Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories

In this episode of Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories, the hosts interview Sarah Bose, who shares her compelling journey from rural Kentucky to becoming a nurse practitioner and a mother. Sarah details her daughter's diagnosis with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, and discusses the emotional highs and lows from selling her business to managing her daughter's multiple surgeries.  She opens up about her personal mental health challenges, ultimately leading to her diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sarah stresses the importance of being a strong advocate for one's child and highlights the crucial role of collaboration with medical teams. Additionally, she talks about her advocacy work for congenital heart disease, aiming to improve future care and outcomes for affected children. The episode offers invaluable insights into coping with uncertainty, managing mental health, and the resilience needed in the face of life's unpredictable challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:27 Meet Sarah Bose: A Journey from Kentucky to Nursing 04:08 Navigating Pregnancy and Unexpected Diagnoses 06:07 Understanding Tetralogy of Fallot and Early Surgeries 08:25 Mental Health Challenges and OCD Diagnosis 15:19 Coping Mechanisms and Family Dynamics 22:18 Advocacy and Future Goals 33:12 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Mary, a mother of four, shares her family's journey with her son's mental health challenges. Her son, who was adopted at birth, began exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder at a young age. Mary and her husband have navigated numerous challenges, including meltdowns, rages, and hospitalizations, while trying to provide a stable and loving environment for their son and other children. Highlights: Early Signs: Mary noticed her son's unusual behavior at 18 months old, which progressed to intense meltdowns and rages as he got older. Diagnosis and Treatment: After trying various therapies and medications, Mary's son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has been on lithium, which has helped stabilize his mood. Parenting Challenges: Mary and her husband have had to adapt their parenting style to meet their son's unique needs, including setting boundaries, providing structure, and seeking support from therapists and support groups. Impact on the Family: The family has faced numerous challenges, including feelings of isolation, anxiety, and trauma. However, they have also experienced moments of hope, love, and connection. Self-Care and Support: Mary emphasizes the importance of self-care, seeking support from friends, family, and therapists, and finding ways to manage stress and anxiety. Hope for the Future: Mary hopes that by sharing her family's story, she can help others who may be facing similar challenges. She also hopes to help her son develop coping skills and strategies to manage his mental health. Giving Back: Mary is pursuing a certification in mental health coaching and hopes to help other families navigate their own mental health journeys. Key Takeaways: Mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. Early intervention and diagnosis are crucial in managing mental health conditions. Parenting a child with mental health challenges requires adaptability, patience, and self-care. Seeking support from therapists, support groups, and loved ones is essential for navigating the journey. Hope and resilience can help families cope with the challenges of mental health conditions. Resources: The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene

In this episode, Bill interviews therapist Amber about the challenges parents face when their child is struggling with mental illness. Amber discusses the importance of parents focusing on processing their own emotions and reactions, rather than solely trying to fix the child's problems. She notes how children can resent parents for not giving them space to work through challenges, and how siblings often take on roles to minimize stress on the family. Amber also distinguishes between supporting versus enabling a child, and highlights how vulnerability and acknowledging one's own challenges in parenting can strengthen the parent-child relationship. Throughout the conversation, Amber provides compassionate insights on navigating this difficult family dynamic.   Keywords: parenting, mental illness, family dynamics, emotional processing, support, enabling, vulnerability, parent-child relationship

In today's episode, Terry shares a deeply personal and emotional journey of navigating her son's mental illnesses, including anxiety and bipolar disorder. Join us as she recounts the challenges of seeking help, the impact on family relationships, her learnings, and the small victories that have facilitated a better understanding and approach towards mental illness. This heartfelt discussion provides invaluable insights for those walking a similar path or those who want to understand more about supporting loved ones with mental health issues. **Key Topics Covered:** - Early Signs and Struggles (00:00:00) - Seeking Help and Diagnosis Challenges (00:06:09) - Impact on Family Dynamics (00:15:53) - Coping Mechanisms and Strategies (00:24:59) - Setting Boundaries and Finding Support (00:32:07) #### Keywords - Mental Illness - Bipolar Disorder - Anxiety in Children - Family Dynamics - Mental Health Support - Parenting Challenges - Seeking Help for Mental Illness - Coping with Mental Illness - Setting Boundaries - Mental Health Education - Navigating Bipolar Disorder - Personal Mental Health Stories - Family Support Systems

