Hi there @Mo_81    I'm very saddened to read about your daughters' experience. I can only imagine how it feels for you to watch this situation with her best friend unfold, particularly the groupthink that tends to kick in with friendship struggles. It sounds like you've raised a level-headed and resilient person - but one can only take so much!  The added complexity of your existing relationship with the family must make this hard to navigate, too. Your questions about whether to cease contact and your concern about further social exclusion are valid considerations. I'm curious to know if you have anyone in your life to unpack this with. A partner, friend or family member?  Bullying and friendship group dynamics can make a deep impact, and I'm wondering if you've considered arranging a counsellor or psychologist to chat with your daughter? It must be heartbreaking for your daughter to lose the friendship she once had with this girl.  We are an Australian-based service, so unfortunately, we don't have as much information about possible support services for you. However, I found this website with some information that may come in handy. Also, I thought sharing some of the resources about bullying might be helpful.  This page has a number of articles for parents supporting their child through bullying.  Let us know what you think and know that we're here to continue talking this through with you.  ... View more

Hi @Bazwa thank you for sharing this with us. You and your family have been through a lot for a long time, and I hope this online community can provide you with some comfort that you're not alone. So many parents share similar experiences here and use the forum as a way to vent, connect with other parents and find avenues for support.  With that said, I can imagine how heartbreaking and concerning it is for you to witness your son struggle with depression since the age of 12. It sounds like you've been very proactive with getting your son support from psychologists and medication. You mentioned that your son has stopped taking medication, and I'm wondering if he's still seeing a psychologist?  I'm also curious to know if you have a support network at the moment? It's tough for a parent to go through this, and feeling exhausted and at a loss is completely understandable. I have a suggestion for a support option, please feel free to let us know what you think, and we'll do our best to help.  We have a free one-on-one parenting support service available if you're interested. Here is all the information you'll need to sign up.  Thank you again for opening up, and we hope to chat with you soon.  ... View more

Hi there @DADOFTHREE3  Thank you for opening up about your struggle. It sounds like a heart-wrenching time for you, and I'm sorry to hear how much pain you're in. It's good to hear that you're faith is helping you through this time, though I can imagine how hard it must be to be apart from your children.  Do you have a support or someone to talk to at the moment - a friend, family member or community who you can turn to?  We hope to hear back from you soon!              ... View more

Hi @Mia84    I've just read through your thread, and I'd like to acknowledge how difficult it must have been to hold all this in for so long. You sound like a wonderful mother and wife who is simply tired from what sounds like a challenging situation to navigate. It's been many years, and everyone has their limit!  I can imagine it was heartbreaking to witness your daughter go through the pain of undiagnosed autism - that is a tough path to walk.  I can understand your reluctance to raise this with your husband, considering the pressure he is under. However, it sounds like you might benefit from an understanding ear to listen to how this impacts you and the family.  We are an Australian-based service, but I've done some research to find local support services for you, and this page outlines many. If you scroll down to the "families and caregivers" section, you might find some services that can support you in navigating this.  I hear how concerned you are for your husband, and I'm curious whether there's an opportunity for him to spend one-on-one time with your stepdaughter while the two of you find ways to cope with things. How do you think that would land with him and your stepdaughter?  Let us know what you think of those resources and suggestions - we look forward to hearing back from you when you're up to it.    ... View more

Hi @Kir5ty    I am so sorry to read about what you and your son are going through. I can imagine how devastating it is to witness your son suffer this way.  Despite how challenging this situation is, it sounds like you're doing everything a parent could to ensure your son is supported. It's a relief to hear he has a support team around him.  It must be crushing to hear him say nothing is wrong. How are you coping emotionally? In times like this, it's so important for you also to have a strong support network to lean on. I wonder if there are support services for families that the mental health nurse or drug worker could recommend to you?  We have an article here about teenagers and addiction, which might be worth looking at in the meantime. The services recommended are based in Australia. However, I found Turning Point; they support people struggling with drugs and alcohol.  I thought I'd also share the number for Samaritans . You can reach them on 116 123 for support if you need someone to chat with. We are also here to listen to you and help as you navigate this challenging time!  Take care, and hope to hear from you again.  ... View more

