I read the article below a few weeks ago. I then
cried at my desk for 2 hours. She hits the nail on the head. I have had those
thoughts so many times. I don't want to steal from her but here is my
version......
Here is my wish list -
things that would make parenting a young adult with mental illness easier:
1. I want the clinics
and hospital units that treat those suffering from mental illness to not be the
most depressing places on earth. I want hospital rooms that don't have writing
on the wall {think - A Beautiful Mind}. I want these hospital rooms to have
windows that aren't cracked and filthy and beds that aren't left over from the
1950's. There has to be a way to provide decent care for psychiatric patients
while keeping them safe.
2. I want to be able to
get my son help when his condition worsens without it involving the police and
handcuffs.
3. I want more research
$ spent studying mental illness, it's causes and treatments. I want to know
more about the long term effects of the medications that he needs to get
through each day.
4. I want other parents
not to judge him or us. His illness wasn't caused by bad behavior, alcohol or
drugs. It wasn't brought on by our parenting style. He isn't a bad
person.
5. I want people to stop
using the words "crazy" and "insane" casually.
6. I want the media to
stop talking about mental illness every time there is a mass shooting or
bombing. Not all mentally ill people are violent and not all violent people are
mentally ill.
7. I want my other kids
to be ok. I want them to have warm memories of their childhoods. I want them to
understand his illness. I want them to know I love them.
8. I want my family and
friends to know how much I appreciate their unconditional love, support and
prayers.
9. I want my son to be happy, healthy and safe. I want him to have
friends. I want him to be able to accomplish anything he wants. I want him to
know that his family loves him every minute of every day.