In this heart-wrenching yet inspiring episode of "Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories," Bill sits down with Celeste, a mother from Bill's home state of New Jersey, who shares her journey navigating the complexities of her daughter's multiple mental health conditions, including OCD, severe anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD.  Celeste opens up about her daughter's early childhood, the struggles they faced following a severe family incident, and the subsequent years of seeking proper treatment and care. From the initial diagnosis to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant mental breakdown following a family tragedy, Celeste provides invaluable insights into managing a child's mental illness. She discusses the therapeutic approaches they've tried, the challenges of balancing her daughter's needs with her own, and the importance of self-care and having a support system. With moments of triumph like her daughter getting her driver's license and experiencing healing environments, Celeste's story is a testament to resilience and the enduring hope for a better future. #### Keywords: - mental illness in children  - OCD in adolescents - parenting with a mentally ill child  - obsessive-compulsive disorder  - navigating mental illness  - severe anxiety in children  - PTSD and parenting  - ADHD in adolescents  - mental health treatment programs - therapy for OCD  - COVID-19 mental health impact  - parenting podcast  - mental health journey  - supporting a child with mental illness  - parental coping strategies  - family mental health challenges 

This episode of "Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories" features Courtney, a mother who has been supporting her son through his mental health and substance abuse struggles. Courtney shares the journey of her son's development, the initial signs of trouble, his refusal to accept help, and the spiral into drug use and psychosis.  Courtney candidly discusses the emotional toll this has taken on her, including PTSD, panic attacks, and the feeling of helplessness. She describes her approach to self-care, such as therapy, meditation, and limiting her involvement in the community to focus on her own well-being. The episode also explores the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, the lack of timely access to appropriate care, and the difficulties in getting a proper diagnosis. Courtney shares her experience with the conservatorship process and her hopes for her son's future. Throughout the conversation, Courtney offers advice to other parents in similar situations, emphasizing the importance of seeking personal support, setting boundaries, and staying persistent in advocating for their child's needs. The episode provides a raw and emotional perspective on the realities of supporting a loved one through mental health and addiction issues. Keywords: - Mental illness - Bipolar disorder - Substance abuse - Parenting - Mental health treatment - Guardianship - Self-care - Healthcare system - Navigating the challenges - Resilience - Emotional toll - Diagnosis

In this eye-opening episode of "Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories," we hear from Lila, a mother who shares her deeply personal journey with her son's mental health challenges. Diagnosed early with Asperger's syndrome and later with bipolar disorder, Lila's son faced social and academic struggles despite his intellectual brilliance. Lila talks about the turning point when her son found solace and a sense of community in music and theater, but also the harrowing suicide attempt that changed their lives forever. By exploring a broken mental healthcare system, utilizing a therapeutic consultant, and enduring countless emotional and logistical challenges, Lila's unwavering advocacy eventually led to her son stabilizing and thriving both academically and socially.   **Keywords:** - Mental Health - Asperger's Syndrome - Autism Spectrum Disorder - Bipolar Disorder - Adolescent Mental Health - Suicide Prevention - Therapeutic Consultant - Mental Healthcare - Parental Advocacy - Music Therapy

