Mental Illness

I am sharing here things that I would not normally share with people. I feel like when I put myself out there and share personal stuff that people will criticize me or my family. But instead I hope this will help someone. But here I am opening up...

I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern for my son Jimmy. He is doing better now and is expected to be transferred to another facility for 14 days for treatment. On Thur (I found out on Fri morn) when he was taken to the hospital it was bad. On the way to the hospital he bottomed out and they had to do an emergency trach so he could get air. He says he doesn't remember doing this to himself. Anyway the thing now is for him to get mental help and to take this seriously. He will be in a facility now for the next 14 days.

I could hear this coming in Jimmy's voice when I've talked to him on recent occasions. I've tried to be there for him and telling him that He and I and Ethan would take a trip soon just to get away and have some down time. I've told him that I would come over there if he needed me to. Having temporary sole custody of Ethan for the past couple of months has been stressful. As many of you know Ethan requires care 24/7 and for a working man this has been hard on him. The estranged wife now has Ethan and that is where he should be for now.

Depression and mental illness are not the same but depression is a symptom of mental illness. Someone can be depressed but easily recovers and goes on with life. Sometime when we are depressed it is hard to reach out for help especially if you've never done it before. For someone who is depressed most times they keep those feelings locked away till they know what to do or till it just eats them up. If you know someone is going through something and they don't talk about it - be concerned. There are many families who deal with this sort of thing on different levels and severity. It is hard on those looking in to not understand and don't know what to do for their loved one. Mental illness can be extremely difficult on all the people involved in that persons life.

Mental illness is displayed in a persons life in different ways. Often times the family doesn't even no and many don't understand. It is hard to understand why an incident might cause someone to go off the deep end and then a person who has no mental problems deal with the same incident totally rational.

Mental illness effects people in many different ways. Some become inward and don't talk. Some become outward and lash out at others not really meaning to hurt their feelings and then the vicious cycle begins. Feelings of guilt and shame and then not knowing what to do to help themselves to get better. For some people the extreme occurs - the feeling that their loved ones would be better off without them.

Friends I don't know what your dealing with or if you have family that has these sorts of problems. But let me tell you -
Be there for them.
Be understanding even if you don't understand.
Listen and listen carefully. Often you can tell in someones voice.
Tell them how much they mean to you and that you want to do everything possible to help them to feel better.
Go with them to psychiatric appointments and therapy appts.
Let them know that you want to understand what they feel.
If they say something to hurt you - don't lash out at them.
Take them seriously especially when they talk of ending their life.
Pay attention because it is likely they won't say anything of their intentions if they are thinking on these lines.
They will withdraw and stop talking or just go through the motions to humor you.

Life is not easy sometime. There are things that come up that we have to deal with - decisions to make - and sometime it's hard especially when others are involved.

For me - I have learned to follow doctors instructions, speak up when I need to - I have a voice and have learned to us it. I know my body and my psychy and recognize when I'm not recovering from stress properly. I have learned to not be silent about my problems when they seem bigger than me. I know how to ASK for help now and will in a heartbeat.