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Being Sucked Back Under


15 years ago 0 10 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you all for your responses.  There is a part of me that just longs for some time to myself, to be able to get away by myself for a day or two, and just rest.  But, there is no one to look after my other children, so that is not an option.
 
Regarding my son, the way the system is here in New Zealand, he could only be put into a psychiatric unit for no more than 3 days for an assessment, because of his age.  Since his suicide attempt at the beginning of the year, he has been seeing a psychiatrist (whom I have zero confidence in), and a couple of months ago started seeing a Psychologist.  Unfortunately, as he is now in the Youth Justice Centre in Christchurch, those support systems are no longer available to him.  You just can't win sometimes.
 
But, I will continue to fight for him, as his entire future is at stake.  And will continue to try and find some way to have some timeout just for myself.
 
Will keep in touch with you all and let you know how things go.

15 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Tikva,
 
Concentrate on taking a break for a day and gather yourself.  Refocus and know that we are here for support.  Do invest in your community services and counsellors to help get your son on the right path. We do know where you are coming from.
 
 
Josie, Health Educator
15 years ago 0 101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
family problems are the absolute hardest. Especially kid problems. A 16 year old's brain is  not fully developed, particulalry in the area of foresight and caution. It would be a pity to see him in an adult prison. You do what you can. I can understand how furious you would be with the person who pretended to help.
 So what can you do? Well, start the painful and difficult process of separating your responsibilities from your son's self responsibility. Don't let him blame the pedophile or his father for his problems. Encourage him to take responsibility for himself and his future. Can the need for medical intervention (suicidal, depression) be brought up as a mitigating factor in NZ courts? Can he be committed to an institution where he will get help?
As a mother I feel for you. Knowing how to help teenagers grow up and become responsible is the most difficult thing you will ever do. Good luck. Take care of yourself.

15 years ago 0 3043 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
hi tikva,
 
perhaps you should take you cue from what your son said to you ... he finally felt alive ... but chanel that drive into something positive.
at 16 he can do a lot of extreme sports for the adrenaline rush and the exercise will help the depression.  I am thinking of motocross bikes,
skateboarding, lacross,  rock/wall climbing  in an organized sport setting he will taught safety and  fun and make friends with others who
are positive-adrenaline junkies (vs illegal durg junkies). 
 
all this is alot of stress for you and it normal that your body responds in this well known pattern.  Remember now that you do need to heal,
so spend a bit of time with yourself and enjoy the pleasant company.  Also, you might need a bit of help to chanel your anger and move
beyond it... a therapist, a support group, even a good friend (there are a bunch of people here that might end up in that category - take a look).
15 years ago 0 10 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
For a while now, the curse of depression has been getting better for me, and I was feeling stronger, motivated, and experiencing feelings of hope ~ something I hadn't had for years. But now, with all that is happening in my life, I feel as though I am being sucked under, and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop it.

Since the beginning of April, I have moved houses; had one of my children returned to my care (on the same day); started a part time job; my 16 yr old son was arrested and is being charged for two very serious crimes which the Police are trying to get put through to the District Court, instead of the Youth Court, which could mean a Prison sentence; and lastly (at least I bloody well hope it is!!!!), a man (who was supposedly my 16 yr olds Mentor) and his wife offered their home for my son to be bailed to under 24 hour supervision, which I encouraged in Court, turned out to be a ********* predator, and had in fact been in a so-called relationship since January.

Maybe that is one of the biggest things for me ~ I feel so incredibly angry at this man. I don't know how he met my son, but I do know that he met him just after my son almost succeeded in taking his own life on January 1st this year. My son has also been suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, etc. since then, and this 52 yr old bastard has taken advantage of his vulnerabilities, and preyed upon him, in the guise of 'wanting to help him'. I have known for a number of years that my son is bi-sexual, but certainly had NO idea he was involved with a man of that age. This man stood up in Court, before the judge, and said he was my son's mentor, and that he had met him through Victim Support (where he works), and it was all just lies. The Police discovered all this through text messages on my son's phone (which was taken into evidence when he was first arrested), as well as through the predator's phone.

I have been fighting SO HARD for my son, not that he gets away with his crimes, but that whatever punishment he is given does not put him on the path to a life of crime. He is not someone who is a repeat offender, or who has committed crimes before, but due to the seriousness of the charges (aggravated robbery), he might end up in a place where the only thing he will learn will be how to not get caught.

Before all this, he was doing really well in the Services Academy (which is like a high school course for those who would like to go into the Army when they're of age), and going into the Army had been his goal for years. Now, he has stupidly thrown away all of that, and you know why? Because doing the crimes made him feel alive for a while, instead of just depressed and numb. Please, don't think I am excusing anything he has done ~ because nothing can. I just don't want his whole life to be wrecked because of crimes that seem to be linked to the depression. He's had a s*** life, with his father mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and occasionally physically abusing him, and with a mother that just wasn't there for him. Who didn't protect him like a mother should.

I feel angry, I feel guilty, I feel fury, but most of all, I feel powerless...........

Dear God, I don't want to keep being sucked under like I am now ~ I want to stand tall, and stand strong. Instead, I sit here on the computer, with housework desperately needing to be done (no motivation), and with the need to just curl up by myself somewhere.

Any and all suggestions would be most welcome right now, and thank you for listening.

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