In this deeply moving episode of the "Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories" podcast, we sit down one mom (she chooses anonymity) as she shares the tumultuous experience of dealing with their son's severe mental illness. From terrifying moments of psychosis and emergency room visits to the challenges of balancing professional life and personal anguish, her story is a raw and honest portrayal of a parent's resilience and the complexities of mental health care. She also emphasizes the importance of community, self-care, and the shortcomings of the current mental health support systems. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating similar experiences or seeking to understand the profound impact of mental illness on families. Keywords: Mental Illness Psychosis Bipolar Disorder Parenting Challenges Mental Health Crisis Emergency Room Visit Self-Care Community Support Therapy Family Impact Suicide Prevention Mental Health Resources Navigating Mental Illness PTSD in Parents Support Systems Guest Information: Coral shares their journey of living through the chaotic storm of their son's mental health crisis, providing invaluable insights and practical advice for other parents in similar situations. Resources Mentioned: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org Parent Support Groups for Bipolar Disorder: https://www.facebook.com/groups/593681647507892 Connect with Us: Email: bill@navigatingmentalillness.co Website: https://navigatingmentalillness.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmipspodcast/ 

In this poignant episode of "Navigating Mental Illness: Parent Stories," we dive into the compelling journey of a family as they navigate the complexities of living with bipolar disorder. Joined by Renee and her son Jacob, listeners are taken through the challenges from Jacob's hyperactive childhood to the dark days of his young adulthood, marked by extreme emotional highs and lows. Renee talks about the early struggles of ensuring Jacob's safety due to his severe sleep issues and hyperactivity, sharing intimate insights into their life-saving routines and the relentless pursuit of a stable diagnosis. Jacob opens up about his mental health battles, the pivotal moment of becoming a father at 17, and his life-changing decision to seek hospitalization. Throughout the episode, we witness the unwavering support of a loving family, the dire need for proper mental health care, and the evolution of mental illness management over the years. Renee's faith and guidance alongside Jacob's courage to take steps towards his wellbeing illuminate the critical aspect of having a supportive network. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the realities of mental health struggles, the importance of proper medical support, and the hope that lies in persistent care and love. Bipolar disorder Mental health journey Hyperactivity in children Family support with mental illness Childhood bipolar disorder Struggles with sleep issues Adolescent mental health Prozac side effects voluntary hospitalization for mental health Parenting a bipolar child Navigating ADHD and bipolar Impact of hyperthyroidism on mental health Overcoming paranoia Importance of mental health medication Stabilizing with mental health treatment GeneSight testing for medication Emotional highs and lows bipolar Jacob's mental health story Renee's parenting challenges Support systems for mental illness

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Erica, a devoted mother who shares her journey navigating her son's bipolar disorder. From recognizing the initial symptoms to dealing with multiple hospitalizations, Erica provides a candid look into the challenges and coping strategies she has discovered along the way. She discusses the impact of medications, the importance of mental health support, and the emotional toll it takes on a family. This episode is a poignant reminder that while the road is tough, support and understanding can make a significant difference.   **Key Topics Discussed:** - Early signs of bipolar disorder in young adults - The impact of antidepressants on bipolar disorder - The significance of support groups and therapy - Coping mechanisms for parents and families - The importance of staying present and taking one day at a time - Strategies for managing mental health in the family - Navigating the mental healthcare system   **Resources Mentioned:** - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - GeneSight testing for medication - Support groups and therapy for families dealing with mental illness   #### Keywords   - Bipolar disorder - Mental health - Parenting mental illness - Mental health support - Antidepressants and bipolar disorder - NAMI support groups - Recognizing bipolar symptoms - Coping with mental illness - Navigating mental healthcare - Family mental health strategies

In this powerful episode, we hear the story of Sue, a mother whose son has struggled with mental illness for over a decade. Sue shares the harrowing details of her son's journey, from a seemingly happy and successful teenager to someone battling bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. The podcast covers the family's encounters with the mental health system, including hospitalizations, medication challenges, and interactions with the legal system. Sue's story highlights the immense challenges faced by those navigating the complex and often unforgiving landscape of mental healthcare. Through her raw and emotional testimony, Sue emphasizes the need for better support, communication, and accountability within the system to ensure that individuals with mental illness receive the comprehensive care they deserve.  Key Takeaways:  The mental health system often fails to provide adequate and coordinated care for those struggling with severe mental illness.  Families face immense emotional and logistical burdens when caring for a loved one with mental health issues.  Lack of communication, accountability, and resources within the system can exacerbate the challenges for individuals and their families.  Navigating the intersections of mental health, the legal system, and medical institutions can be an overwhelming and isolating experience.  Advocacy and support are crucial for families seeking to improve the quality of care and outcomes for their loved ones. 

