klmno
Active Member
to go off in my difficult child's head. I'm getting ready to go to bed and just wanted to get this out first, since it keeps sticking in my mind. difficult child always wants to tell me about the other kids he meets when he's in juvy or psychiatric hospital. Here are the two stories I heard today:
1) 17 yo old boy in there to get off drugs and will be going from psychiatric hospital to an extensive outpatient drug rehab. He asked to come in because when he told his girlfriend about the extent of his drug usage, she said he had a problem and she broke up with him. This is difficult child's room-mate and he told difficult child that when she did that, he realized that he really did have a problem and he wants off the drugs completely. (When difficult child was in last spring, he had a room mate in there for drug usage but he was trying to play everyone around him just to hurry and get out- he told difficult child that as soon as he got out, he was going to get high again.)
2) A 17yo girl that is anorexic and cuts herself. (Also, difficult child said she suffers from insomnia and that insomnia can release endorphins too- Has anyone else ever heard that?) Anyway, difficult child said he just didn't understand it- he says she is very pretty and he doesn't get why on earth she can't see that and why she would want to hurt herself. He says she smiles and is friendly and that she has a lot going for her. He repeated several times "But why would she do that".
I didn't get into the explanation about anorexia with him. I just sat there and listened and thought about how ALL of us parents on this board understand the thought "you have so much going for you- WHY would you do that to yourself".
I think maybe I'll try to explain that to him tomorrow- that many people feel that way about him. I know for myself, I didn't try to get help or better myself and turn my life around until the lightbulb went off in my mind that maybe, just maybe, I had a little potential worth building on instead of wasting it away. It did take being around some people who somehow helped me to see and believe that.
So, if anyone has an extra thought, prayer, or just is in the mood for a nekd chicken dance tonight- I would appreciate any vibes sent to my son that helps him see that others feel he has something going for him that is worth salvaging, too- just like all kids. And he really shouldn't be throwing it away.
Edited to add: As I was about to go to sleep last night, I realized that I should have asked for good thoughts to be sent to the two 17yo's in there, too. Then, I guess that extends to all our kids who are struggling to find their way, even when we feel like they aren't trying at all and they're being real PITA's- I guess we can't always know what hurt and confusion and negative feelings about themselves that they are trying to sort thru and live with and overcome.
1) 17 yo old boy in there to get off drugs and will be going from psychiatric hospital to an extensive outpatient drug rehab. He asked to come in because when he told his girlfriend about the extent of his drug usage, she said he had a problem and she broke up with him. This is difficult child's room-mate and he told difficult child that when she did that, he realized that he really did have a problem and he wants off the drugs completely. (When difficult child was in last spring, he had a room mate in there for drug usage but he was trying to play everyone around him just to hurry and get out- he told difficult child that as soon as he got out, he was going to get high again.)
2) A 17yo girl that is anorexic and cuts herself. (Also, difficult child said she suffers from insomnia and that insomnia can release endorphins too- Has anyone else ever heard that?) Anyway, difficult child said he just didn't understand it- he says she is very pretty and he doesn't get why on earth she can't see that and why she would want to hurt herself. He says she smiles and is friendly and that she has a lot going for her. He repeated several times "But why would she do that".
I didn't get into the explanation about anorexia with him. I just sat there and listened and thought about how ALL of us parents on this board understand the thought "you have so much going for you- WHY would you do that to yourself".
I think maybe I'll try to explain that to him tomorrow- that many people feel that way about him. I know for myself, I didn't try to get help or better myself and turn my life around until the lightbulb went off in my mind that maybe, just maybe, I had a little potential worth building on instead of wasting it away. It did take being around some people who somehow helped me to see and believe that.
So, if anyone has an extra thought, prayer, or just is in the mood for a nekd chicken dance tonight- I would appreciate any vibes sent to my son that helps him see that others feel he has something going for him that is worth salvaging, too- just like all kids. And he really shouldn't be throwing it away.
Edited to add: As I was about to go to sleep last night, I realized that I should have asked for good thoughts to be sent to the two 17yo's in there, too. Then, I guess that extends to all our kids who are struggling to find their way, even when we feel like they aren't trying at all and they're being real PITA's- I guess we can't always know what hurt and confusion and negative feelings about themselves that they are trying to sort thru and live with and overcome.
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