THis is frightening....Not only the event itself but the comments on the story below it. Wow, unreal, there is so much intolerance in the world today for mental illness. I just had to post this here since it really upset me, so if this kind of thing disturbs you, it's probably better that you don't read the story, it's so terribly sad. I am surprised it wasn't national news....

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/03/...e_youth_h.html

Such a sad story. So young, so lost. A mother is lost, a father is widowed and this boy will be tossed around and most likely let out without proper treatment.

I liked how the father said "Everybody is portraying my son as Frankenstein and he's not. I told him daddy can't help him, he's got to walk the walk of a man." He seems to understand his son needs to take responsibility for his actions but in turn receive the help he needs.

It's all so sad. Anyone who can shoot another human, especially their mother has to have some sort of mental illness. So those who seem heartless and don't understand are not informed about the varying degrees of mental illness.

And not only....

this sort of thing can happen when a family who is already aware that a youngster has a severe disturbance, simply does not provide a protective environment when one is needed, bothfor the person who is ill and for others around that person. some are lucky... things do not degrade suddenly, and nothing happens... until the day Lady Luck turns away.

it has nothing to do with ones abilities to handle illness either, strength or weakness. A protective environment is so important to prevent harm to any- and everyone in such situations. it is the first step. not medication or anything else. a protective environment - safety - is the first thing that needs to be ensured. ideally a protective psychiatric environment allows for the application of whatever inner resources the person might have, as well as - if necessary and authorized - medication.

it both saddens and angers me when those who are aware of a youngster being in a severely disturbed state do not seek a protective environment. it is simply common sense. However, it also makes me wonder about the mental health facilities available, and to what degree any of these will work with younsters who need, most of all, a protective and reassuring environment, without stripping them of dignity, the support of family, or making medication a "necessary" prerequisite for admission... whereupon the person is simply "fixed up" rather than truly helped to cope and worked with.

I am not going to read the article because the local news here literally *feeds* (NO pun intended) on this kind of stuff... and i "happen" to hear enough news already to hear more than i even want to.

here there is still a huge stigma with mental illness... i figure a lot of what happens similar to this article has to do with undiagnosed or "denied" and untreated illness.

This is so sad, but it sure brings back many memories.

My oldest has intermittent explosive disorder. And I always said,
before he was treated for this at 16 that he would end up in Jail
by the time he was 18 for murder. Because he was a lot like
this young man. He used to put holes in our walls and it was
my middle son that I was always trying to protect.

I was lucky that when I had to protect my son's the guns that
might have been in the house weren't known to him. And
the fact that he pulled the phone out of the wall when I had
to call 911, I had a cordless phone. But it told the dispatcher
that I needed help even faster than they could get the ambulance
I had called for.

I got the help, but more important so did he. And he got his diagnosis's
after over 10 years of trying on my part. We had been to so many
doctor's already. Finally someone could diagnose the problem.

And we were lucky the medications worked. And still do.
Donna

Donna I was wondering what kinds of symptoms your oldest was exhibiting for intermittent explosive disorder. My 16 yr old seems to have a real rage problem and so far none of the treatments are really doing anything about it. He is diagnosed as Bipolar with ADHD and anxiety. He punches holes in walls, expelled from school for taking a weapon and fighting, detention for language to teachers, went through a cutting phase, flies into a rage if anyone says the wrong thing or he misinterprets it wrongly. Has attacked my fiance twice. Throws things, curses. There is more but these are the worst. He is always apologetic sometimes to tears but will do it again ten minutes later. Just wondering if this is something I should bring up to his psych and therapist because so far he is not getting any better with any of the meds yet.

Thanks

Chris

Chris,
Please do talk to your son's doctor about everything that is going on.

A friend of mine had a long talk with her son's doctor and they finally got him on the right combination of medicines and he is once again the wonderful little boy we used to know.

My friend noticed that her son had some of the same symptoms and traits as I do---being BiPolar.

Original Diagnosis---ADHD/ADD.

Current Diagnosis -- Borderline personality disorder with some BiPolar and Oppositional Defiant Disorder traits.

I wish you the best!! I know how hard it is to want to help our children and not knowing what to do.


Abbie