I don't even know how to start this blog. We are currently on the struggle bus. I posted a vague request for prayer last night on Facebook. That's not normally my style, but we are in what feels like a long season of feeling helpless and, to a lesser extent, hopeless. One of our family members is really struggling and try as we might, we don't have the answers. We've long kept regular therapy and psychiatric appointments. Even though it seems like things should be improving, they are not.
I am a firm believer in vulnerability and openness. Honestly, trying to hide my issues never brought me anything but pain and trouble. Here's my problem, as much as this story is something I live out daily, it's not all mine. I am getting increasingly wary about sharing information about our kids online. In that vein, I won't be sharing any more details about what's going on. I can only share a little bit about how I feel.
I am convinced now, more than ever, that the mental health system in America is in desperate need of overhaul. Why is it so hard to get help for someone who is clearly at risk to harm themselves or others? I understand that the movement to deinstitutionalize people with mental health issues was important and saved many people from a system that had become abusive and oppressive. Have we gone too far in the other direction? It seems that if a patient doesn't come in waving a loaded gun, they can't receive the help they need. We need a happy medium. There are so many parents out there struggling like us. If the mental health community can't offer more than platitudes and positive reframing, we're up a creek without a paddle. This is the field I am passionate about and want to work in, I really hope we can do better in the future.
I would like to express our love and gratitude for all of the prayers that were offered up on our behalf. It is so comforting to know that people are standing in the gap for us.
I am a firm believer in vulnerability and openness. Honestly, trying to hide my issues never brought me anything but pain and trouble. Here's my problem, as much as this story is something I live out daily, it's not all mine. I am getting increasingly wary about sharing information about our kids online. In that vein, I won't be sharing any more details about what's going on. I can only share a little bit about how I feel.
I am convinced now, more than ever, that the mental health system in America is in desperate need of overhaul. Why is it so hard to get help for someone who is clearly at risk to harm themselves or others? I understand that the movement to deinstitutionalize people with mental health issues was important and saved many people from a system that had become abusive and oppressive. Have we gone too far in the other direction? It seems that if a patient doesn't come in waving a loaded gun, they can't receive the help they need. We need a happy medium. There are so many parents out there struggling like us. If the mental health community can't offer more than platitudes and positive reframing, we're up a creek without a paddle. This is the field I am passionate about and want to work in, I really hope we can do better in the future.
I would like to express our love and gratitude for all of the prayers that were offered up on our behalf. It is so comforting to know that people are standing in the gap for us.
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