well i met a sister today.

[mopinko]

unfortunately, she is a sister in the sorority of mom's of mentally ill children. her untreated bipolar daughter is now cohabitating w my quite unstable son. i recently kicked him out of the house, and he pressed her to let him move in w her, even tho they only met recently.

it was an hour long, mostly very depressing phone call. as it happens she has a degree in psychology, which she got sort of in self defense to try to understand her daughter.
she finds my son quite frightening. i could not argue.
there is a 2 year old child involved, and that is not going well.
he is quite out of touch w reality. my efforts to get him help, as often happens, have been in vain.

most disturbing thing- he was apparently arrested recently. driving at 3 am, likely speeding. had weed in the car, and decided to try to evade the cops. considering everything that all of us know about out of control cops, and how paranoid he is about "the system", i have to wonder if he wasnt attempting suicide by cop.

it was comforting to know that there is someone who is there to try to limit the damage that he can do. i hope she succeeds in protecting her daughter and grandson. i will do whatever i can to help her.
clearly this kid has to hit bottom before he gets any help. he is getting damn close to the bottom.

shit shit shit shit shit shit shit.

[elleng]

1. Very sorry except

'it was comforting to know that there is someone who is there to try to limit the damage that he can do.'

Some 'crap' happening here too, re: older daughter. There's something 'in the air,' and this too will pass.

[mopinko]

3. it was also nice to be able to say-

the things my kid says about me arent true- and be believed.

her guess is that he is schizophrenic. he is way more than bipolar, which was the quick guess from his 3 day hold. so very out of it.

[IADEMO2004]

2. Much in common with family next door here.

Their son's marriage fell apart drugs mental issues many arrests for no contact violations. Iowa's useless mental health care system offers nothing. Only time they rest is when son is in jail. What choices do people have?

[mopinko]

4. not many.

even if i got him involuntarily committed, they can make him take any meds. but maybe 30 days w/o weed might clear his head a bit.

[IADEMO2004]

5. Best wishes to all.

[mopinko]

6. thanks.

so glad to have this place, where people get it.

[Canoe52]

8. Many of us here understand and have been in your shoes

Hoping your son gets the help he needs.

[IADEMO2004]

9. Daughter-in-law has an alcohol problem that bloomed this year.

Another layer of getting it.

Again best wishes.

[MLAA]

7. Thinking of you and sending you good vibes 🌠🎇🌄

[mopinko]

10. thank you.

[Tobin S.]

11. How old is your son? n/t

[mopinko]

12. 26

[Tobin S.]

13. I became severely mentall ill when I was 20 which is within the range

when such things happen in many people who become sick- 18 to 25 in a great many people. My guess is your son as well. At 26 I was still completely lost and even unaware that what I was experiencing was a mental illness. Your son may not have any awareness at all that he is in reality very sick.

When I was 30, a little sliver of reality made an appearance in my mind at a time when I was starting to totally break down: this is not normal...there is something very wrong...I need help...somebody please help me. And I reached out.

Hopefully, that will happen to your son here soon. Unfortunately, many people who have severe mental illnesses often go a long time before getting proper treatment and endure a lot of suffering which is probably already the case with your son. And, of course, the people who love them suffer right along with them.

[mopinko]

14. i think of you often my dear

and hope that his path follows yours. i want to think there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

this didnt just start, but i think it began w a long standing depression. he is a trauma survivor as well. he was raped by a boy on the block at 10. he only told me this 6 months ago.

he dropped out of school at 16, and hasnt really done much since. he has chased a few interests, and taken some classes, but hasnt really worked. or done much around here. among the many opportunities he has ignored is working w me at my farm.

i have been around bipolars, as well as borderlines (like his sister and possibly his father) and this is much, much worse. he is dangerous.