support for parents of mentally ill adults

Hello- Haven't been on the boards in a while...My bipolar etc. son has been in residential since February (after a really traumatic suicide attempt and many years of hospitalizations and other Residential Treatment Center (RTC) stays) and will be discharged upon graduation (probably next spring). Now that he is 18 (since...

Just back from NYC. This trip there were people collecting money around Times Square for homeless persons. There was a 27 year old man on 5th Avenue, holding a piece of cardboard with 'Please Help' written on it. He was the same age as my son, also homeless but through choice. I asked him...

Dear Friends, Our oldest difficult child (JT) is 19 (almost 20), and the past year since he graduated from high school has been so difficult with him. He graduated from HS with honors and a 3.4 GPA. He never studied and scored a 25 on the ACT. His heart was set on becoming a high school teacher, and he...

So I just found out that difficult child's charges were dismissed today and he's being released from jail. I've been calling and calling and haven't gotten any answer until today. The lady I spoke to was so rude! She asked if I was coming to pick him up. I explained that he was in a group home when he got...

Hi I'm new here. I hope someone will have some words of wisdom or comfort as I'm feeling really fed up after yet another incident. I have two sons age 22 years and 16 years. We have had problems with the oldest one for yeras and he had a diagnosis of adhd at age 13. He did well on medications...

Been on substance abuse thread but beginning to wonder if mental issue. Been in and out of house several times. Usually husband won't let him back but I am at end of rope this time. Ongoing dui jail couch surfing. I always rescue but can't take anymore. Destroying my life and sanity. Pushed over...

So, he's been at the job for 12 weeks now. He makes fresh orange juice all day. Two weeks ago the manager came up to him, told him he's been watching him and noticed that he was hard at work, and gave him 5.00 and told him to buy himself lunch. :) He went to a concert with his friends in the...

I was thinking about the way I use CD. I can't articulate how marvelous this site is and how much it has helped me. It is an oasis in the desert. I remember when I first found it. I almost cried with relief and amazement- My GOD, I am not alone! Yet (other than telling my story) I feel...

Excuse me before I even get started but does anyone else out there ever just get so sick of people referring to your family as and I quote " your family always has drama" my youngest daughters boyfriend and his mom always say we are full of drama...why dont people understand we dont ask for the...

Hi everyone, I used to be pretty active on this board but haven't been here in quite a while. I'm writing because my 23 y/o difficult child has moved back in with me due to financial hardship, and I am suffering. He was working full-time at a local hardware store for a year and a half and doing well...

difficult child had an appointment yesterday for testing/interview for his disability application. He had me sit with him the whole time and sometimes.....sometimes it was all I could do to keep quiet. The whole thing was a variety of questions, background, symptoms and testing on various things. My...

It's been seven days since I gave my 19 yr old 5 minutes to pack and get out of my house. He started acting out the end of his junior yr in high school. Running away and constantly getting in trouble in school his senior year. Gave no and showed no respect for anyone including himself. It has...

My husband and I are hurting now. After years of infertility, we adopted our daughters from foster care when they were 10 yrs and 6 months, respectively. The eldest had a host of learning and social deficiencies that we have worked hard to help her overcome. She had been retained for 2 grades and...

Although I'm not friends with difficult child on Facebook I often check his page just for peace of mind. It makes me feel better when I see that he's online because at least I know he's not dead. Anyway, I just looked and here's his status. (I censored some bad words and removed easy child's real name but the...

I don't. I feel like I let him get away with way too much and ignored the signs that there would be real trouble. Since h e was popular and very bright, I refused to focus on the other part of him that was not so loveable. 36 was only spanked once and that was when he got a head start and ran...

Haven't posted for awhile. difficult child has been home for about 2 weeks, and we're all sick of him. Got him to visit a friend the other day, so he's gone now for a few days anyway. Have been trying to enforce our house rules. He breaks some of them. Just so burned out emotionally at his point ...

Hi everyone. I am a new parent on here, and I hope some of you will have some insightful experiences to help me with my difficult child. difficult child is 20 and has been living in his own apartment (that I cosigned for) for 1.5 years. History: husband (his stepfather) and I found out difficult child was smoking pot from...

The holidays are coming soon and I have always invited my difficult child for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, however,this year we have a clear disconnect in place where I've requested she please keep away until she has a job and is in some kind of counseling. That's been working as well as can be...

Never thought I would be posting on such a site.....My husband and I are both professionals and VERY respected in our community......How did this happen...... I became a step mom to two kids last year. Been in their lives for 6-7 years. Very good (nonparent) relationship with both. Both were...

How do you achieve that? I am just curious. I am having a difficult time drawing the line of helping her and protecting myself. She keeps saying that she needs her mom, just to hold her and let her cry. I have to say it is REALLY tugging at my heart strings. I understand that she cannot live...