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<blockquote data-quote="Copabanana" data-source="post: 658508" data-attributes="member: 18958"><p>Hi, FH. I am glad you are here with us, but sorry for the circumstances you find yourself in.</p><p></p><p>A lot of us have the same quandary: is it substances or mental illness or both. I think you are not going to find out unless your son makes a decision to address his long-standing substance abuse problems and the best place for that, believe it or not, may be in prison.</p><p></p><p>Of course there are drugs in prisons, but because of the 24 hour intensive observation, the controlled environment and drug testing, they are not as easily obtained and abused as in the community.</p><p></p><p>And the disciplinary consequences are a deterrent to use of drugs, to most inmates.</p><p></p><p>Also,typically there is readily available psychiatric care in prison.</p><p></p><p>The diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder, as you know, entails symptoms of both a mood disorder and psychosis.</p><p></p><p>Given your son's history of drug use, it will be hard to know which came first, the mental illness, or the drug use. Most of us here on the board have children where the cause or etiology of their troubles is unclear, just as in your son's case.</p><p></p><p>You are right to fear that the drugs have affected his brain. Often even stopping the drug use, does not stop the symptoms. Frequently they do clear but often after some time.</p><p></p><p>Each of these behaviors can indicate mental illness. But they could also be a result of drug use. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>My 26 year old son is mentally ill. He had a ADHD diagnosis since before he started school. He has anxiety and a mood disorder. He uses marijuana to excess and I am not sure what else. He shares the interest in physics and higher consciousness. He is also drawn to conspiracy theories, some of which are quite bizarre. I have worried that he is delusional. The psychiatrist I speak to tells me that his interest in conspiracy theories is indicative of disordered thinking at least and potentially of psychosis but, like you, I am resistant to accepting this.</p><p></p><p>In the morning you are likely to get many more responses.</p><p></p><p>I think that the majority will tell you two things: First, your son's situation is his to work out or not, and the way things turn out for him will be determined largely by his choices.</p><p></p><p>There is a wide range of possible outcomes, even if he is mentally ill, depending upon his willingness to seek treatment, to take medication and especially his willingness to abstain from drugs.</p><p></p><p>Second, you have control over none of it. Your only area of control is over you: taking care of yourself, keeping good boundaries, seeking to be happy and do things that contribute to such.</p><p></p><p>I know it is hard to think like this now, but your son is the person who needs to start thinking about the ifs and whys and whats of his situation, not you. And doing such, may bring maturity and increased functioning.</p><p></p><p>What I have learned is this: By my intrusiveness into his life, I was making myself physically, emotionally and spiritually ill and I was contributing to my son's problems rather than helping him.</p><p></p><p>So, if you can, think about using this time while your son is incarcerated for you, learning how to live a life that is separate from him and his problems, and really learning how to let him live his own life. That may be the very best way that you can love him right now.</p><p></p><p>I know how hard it is, because I am new at this, too. But every day it gets easier. I am currently out of contact with my son. Even a couple of weeks ago, I was frantic. Now, I am not. In addition to his psychiatric issues, my son has a serious illness, that requires ongoing treatment and monitoring. Increasingly, I am able to trust that my son will find the maturity and the resources to take care of himself, if I let go. </p><p></p><p>He is doing better since I started changing. How much better will he get? It is up to him.</p><p></p><p>I know this is hard. But what other real good options do we have?</p><p></p><p>I hope you keep posting. I wish you well on your journey.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Copabanana, post: 658508, member: 18958"] Hi, FH. I am glad you are here with us, but sorry for the circumstances you find yourself in. A lot of us have the same quandary: is it substances or mental illness or both. I think you are not going to find out unless your son makes a decision to address his long-standing substance abuse problems and the best place for that, believe it or not, may be in prison. Of course there are drugs in prisons, but because of the 24 hour intensive observation, the controlled environment and drug testing, they are not as easily obtained and abused as in the community. And the disciplinary consequences are a deterrent to use of drugs, to most inmates. Also,typically there is readily available psychiatric care in prison. The diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder, as you know, entails symptoms of both a mood disorder and psychosis. Given your son's history of drug use, it will be hard to know which came first, the mental illness, or the drug use. Most of us here on the board have children where the cause or etiology of their troubles is unclear, just as in your son's case. You are right to fear that the drugs have affected his brain. Often even stopping the drug use, does not stop the symptoms. Frequently they do clear but often after some time. Each of these behaviors can indicate mental illness. But they could also be a result of drug use. My 26 year old son is mentally ill. He had a ADHD diagnosis since before he started school. He has anxiety and a mood disorder. He uses marijuana to excess and I am not sure what else. He shares the interest in physics and higher consciousness. He is also drawn to conspiracy theories, some of which are quite bizarre. I have worried that he is delusional. The psychiatrist I speak to tells me that his interest in conspiracy theories is indicative of disordered thinking at least and potentially of psychosis but, like you, I am resistant to accepting this. In the morning you are likely to get many more responses. I think that the majority will tell you two things: First, your son's situation is his to work out or not, and the way things turn out for him will be determined largely by his choices. There is a wide range of possible outcomes, even if he is mentally ill, depending upon his willingness to seek treatment, to take medication and especially his willingness to abstain from drugs. Second, you have control over none of it. Your only area of control is over you: taking care of yourself, keeping good boundaries, seeking to be happy and do things that contribute to such. I know it is hard to think like this now, but your son is the person who needs to start thinking about the ifs and whys and whats of his situation, not you. And doing such, may bring maturity and increased functioning. What I have learned is this: By my intrusiveness into his life, I was making myself physically, emotionally and spiritually ill and I was contributing to my son's problems rather than helping him. So, if you can, think about using this time while your son is incarcerated for you, learning how to live a life that is separate from him and his problems, and really learning how to let him live his own life. That may be the very best way that you can love him right now. I know how hard it is, because I am new at this, too. But every day it gets easier. I am currently out of contact with my son. Even a couple of weeks ago, I was frantic. Now, I am not. In addition to his psychiatric issues, my son has a serious illness, that requires ongoing treatment and monitoring. Increasingly, I am able to trust that my son will find the maturity and the resources to take care of himself, if I let go. He is doing better since I started changing. How much better will he get? It is up to him. I know this is hard. But what other real good options do we have? I hope you keep posting. I wish you well on your journey. [/QUOTE]
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