Keywords: Mental illness Schizophrenia Hospitalization Caregiver stress Suicide prevention Healthcare system challenges Parental advocacy Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, we hear the deeply personal story of Rita, a mother whose 27-year-old daughter has been battling mental illness since the age of 17. Rita shares the harrowing journey of her daughter's diagnosis of schizophrenia, her numerous hospitalizations, and the immense challenges the family has faced navigating the healthcare system. Rita candidly discusses the guilt, loss, and worry that have consumed her over the past decade, as she's watched her once vibrant daughter struggle with psychosis, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. She also shines a light on the systemic issues plaguing the mental healthcare system, including lack of resources, understaffing, and a failure to adequately support patients and their families. Through Rita's story, listeners gain invaluable insights into the realities of living with a loved one who has a severe mental illness. Her resilience, unwavering advocacy, and desire to help others in similar situations make this an essential listen for anyone touched by mental health challenges. Guest Bio: Rita is a 52-year-old mother of three, including her 27-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17. For the past 10 years, Rita has navigated the ups and downs of her daughter's mental health journey, advocating tirelessly for better treatment and support. Despite the immense challenges, Rita remains determined to raise awareness and fight for systemic change in the mental healthcare system.

Mary describes feeling like she lives in a lighthouse, constantly needing to keep the light shining to prevent her daughter from hitting the rocks. This is a powerful analogy for the struggle of parenting a child dealing with addiction. The importance of maintaining faith, praying constantly, and trusting one's instincts as a parent is emphasized. Mary shares how she felt God intervened to prevent her from going to church on a day when her daughter nearly overdosed. Self-care is stressed as crucial, like putting on your own oxygen mask first on an airplane before helping others. Taking care of one's own mental health is key to being able to support a loved one. The value of finding community and realizing you are not alone in your struggles is highlighted. Hearing other people's stories can provide comfort and a sense of connection. Key Takeaways: Maintain hope and faith during the most challenging times Trust your parental intuition - you know your child best Prioritize your own well-being so you can better support your loved one Connect with others who understand your experience Overall, this conversation offers insight, empathy and practical advice for parents navigating the complex reality of having a child struggle with addiction. The show hosts create a safe space for an open and vulnerable discussion.

Tina always loved running. She has done half and full marathons, but with her daughter's mental illness, she is exhausted and has no energy to start running again. As a child, her daughter scratched a derogatory statement in the kitchen countertop and blamed it on her brother. Fast forward, she has two children out of wedlock, couch surf, has had restraining orders against her and many other challenging behaviors and issues.  Tina is at a turning point in her life. Can she deal with her daughter's behaviors and not get involved to a point that exhausts her?  This episode is for you if you struggle with setting boundaries and don't know how to help without just giving up on your child.

Melissa's hadn't even babysat prior to having her daughter. When at two she fought going to bed, she thought it was pretty normal. Not until she looked, did she realize it was way more intense. Melissa turned out to be an overachiever in school and was super active outside school, but she always had issues with keeping friends. Her struggles with relationships continued and both her and her daughter were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now Melissa has spent time away from her daughter and it has really helped her. This episode is for those that have a difficult relationship with their child and would like to live healthier lives.

Sandra and her husband thought they would be empty nesters by now. They have grandchildren, ride bikes, fish, train dogs and support a son with a mental illness. While he has improved his situation, he is still dependent on his parents. Sandra has spent the time trying to udnerstand her son's condition. For example, when he draws a house, he starts with the windows; basically he has trouble seeing the big picture. Learn from Sandra and do your research when you find out your child has a mental illness. Don't just listen to one doctor, seek more help and services to deal with this complex situation. This episode is particularly helpful to those parents who are reaching the age that they are thinking about the rest of their lives. How will they support their child when they are too old to do it? 