Hi there @nala20  I'm so sorry to read about the mental health challenges both you and your daughter are navigating. I've moved your posts across the forum into your own thread so we can support you here. It sounds like, although you aren't able to see your daughter as much as you'd prefer, you have a close and honest relationship with her. I'm glad she has an understanding advocate in you. Getting an autism diagnosis while also coping with depression is a mammoth task, and going without the support needed must be exhausting. Do you and your daughter discuss her struggles when you spend time together?  I can also imagine how difficult it is trying to help your daughter while her father doesn't share your concerns, so I'm glad you've reached out to us. I'm not sure you've already explored these resources, but I want to share some information with you that may open doors for the support you're looking for.  - Different Minds has information about where to get support for Autism and mental health. Here's a page where you can find help and support for education as well.  - We've got an article here on handling communication issues with your ex, which includes advice and tips. One of the suggestions is to contact a family relationship support service if your ex isn't responding well to your attempts to have a conversation about your daughter.  I also want to acknowledge what you've shared about your own mental health journey. I agree that your lived experience put you in a unique position to understand your daughter, which is invaluable. It sounds like you've had tough times yourself, and I'm curious about your support network. Is there anyone in your life you feel comfortable chatting to about this?  I'm going to send you an email to check in and see how you're feeling, so keep an eye out for that when you have some time to read it.  ... View more

Hi there @Frangipani_12  It's great to hear you've had a good conversation with your son since you posted here. As you said, there's work to do, but you are clearly a proactive, loving parent, and I believe that will carry you and your son through these hard times.  I hope the one-on-one session goes well, feel free to keep in touch with us as you continue navigating how to support your son. We're always happy to discuss ideas with you and provide support where possible!  Take care  ... View more

Hi @chollon64  Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story with us. It sounds like you are in immense pain, and it isn't easy to open up when feeling this way. I just wanted to acknowledge the huge step you've made today because it takes courage.  Experiencing parental kidnapping and alienation is horrible, to say the least, and I'm truly sorry you are going through this right now. Do you have a support network at the moment, friends or family who you can lean on right now?  We are an Australian-based service, so I may not have the best local support information, but I've done some research and put together a few options for you to take a look at:  Pathways Inc have a sliding scale payment option and provides mental health support, as well as addiction support groups. They may be worth getting in touch with if you haven't already.  This page provides information on mental health services in your state, and there's also a suicide prevention hotline you can reach here.  It sounds like the pain is overwhelming right now, so we'll get in touch with you via email to offer you some support. When you have some time, please check your emails.  ... View more

Hi there @Frangipani_12    I also want to jump on here and send you some support. It sounds like you've been through an incredibly tough time, not only during your son's teen years but also with your ex-partner.  I'm hearing how exhausted and worried you are, and I thought I'd send through a few more support options. Some of these you may have already explored, so please let us know if you have and if there's anything else we can help you with.  You've told us your son isn't interested in counselling or programs (which must be so difficult for you). Youth Justice may be worth getting in touch with to see if there's any support they can offer you as you continue to navigate this situation. Here is the page with information for parents. Alternatively, if this isn't the right avenue for your family, I'm curious to know if you've considered chatting with a counsellor or psychologist.  Another option I want to share is Family Drug Support, a 24/7 telephone support service for families which you can contact at 1300 368 186. SMART Recovery is another service, and they facilitate support groups for families which you can read about here.  Let us know what you think, we're here for you.  ... View more

Hi there @mumof4withSN  Thank you for sharing this with us. I can imagine how stressed and worried you'd feel about sending your girl back to school. You sound like an incredibly caring mum who wants nothing more than to meet your child's learning needs.  It's amazing to hear how your daughter responded to a quiet, safe home environment. In saying that, I can also understand why you're considering sending her to school with the other responsibilities, you are managing. Gosh, you have a lot on your mind, and I'm curious to know if you have any family/friend support at the moment?  I'm also wondering if you've been in touch with the school to discuss support options for your daughter? Chatting with the principal and learning support teachers may help you decide what you're comfortable with.  I thought it might help to share some resources we have for school refusal, as it is a very common concern we're hearing from parents at the moment. You are not alone in this struggle!  We've linked a collection of threads about school refusal in this thread. One of them is written by a psychologist which you can read here.  Another idea I have for you is to make an appointment with our free one-on-one parent support service which you can do here.  I'm thinking of your family at this tough time and hope to hear back from you when you have time!    ... View more

