Hi @Ameth
I just wanted to reach out and welcome you to the forums - it’s great to have you here 
I’m so sorry to hear about what’s happening for you and your teen and it makes so much sense that you’re wrestling with so many powerful emotions 
Caring for a loved one who is living with mental health issues can be incredibly challenging and as such, I just wanted to share some of the things that I found helpful, in the hope that these may be helpful for you too
One of the things that I found really helpful, was when people learned a little bit about the particular mental health issues that I was living with and they took the time to understand how these impacted me. This was really important, as although they accessed some great resources, the resources didn’t capture my own personal experience, or allow for the fact that even though I was living with the mental health issues described in the literature, I often experienced these differently to what was written 
However, although I believe that it’s really important to take the time to understand our loved ones experiences, sometimes it can be really difficult for people to articulate and share what’s happening for them. As such, I just ever so gently wanted to encourage you to be kind and gentle with yourselves, as understanding the mental health issues that we’re living with can take time and it’s often an ongoing process
Although there were times when I felt alone, confused and overwhelmed, one of the things that really helped me was having people that I could turn to for emotional support and reassurance. Although emotional support can be provided in a variety of different ways, I found that it was really helpful when people allowed me to share what was happening for me in my own time. Furthermore, I really appreciated it when people listened to what I was saying without judgement and instead they responded to me with a gentle sense of curiosity. Through doing so, they created a safe emotional space that helped me to feel comfortable to share the things that were happening for me
I also found that it was really helpful when people asked me how they could support me, as not only did this afford me a sense of control (this was particularly important, as I often felt that I had very little control over what was happening in my life) but I also felt as though people valued my opinions and that they were acknowledging and respecting the fact that I was an expert in my own life
Seeking professional support is a great idea and it’s fantastic that you’re in the process of organising this!
I can really hear how important it is for you to connect with other parents who are in a similar situation and as such, I just wondered if you’re familiar with an organisation called Reach Out?
Basically, Reach Out is an online mental health organisation that provide support to young people and their parents. One of the supports that they provide is a virtual space where parents can connect with one another. I’ve just included the link below, in case you would like to explore this further
https://parents.au.reachout.com/
In addition to providing a virtual space where parents can connect with each other, Reach Out also provide free professional support on line or via the telephone for parents of teenagers aged 12 to 18 years. I’ve just included the link below, in case this is of interest to you
https://parents.au.reachout.com/one-on-one-support
Another organisation that may be helpful for you is Kids Help Line In addition to providing telephone and online counselling for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years, they’ve also created a section on their website especially for parents and carers and as such, it has a wealth of information in relation to a variety of issues - including mental health. I’ve just included the link below, in case you would like to explore their website
https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents
The final resource that I thought may be helpful for you is Youth Mental Health First Aid Basically, the course teaches parents (and other adults) how to support adolescents who are at risk of developing a mental health issue, or who are experiencing a mental health crisis. I’ve just included the link below, in case you would like to explore this further
https://mhfa.com.au/cms/youth-course-information
Also, just while I remember, one of the things that really helped me when I was new to the forums and still finding my way around, was that if you would like to chat with another forum member, or reply to one of their posts, place @ in front of their username just like I did at the start of my post to you i.e. @Ameth that way, they will receive a message that you have contacted them
Please remember that you’re always welcome to reach out here whenever you need Nothing is too big or too small and you’re welcome to share whatever feels safe and comfortable for you (as long as what we share adheres to the community guidelines )
I hope that this helps you a little bit
Take care of yourself,
ShiningStar