Deb and her son had to wait a 1 1/2 years to see a psychiatrist in the remote area of Canada she lives. That is just one of the challenges she had to face to try and help her son. But as we have heard many times, she has stuck by him even during especially scary times when he was not stable. Like the time he called the paramedics saying she had a heart attack, even though she was fine. All of these challenges have affected her job and her life, but Deb remains very proud of her son and the work he puts into getting better. Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a special update when her son joins her. This episode is for those parents who want to be inspired to keep on loving their child even though it all seems too difficult. 

Rebecca's son is a handful, to put out mildly. He is smart and did well in school until he started having issues and then the challenges multiplied. She has had to: change schools, have him committed, take over his medical decisions, contact politicians in Mississippi to get him transferred back to Pennsylvania and a whole lot more. Rebecca is also a therapist which goes to show that her journey has been a challenge even for her, someone with training in mental health. Her son is still delusional and has thought he is an archangel and she has had to put him in a state hospital.  This a great episode for those who struggle with finding a balance between support and keeping safe. Rebecca has some stories that proves you are not alone! Update: Rebecca told me her son is in a state hospital since April and is not doing that well yet. 

Kate and Scott's son had many diagnoses starting in the 7th grade including ODD and ADHD, Cognitive Distortion, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression and Anxiety. As engaged parents, they worked hard to find services and worked with the school to advocate for him, but the challenges left them drained. They searched for answers and information on how best to parent their child, a sweet kid, but he was also had his social and emotional challenges.  Throughout their long journey, Scott and Kate felt alone and Kate promised her son and herself she would help other parents navigate the mental health inpatient and outpatient programs. Her son was even severely bullied at his school and Kate and Scott worked to change the school's response, with little success.  They kept building their skills through work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and family focused therapy. Through those programs, Scott and Kate learned to speak and interact differently with not only their son with the mental illness, but their other son and one another. Now Kate can honestly say things are “downright pleasant.” She has also followed up on her promise and started a 501 (c) 3 non-profit.  to help parents like her and her husband to not only get by, but THRIVE. Kate and her co-founder, Jennifer, another Mom who has found better ways to deal with their families' challenges, started THRIVE Parenting Project in 2023.  You can join them on a Zoom call every Tuesday at 7 pm Central Standard Time. Visit Kate and Jennifer's website for more information www.thriveparentingproject.com Not slowing down, Kate also was elected to her local school board during COVID, no less. Her goal was to change and improve some of the school district's policies that made her son's situation worse rather than helping him. Overall, she's hoping to make the school district a safer place for all of the current and future students.  If you feel alone and would like to hear how you can change your family's dynamic, this episode is for you!

Angie's son is violent and so bad that she has had to have a gun on her nightstand to protect her and the rest of her family. Angie's son's violent outbursts started in grade school and so did her journey to understand and treat his illness. By Angie's own admission her ability to support him is running out. She has bought him and provided insurance for 8 cars, all wrecked.    She knew separation was the only way to keep healthy. She got him a trailer 20 minutes away with all the hookups and hoped that some of his schemes to be successful in a career payed off.   This episode is for those parents that aren't sure if they can endure anymore. Angie shows that the journey to your own health is sometimes a long one, but it can be done.

Kathy son is 34 years old and living at home. Hospitalized around 15 times and does not do well on his own. However, given her macular degeneration diagnosis, she was determined to take an RV trip, knowing that her son would probably contact her.  She went and he did need her, but he managed to keep safe and she went away. Kathy has done her best to help her son, but she had hoped to have him more independent than he currently is, so she doesn't have to put him in a facility after she is gone.  As for most parents, it is a work in progress.  This episode is especially helpful to those who have had some time since their child's diagnosis. Kathy is experiencing facing tough decisions as she ages. Her son and her have limited options. She also provides advice on where to find support as you struggle to help your child.

