Saddest day of my life

I followed my instincts that the changes my 14 year old son is going through ran deeper than teenaged angst and I made an appointment for him to see a counselor through the County so he could talk to someone.  It took two months to get it.  We went yesterday, he and I.  I spoke for a little about our life now, including the separation, the house, the JWs, the shunning, my husbands alcoholism and his treatment of the kids, my husbands familial bipolar and depression and ADHD...and then she spoke to my son separately.  He was silent whle I was in the room, leaning away from me and not looking at me at all.  She spoke to him for an hour. When I was called back in she was handing me the address of a hospital, telling me she wanted him to see the psychiatrist immediately, and to expect him to be admitted there as he was and is thinking about suicide!!     I felt every cell in my body go limp at those word. I feared they were true and here they were being confirmed.

I took him up to the hospital, still in shock, and still in silence between us, and in the midst of screaming drunk adults, crying kids, handcuffed prisoners and cops, and Baker Acted people...they put my little boy in a gown, interviewed him and took him away to the adolescent ward.  He told them he wanted this, I could not make him go but agreed with his decision, and in fact he was trying to calm and reassure ME because I was hysterical by then...but I saw there was a relief in his eyes, like someone was finally going to hear him.  They said he might be there  3 or 4 days.  :*(

I would cease to exist if anything ever happened to that little boy....life would cease.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Dear lady, bless your overwrought heart.

You and your son are certainly in my prayers.

Sylvia

...the teen years can be torturous during the best of circumstances, but the added stress of which you spoke adds another dimension to it.  Thank goodness you persisted in your efforts to get him proper counselling and medical treatment.  You sound like a loving and dedicated parent.  Hang in there and all the best to you both. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

I have to leave for work now ,but if you need someone to talk to I am PMing my number to you . I return from work after 4pm . Seriously call if you need someone to listen !

You did the right thing , it will be a long haul you probably know drug therapy can take several weeks to take effect , and it is tricky with teenagers .

dubs.

At least he knows what he needs. Many parents find out when the deed is done.

Because he knows, I think everything is going to be alright.

Warlock 

You and your son are in my prayers.  I am sending you my telephone number via pm.  Call me and I will call you back to save you long distance charges. 

Much love to you.

Robyn

Ditto Warlock.

 @ wld.

Dear WLD,

Please be assured of our fellow feeling. Some of us have been through the same or similar with ourselves or loved ones. The reassurance of unconditional familial love, minus totally the constraints of JW strictures, worked in our situation regarding a distressed loved one.

Praying and wishing the best for you and yours ...

Love,

CoCo 

Oh sweetie...I'm sure this is heartbreaking but it sounds like he WANTS help and that is the first step to getting things on track.  I'm sending good and healing vibes your way.

((((((((((((((((((((((((WUZ and SON)))))))))))))))))))))

I am so sorry you have to go through this my love
Yes I will keep you both in prayer.
He will get the help he needs .
Thank God he was smart enough to express his feelings to the counsellor.

Let us know how his faring goes. (((((((HUGS))) Hang in there
Your going through a storm, but clouds do pass

I'm glad you persisted in getting him the help he needs.  He's in the right place.

You and your son are in my thoughts, sending you good vibes!

nj

What a wonderful group of people!

Sylvia

I'm sorry to hear this WLD.

I hope the best for you all.

I am so sorry that your son is in such distress.

Yet, he is able to recognise that he needs help.That is the first  step to recovery.

You were very proactive in taking him to a counselor.

x SC

Oh my heavens I can't imagine your anguish.  But at this point Dear One, be thankful!  Thankful that you were awesome and perceptive enough to get him the appointment... thankful that they paid attention... thankful that he is still here... and that he will be here and stronger tomorrow.

Also, please check your PM's... I'm about to go send you one.

Love,
Baba

I'm so glad you followed your instincts.  Hugs wuzlovesdubs

It's tough, but look at it this way, it might actually become the best day of your life (in time) for you and your son. First and fore-most, you did great at noticing that help was needed, your son did great by accepting help. You're sad now, but with work, patience and love, both of you will look back on this day as one of the best of your lives. That's what I personally hope for the both of you.

Good vibes to you both.

Wuz, about 15 years ago, I was hospitalized for 15 days.  Best thing that could have happened.  It is so good to discover that you're not alone and that the way you're feeling is normal, given the circumstances under which you are living.

I'm praying for you and your son and will continue to do so. 

Keep in mind, he will probably need for you to be in therapy too so that you can support him and learn how best to handle this together as a team.  But I'm sure you'll do whatever you need to do.

I'm so grateful you've done this for your son.  My son had a friend who obviously needed help but his parents refused to listen to anybody.  He is now dead from suicide.  It was so sad. 

StAnn

Wuzloves dubs,

I went though this with my wife ... I recall the very first time I took her the hospital psych ward ... you are in a lot of pain right now ... but your son seems to be in good hands, and he needs you more now than ever ... and you are there for him ... so do not be hard on yourself as this is a time to focus on him, and cut yourself some slack.  Continue with your own therapy, as this will allow you to focus on yourself too, and not go through needless torture. I spent 12 years of self-torture before I learned to move forward with this issue.  Your description of his reassurance to you seems like he wants the help he is getting, which is good.  You are in my prayers ... and we look forward to hearing of his progress.