened and not weakened...and that you'll be encoruaged and comforted!