Rosali's daughter mental health challenges started at an early age. She was diagnosed with mental illness (high cyclic bipolar and borderline personality disorder) at age 13. After a suicide attempt, Rosali worked to get her counseling help.   In another hurdle for Rosali, Washington State age of consent is 12 for a parent to not receive medical information. So after not taking her meds and continuing to struggle, Rosali did her best to support her child.   After years of this roller coaster ride (including heroine addiction and two children) her son told her that the other siblings needed her too.    That was her rock bottom.    From then on, she separated herself from her daughter's illness and drug addiction. Rosali was able to keep her marriage from collapsing (they were separated for a year) and maintain distance from her daughter's destructive cycles.   If you struggling with mental health and suicide attempts of your child, this episode is for you. As Rosalie says, it gets better and you can have a life, even when your child may not ever become healthy. 

Welcome to Season 3!!! We created a fun, new logo and 20 episodes recorded!  We feel like we are starting out again, like Jen, out first episode's mom. Jen has many questions and is learning the difficulties of a parent dealing with these with issues on her own, since her husband shocking suicide in 2018. Losing his dad, one of Jen's son started down a long road of mental illness, eventually diagnosed with bipolar 1.  Dealing with many challenges over the last couple years has pushed Jen to her limits. For example, with a recent psychotic episode, Jen dropped her son off at the hospital and waited. After waiting in what seemed like forever, she found out her son was admitted and they would not share any information with her. A week passed until she did hear. These are just some of the rollacoaster moments Jen has experienced in a short period of time. But, as Laura and Bill point out, Jen has a resiliency that comes through every word she shares. Discover strategies for supporting your child through mental health struggles, understanding grief from suicide, and fostering resilience. Learn from Jen's journey—a mom facing the complexities of her son's mental illness and the aftermath of her husband's suicide.

Season 3 of Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories is on the way!!! Here's just a few of the highlights from the many folks that shared their stories. There are parents dealing with their child's: schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and bipolar diagnosis and some have substance abuse disorders. Some of the parents report have post traumtaic stress disorder after some of the more difficult times with their child.  Laura and I wish you and your family the best of luck in your journey to find peace and joy in your life! If you remember one thing, here it is: you are not alone.

Christa's daughter excelled as a child. She was ahead in her classes and adjusted well after a move and even made the cheer team.    In 2010, her life took a turn in college when she thought her professor was sending her secret messages. Christa tried to understand what was happening and like many parents, it took time.    Now she is helping to raise her daughter's two children, getting ready to turn 60 and learning to love her daughter in the best way she can. She also practices self care through counseling and a strong faith in God.   This is a great episode for parents who struggle to learn to set boundaries, taking time for yourself and allowing your child to make decisions. Through Christas journey of 13 years, she can definitely help those of us just starting out.

Lisa Jo Barr had her first manic epsiode as a young adult. Since then she has struggled through drugs, several relationships and jobs, while trying the learn as much as she could about her condition. Fast forward to now, she coaches adults with similiar mental health issues and has published a book on her fascinating journey from struggling to giving back to the community.  This episode is for parents that need a message of hope, when things seem hopeless. Lisa Jo has a website called http://lisajobarr.com Lisa Jo is a coach and her practice is called Hell to Happiness. You are invited for a free 20- minute coaching session. To sign up, click calendly.com/lisajobatt and find an open slot. For Lisa's book, "The Pit of Despair: How God, Prayer and the 12 steps saved my life from addiction" You can venmo or PayPal Lisa Jo (lisajobarr@gmail.com) $23.99 and put your name and address in the comments. She will sign the book and send it anywhere in the USA. 

