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18 year old son not going to therapy or taking his medication
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<blockquote data-quote="BloodiedButUnbowed" data-source="post: 734028" data-attributes="member: 13303"><p>Your son, believe it or not, sounds like a much higher functioning version of my stepsons. Your son is at least attending university and has a polite and respectful relationship with you....that is more than my family can say at present. Every situation has a silver lining and perhaps yours is that your son does love you and is willing to submit to structure and routine in his life.</p><p></p><p>What is his diagnosis? From what you describe, his behaviors, especially the suicidal thoughts, sound to me like bipolar disorder. His ups and downs sound more intense than typical depression. My youngest stepson has this, and the first symptom was a suicide attempt that very nearly took his life. That was last fall.</p><p></p><p>It is so typical for mentally ill individuals to insist that they don't need medication or therapy and that everyone else is screwed up, not them. This is my oldest stepson to a T. And sadly we can do nothing to rid them of this fallacy.</p><p></p><p>In the US, 18 year olds are legal adults unless conservatorship is granted by the courts - I am not sure what the situation may be where you are. You probably can't force him into treatment. You may need to continue setting boundaries, which it sounds like you're very good at doing already, and letting him know you love him and will always help him straighten out when he gets in a jam.</p><p></p><p>The possibility of younger son eventually completing a suicide is never far from our thoughts and I'm sure the same is true for every parent whose child either attempted at one time or speaks of doing so. If he threatens, call the police. Here in the US a person can be hospitalized to maintain their safety if they are threatening to hurt themselves,</p><p></p><p>Keep posting, it helps and we are here for you.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BloodiedButUnbowed, post: 734028, member: 13303"] Your son, believe it or not, sounds like a much higher functioning version of my stepsons. Your son is at least attending university and has a polite and respectful relationship with you....that is more than my family can say at present. Every situation has a silver lining and perhaps yours is that your son does love you and is willing to submit to structure and routine in his life. What is his diagnosis? From what you describe, his behaviors, especially the suicidal thoughts, sound to me like bipolar disorder. His ups and downs sound more intense than typical depression. My youngest stepson has this, and the first symptom was a suicide attempt that very nearly took his life. That was last fall. It is so typical for mentally ill individuals to insist that they don't need medication or therapy and that everyone else is screwed up, not them. This is my oldest stepson to a T. And sadly we can do nothing to rid them of this fallacy. In the US, 18 year olds are legal adults unless conservatorship is granted by the courts - I am not sure what the situation may be where you are. You probably can't force him into treatment. You may need to continue setting boundaries, which it sounds like you're very good at doing already, and letting him know you love him and will always help him straighten out when he gets in a jam. The possibility of younger son eventually completing a suicide is never far from our thoughts and I'm sure the same is true for every parent whose child either attempted at one time or speaks of doing so. If he threatens, call the police. Here in the US a person can be hospitalized to maintain their safety if they are threatening to hurt themselves, Keep posting, it helps and we are here for you. [/QUOTE]
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18 year old son not going to therapy or taking his medication
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