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Caring for 18 year old son

Kat48Casual Contributor12 July 2024, 7:09 pm AEST

Caring for 18 year old son

Hi all, I’m new to the group. My 18 year old son had 1st episode psychosis in April, spent a week as inpatient and now has severe depression complicated by his physical disability of Cerebral Palsy. He is a very bright boy who is a wheelchair users and has high physical needs. Any tips for coping with suicidal ideation and wanting to self harm would be appreciated. We are on 3rd lot of antidepressants plus antipsychotics. We are so sad for our son. Despite being a carer for his whole life, this is much harder than dealing with disability 🫤

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In response to: Caring for 18 year old son

TiredandScaredCasual Contributor07 Sept 2024, 9:33 pm AEST

Re: Caring for 18 year old son

@Ljr2005 @Kat48

Hi there. This is my first post on the forum, so I hope I’m doing it right with the @ symbols to reply to you both.

I just wanted to say that I’m a mum of a 17 year old son who had a first episode of psychosis this time last year (at age 16). He was briefly hospitalised at the time and has since been diagnosed with bipolar 1.

It has been a huge learning curve and it is by far the hardest thing I have ever coped with as a parent - or really in my whole life. It’s turned my life completely upside down. I am so lonely - I feel very alone as I don’t know any other mums with teenagers dealing with this.

So, I just wanted to thank you for your posts and say that I’m here too. And I see you both. Sending digital hugs.

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