Who Do You Tell -- and When -- When Your Child Has a Mental Illness?

This is an amazing, hearfelt blog. God Bless you and your family, you know we're all on this planet together, we are all God's children. Best of luck to you and your child. families should pull together and support where needed. With faith in God, you'll all pull through this.

We walk a very similar path my son. It is isolating and frightening. We have very little contact with family on my side and zero support from them. My parents have not seen their grandsons in 2 1/2 years.

I have a few supportive friends, but never offers for play dates with my son.

I too think it would be so very different if he had cancer. Metal illness scares people.

My bi-polar son is now 2 0.,., and without the loving and compassionate support of one friend, I don't know how we would have ma de it. II really had no family support because he was extremely difficult, and no one had any patience or compassion for him. That usually put me at odds with everyone, and I simply stopped looking for help from them. I could cry, rage, vent, and yes. even laugh now and then about him with my dear friend Bonnie. I am glad you are blogging about this. I know how your life is. I always said I was going to write a book and title it Nightmare in November,hands down his worst month...or, was that Christmas, or his birthday, or any other out of the ordinary event...Just know, you will both live thru this, and I think you will find tons of support on here. Wish I had it when he was diagnosed at 8 years old!

Thank you for sharing, it is nice to know when you are not alone in your struggle. You are an awesome mom, hang in there sista!

Thank you DesiValentine for sharing your mum's story. I love what you said about her being the "Dragon slayer", I have been there myself, kissing my child and tucking him to sleep while my skin still bleeds from the scratches he gave me from a rage. When you're in the moment, fighting those dragons, it really feels like fighting something other than your child. You truly are fighting the illness. Then, once your child returns to normal, you feel the love rush in, wanting to cuddle them and restore their spirit after all they’ve been through.

After such an experience, a mother needs help restoring her spirit too.

My mum is a foster parent to children with extreme behavioural issues, almost always as a result of an undiagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed mental illness or organic delay. She has been beaten and verbally assaulted by the children in her care. She has rocked them to sleep in her arms, singing softly like any parent would, only minutes after she had been the object of their rage. I call her The Dragon Slayer because she works so hard to slay these kids' dragons so that they can have a fighting chance.

I don't think anyone could do this alone. I applaud your courage to share your story and reach out to find a community. You are so brave!

Thank you forever for your encouraging words!

I'm so sorry that you are going thru this alone, I have a special needs daughter, with plenty of health issues that give me looks and stares and unwanted judgements, the best piece of advice I can give you is that you have to learn to not care ," I know easier said than done" but at the end of the day all that really matters is your family and friends, the judgement of strangers will begin to feel less as an attack and people either get it or they don't. I think your a great mom doing the best that you can and that's all that can be expected. People always tell me that I was chosen, because not everyone can handle what i take on with my daughter, and you know what? i feel blessed to take on the challenge. You are stronger than you think and you will make it thru. Good luck :)