As several on our show have discovered, their child's mental health challenges are tied to some form of trauma. Jen's daughter was molested as a child and it manifested as bouts of depression, suicidal thoughts and cutting.   Jen was never a helicopter parent, she trusted her daughter to share when she needed help. Jen also trusted the mental health professionals to work through her daughter's issues with her.   This started a journey of connecting her daughter with the right resources that would really help her.    Through this journey, Jen set healthy boundaries and made sure to take care of herself along the way.   This episode is for parents that are working through the challenges of your child's illness and finding them care that helps all the while acknowledging your needs. 

Mary lives in faraway Hong Kong and her son was well ahead of his milestones. He could say words at 6 months, has an IQ in the 140s and knows more than 5 languages.   Then in his teens, he started to isolate and became more argumentative. Then he decided he didn't want to go to school (during COVID). He knew something wasn't right right and started down a long road of trying to diagnose and find the right combination of medications.   After a while of helping her son navigate through issues, Mary noticed she was mentally and physically exhausted. Her doctor prescribed her two hours, every day that she has apart from her family. This two hours allowed Mary to become healthier and actually become more present for her family.   This is a great episode for someone that has started their journey with their Childs mental illness. Also, if you are struggling with self-care you can learn a bunch!

Lori noticed the change in her son when he started to use marijuana regularly. Over time she and her husband disagreed with how to handle things — so she moved out.  This episode is for you if you struggle with setting boundaries and living a life, given many complex and challenging situations!

Claudia has taken many paths to find solutions for her daughter's bipolar disorder. She tried letting her live at home, admitted her to hospitals, sent her to a program in Utah, and let her attend college. Nothing seemed to work, and she was getting more and more frustrated.   She started understanding her reactions were not helping her daughter, so she sought help for herself. She went to therapy, established boundaries, and encouraged her daughter to make her own decisions. Claudia accepted her daughter's condition, and this allowed her to find joy in their relationship again.  

Things started out fine for Julia and her son. After remarrying and finding stability with good friends, Julia youngest son was in a stable home. However, once he got to high school, drugs came into the picture and worsen the more times he was treated. Over time, Julia set strong boundaries to protect herself and the rest of her family, including her grandson. If you are a parent that struggles with a bipolar child and the shame of trying to help and being abused by him/her, this episode is for you! Julia has done it all on her own, learning coping skills and healthy ways to take care of herself.

Marie is a gentle soul that has had a tough time with her daughter. As a single mom, she has had to develop the skills to help her daughter and stay healthy herself. This episode is a great way to learn about how the mental health and court system can team with you as a parent. Also, parents can learn how to interact with your child in a way that acknowledges her feelings and supports a more trusting relationship. 

For parents, understanding your child with a mental illness is complex and often painful. For Danielle Aubin, parenting is learning how to let go. She has let go of old notions of "good parenting" and created an environment free of shame and natural consequences.  In this episode, Danielle shares practical parenting tips that can change your relationship with your child as well as your relationship with yourself.  Contact Danielle: presenceperinatal.com

Irene Barton grew up in a small town in South Carolina mill town where she learned about community and faith. Irene brings that community building and faith to Cobb Collaborative helps families in Cobb County, Georgia to connect with resources they need including mental health training events as well as a podcast (link below). https://www.cobbcollaborative.org/category/news/podcast https://www.cobbcollaborative.org/

Kirsten Book is back and she brings her passion for helping young people with eating disorders and their families. Her background makes her uniquely qualified to speak on this topic. Kirsten has had her own challenges with body image and eating disorders.  By listening to this episode you will learn what to consider as a parent, how to take care of yourself, the importance of spirituality and more.

Kirsten Book, the psychiatric nurse practitioner, is back with some rules on how to share information with your child's caregivers and how caregivers decide what they can share. Turns out the rules are different in each state for different situations. Kirsten also talks about the process of skill development in your child's life and how sometiomes parents undermine that process! Not easy, but important!  

