Hello all.
I’m new to this forum but am hoping I’m not alone with my situation.
My 28 yr old son has mental illness but has no insight and is convinced his health issues are physical (believes he has lots of things wrong with him) he’s been sectioned in the past and has recently had a further psychotic ‘breakdown’. He lives alone and completely isolates himself. I’m literally the only family member he will allow to visit him and sometimes he won’t even allow ME to visit because he thinks I’ll ‘catch’ whatever physical health issue he has at that particular time. Sometimes he doesn’t answer my calls, texts etc.. I consider him to be quite vulnerable and he attracts the wrong type of people - people likely to take advantage of him for money etc..- however there’s no convincing him that these people are NOT his friends! I work full time and have another son at home (aged 21) my eldest son can be quite verbally abusive towards me when he’s having a ‘rant’ and for that reason I don’t want him moving back here even though I know this would probably help with his recovery. I’m in a complete dilemma because I have to think about my youngest son and my own mental health (which has already been impacted massively by my sons illness). I feel the only option I have is to offer to let him move back in here to keep him safe and to try to help him get better but I know this will be at the detriment to my youngest sons wellbeing and my own as well. I just can’t stop these feelings of guilt. I feel I should put my unwell son first and the rest of us should just ‘put up with it’ i wish I could run away from trying to please everyone around me and all the while actually getting nowhere! Can anyone help me to put this into perspective please? I’m going to pot with the worry and stress of trying to help my son with his mental illness. I wish there were mental health carer support groups locally that I could attend (UK Manchester) but I can’t seem to find any. sorry for the rant but thanks for listening.
I’m new to this forum but am hoping I’m not alone with my situation.
My 28 yr old son has mental illness but has no insight and is convinced his health issues are physical (believes he has lots of things wrong with him) he’s been sectioned in the past and has recently had a further psychotic ‘breakdown’. He lives alone and completely isolates himself. I’m literally the only family member he will allow to visit him and sometimes he won’t even allow ME to visit because he thinks I’ll ‘catch’ whatever physical health issue he has at that particular time. Sometimes he doesn’t answer my calls, texts etc.. I consider him to be quite vulnerable and he attracts the wrong type of people - people likely to take advantage of him for money etc..- however there’s no convincing him that these people are NOT his friends! I work full time and have another son at home (aged 21) my eldest son can be quite verbally abusive towards me when he’s having a ‘rant’ and for that reason I don’t want him moving back here even though I know this would probably help with his recovery. I’m in a complete dilemma because I have to think about my youngest son and my own mental health (which has already been impacted massively by my sons illness). I feel the only option I have is to offer to let him move back in here to keep him safe and to try to help him get better but I know this will be at the detriment to my youngest sons wellbeing and my own as well. I just can’t stop these feelings of guilt. I feel I should put my unwell son first and the rest of us should just ‘put up with it’ i wish I could run away from trying to please everyone around me and all the while actually getting nowhere! Can anyone help me to put this into perspective please? I’m going to pot with the worry and stress of trying to help my son with his mental illness. I wish there were mental health carer support groups locally that I could attend (UK Manchester) but I can’t seem to find any. sorry for the rant but thanks for listening.