For years, I have been quiet. YEARS. I didn’t talk about my daughters mental illness. I didn’t want the looks of horror or pity that come after you tell someone you have achild who not only has a mental illness but is a violent Sociopath. There is no cure. There is no magic combination of pills that will make her “normal” or “level her out”.
There is also no help. There are no resources for parents who are dealing with violent mentally ill children. Social services, the courts, law enforcement, all virtually useless. They have to be a “Danger”. They have to make certain “Threats”. They won’t be arrested when they vandalize your home. Social Services will bring in a Sheriffs Deputy to threaten you & your spouse with Child Abandonment if you go there begging for help when they have more resources available to them because you’ve exhausted your own & have nowhere else to turn.
It is exhausting.
It is expensive.
Your other children will live in the shadow of their siblings mental illness.
Some will escape to your former spouse or another relative if they can.
The ones that can’t will be left to take what their exhausted, worried parents will have left to give. That leaves its own set of scars.
I have treated my daughter and her mental illnes like the biggest skeleton in my closet and I. Am. Done.
I am raising my voice. I am speaking out. I may be not be as loud or as influential as some, but I will add my voice to the many.
And we will be deafening.
Good for you Ginger. Good for you. Scream, shout, force those in a position to make the needed changes not just hear your voice but really LISTEN to your words. Let them feel the shame that you never should have had to….
One day, Grammy. One day…
I don’t have any words of comfort or advice. I just don’t know what to say. I’ve grown to love you and I wish I could do/say SOMETHING….
Kathie, I don’t know if there IS anything to say. I appreciate the thoughts and the love. Love ya back!!
Your bravery and your honesty have helped and will help many. THEY may not be strong enough to tell you thank you, but let me say thank you…..for being you.
Thank you Sweetness.
I’m very proud of you, Ginger. You are on the way to coming to terms and achieving peace with this.
It’s been a long road, but I’m getting there.