Samatha loves helping people and serving the community. Working at Cobb County Georgia has given her the ability to do both. Now she trains new recurits to learn to empathize and have the best chance for a positive outcome when someone is struggling with a mental illness.  In this episode, Samatha shares practicle tips that 911 uses to assess a situation and all the questions you will have to answer when your loved one is in crisis. Hopefully you will not ever need 911 to respond to a mental health crisis, but knowing ahead of time what to expect will help.

Parenting a child with a mental illness can be tough, but Catherine has found peace in the good times and learned how to survive the springtime pychosis that is a part of her son's life. After 4 years of her son's mental illness, she has learned who to share her struggles with, how to maintain a relationship with her son and husband and what joy feels like again.  We hope you will be inspired by Catherine's story, we certainly were.

Linda and her husband adopted 2 siblings who had mental health illness almost from the start. After 20 years of navigating the mental health and legal systems in Pennsylvania, she has learned a whole bunch. From therapy to meds to trusts, Linda has many tips that will help you and your family. 

Kirsten Book treats the whole patient. As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, she  develops a relationship with her patients first, work with them through the inevitable medication changes and comes up with ways to create a team to best serve their needs. She also suggests parents get therapy and allowing children/young adults to experience the consequences of their actions. Laura and Bill enjoyed the practical tips and the wholistic approach. You will too...

Kim Frye gets involved in parent's lives at their lowest point. Maybe you had to call the police when things are getting out of hand at home, and then your son or daughter is charged and on the way to jail, not the hospital. Now you are in crisis and your child is sleeping in a jail without medical care. You need a lawyer and Kim knows how to navigate the complicated system. In this episode, Kim gives practical things to consider when supporting and setting boundaries for your child. Not suprisongly, parents are usually an intergral part of the plan to get your son or daughter back on track and out of the legal trouble.  

Part 2 of Natalie's story picks up with her bringing up her son. When he was young, he had temper tantrums which turned into withdraing as he grew. Natalie found a church and worked on herself. As her son grew, he excelled in school and seemingly doing well in other areas. He was liked and things seemed to be easy for him. After some delusions, Natalie admitted her son to the hospital and has not reached stability. After some inapprioriate comments at home to his younger siblings, Natalie had her son find somewhere else to live. Bill gets an update on Natalie's son and shares it at the end...

This is part 1 of Natalie's story. This episode is a little different, as Natalie talks about her upbringing up to the birth of her oldest son, the one who has a mental illness.  Natlie's upbringing was challenging and all her expereinces will help understand her son's story coming in part 2.

Thanksgiving was different this year. Dawn was surrounded by her family, but one important person was missing. Her son has a mental illness, and he refused to see her. Join us to hear the story of a loving parent who lives with the uncertainty and frustration of life with a mentally ill child. Dawn has found a way to keep going and to see joy in life even through the tears. 

Sandie was so upset when she learned of her son's struggles with mental illness, she closed out the Google search results. She has come a long way since then, both supporting her son and finding peace in her own life. She is looking forward to advocating and sharing her story to help others in the near future. 

Devorah decided to foster and then adopt two sons into her Jewish family. When mental health challenges became too much she left her life in New York and started a new life in Israel. It hasn't been easy, but it has been a rewarding experience. 

Wendy's daugther C's challenges started early. She lost her dad, struggled with insomnia and was so tired that Wendy had to drag her to school. C's life was never easy and her mental health declined as she got older. The one consistent thing is: her mom was always there for her and continued to support her through all of it. Wendy learned skills that helped her maintain her relationship with her daughter, and in this episode she shares several tips that may help you.

Melissa son has struggled throughout his life. Melissa and her husband tried every avenue that was available at the time and always came up short. From the schools, to health care professionals to his jobs, Melissa's son couldn't find the best comnbination that would help him. So Melissa gave up her time and attention to keep her son as safe as she could. Now nearing her retirement age, she wants to travel with her husband, knowing the transition for her son will be difficult. 

Bill and Laura discuss their backgrounds and how they came to deciding to create this unique podcast!