A few months ago over the Christmas holiday season I had a mental breakdown. I documented it a bit in previous posts, but there has been a significant gap of days in my accounting.
Basically, my brain was very off-kilter from December 15th through December 31. I am unable to recall a lot of details from this time, and much of what I do remember is nonsense. I was experiencing something akin to a psychotic breakdown and lost those days from my reliable memory. My mind was racing so fast that I thought I could see the passage of light through the air like molasses off a spoon. Reality was not within easy reach.
I recently discovered that Irene kept a small notebook from the timespan in question. With her help and permission, I’ve created a bullet-point timeline from the days of my breakdowns.
It is important to note that I don’t remember many if not most of these details at all. For example, I kind of wish I could remember December 28 and being loaded into the back of a police cruiser, but I can’t. I can’t remember having Coco euthanized, I just know she isn’t here any more.
Mental breakdown timeline
- Dec. 15: our cat Coco not doing well. Kelly has first breakdown and is taken by ambulance first to Castlegar then to Trail
- Dec. 16: Kelly released and back home
- Dec. 17: Coco euthanized at 3:00 PM
- Dec. 18: Kelly at home; plumber fixed broken tap in kitchen sink.
- Kelly has another breakdown in the evening and is taken back to Trail hospital by ambulance
- Dec, 19: Irene’s treatment at Trail Hospital
- Kelly sat with Irene during her treatment but was still admitted to the hospital at the time
- Dec. 20: Irene visited Kelly in the hospital
- Kelly had another one of his more severe episodes during the visit; it was recorded by the attending doctor
- Doctor wanted Kelly to stay in the hospital until after an MRI
- Dec. 21: Irene talked to Kelly several times on the phone, but no visit
- Dec. 22: Kelly had MRI; Still not being sent home
- Dec. 23: Kelly came home from the hospital
- Dec. 24: Kelly had a phone conversation with Colin
- Dec. 25: Kelly had a phone conversation with Ron
- Kelly taken to Castlegar ER by ambulance after another breakdown; given Ativan and sent home
- Dec. 26: Kelly at home
- Dec. 27: Kelly at home
- Dec. 28: Kelly had another episode; ambulance called
- Ambulance EMTs felt unable to handle Kelly as he was walking away and not following orders
- EMTs called for police to take Kelly to the hospital under the Mental Health Act. Constable came and, per regulations, handcuffed Kelly and put him in the back of the car. Kelly admitted to Trail hospital
- Dec 29: Early hours phone call from ER Doctor telling Irene that Kelly is ready to return home. Irene refused, talked to other people including social worker and RCMP contacts to make sure Kelly was properly admitted to the hospital
- Dec 30: Kelly finds out that Monique (nephew’s wife) had died a day or so earlier
- Jan 1: Kelly moved to Daly Pavilion; more effective treatment focusing on bipolar disorder mood stabilizers applied
- Jan 6: Kelly comes home