Hi @Mumstheword71  I’m so sorry to read about this situation with your son and his father. It sounds like you’ve worked very hard to cope with triggering behaviour whilst setting firm boundaries within the home.  You mentioned overcompensating for years, and I can imagine how difficult it must be to carry all this without the support of your son's father. Do you have any support people in your life that you can lean on during times like these?  Thank you for opening up with us about your feelings and concerns. I’ve got a few resources and support options that may help you, which I’ll share below:  1. We offer a free one-on-one parenting support service. You can read about it and book it if interested here.  2. Relationships Australia is a national support service that provides Family Relationship Services, counselling and much more. You can give them a call on 1300 364 277. 3. We have a range of articles and videos to support parents, which you can check out here. I thought reading this article, “Set realistic boundaries with your teenager.” may be helpful. I hope those few suggestions are helpful, and feel free to let us know what you think.  I’m going to send you an email to chat about some of the other concerns you’ve expressed here, so keep an eye out for that when you have time.  Take care and chat soon. ... View more

Hi there @squirell008 @TassieMama and @Birdwings    I want to stop by to say how nice it is to see you all connecting and sharing your experiences with school challenges. As you've all mentioned, you are not alone with this, and while it doesn't magically fix the situation, it is comforting to chat with others who know the struggle.  I also thought sharing a thread we've created about school refusal might be helpful. Click here to check it out. It's packed with articles, professional advice and other parents' stories.  ... View more

Hi there @anon79  I hope it was helpful to get this off your chest, as I can imagine this whole situation, from school suspension to pushing boundaries, has been pretty stressful for you. You sound like a proactive parent who wants the best for all your children, so finding vapes and alcohol bottles must have been a concern.  It’s so tough to navigate the changes and emotions that come with teenhood. I’m curious to know if you have any close friends or family members you can lean on?  It’s great to hear that you are suggesting counselling. It’s positive your son knows that he has the option to chat with a third party which I agree can be really helpful in these situations.  I thought I’d share some resources that may support you with everything you’re going through, in case it’s something you’re interested in.  We have a free one-on-one parent support service that you can sign up for here if you think that’ll be helpful.  I’ve picked out a couple of our articles that may give you some ideas for approaching a conversation with your teen about house rules and boundaries.  These articles on setting and communicating boundaries with your teen and family conflict and teenagers.  There’s also some information about alcohol and teenagers here.   Feel free to let us know what you think of the support and information provided and if there’s anything else you think we could help you with.  ... View more

Hi @Cillz thank you for opening up some more about what's happening for your family at the moment. I can imagine how stressful it must be for you trying to get your son some help when he doesn't want to see a counsellor.  Although he isn't ready to talk to someone about the anger issues, it's promising that he is self-aware and has a parent like yourself who cares deeply about his wellbeing.  I'm glad you've got heaps of people to talk to about this - have any of your support people made suggestions about how to cope with this?  I'm not sure if this is something you'd be interested in, but we have some resources about anger and teenagers and also getting help for teenagers. ... View more

Hi @Frustratedmum77    I'm happy to read that Hannah's advice resonated with you. As she mentioned, please feel free to update us or reach out for more support if you need it!     ... View more

Hi, there @Mumofteen14 how are you after last night? I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter is hurting, I can imagine how devastated you must be feeling right now.    I must acknowledge how supportive, proactive and considerate your approach was last night. You have clearly nurtured an honest and safe relationship with your daughter, and the fact that she comes to you (though it might take her some time) is a testament to that. One of the most protective factors for a young person struggling is an adult who loves them the way you love your daughter.    It's good to hear you've booked an appointment with a GP. I'm not sure if you have a preferred counsellor/therapist, but I thought it might be helpful to share this search engine where you can find a suitable match. Another option is to get back in touch with Headspace and see if you can see the same therapist (if your daughter got along with them). In terms of professional support, you could also explore things like support groups for young people struggling with anxiety. The Black Dog Foundation has information on support groups here.   We also have some resources about self-harm and teenagers with a section about managing self-harm, too. So when you have some time, there's heaps of helpful stuff in there.    I'm curious to know if there's an activity or hobby both you and your daughter enjoy together? It might be nice to spend some quality time together doing things that make you feel good at such a stressful time for you both.    Let us know what you think of those resources and if there's anything we can do to support your family at the moment. Hope to hear back from you soon!    Also, just need to let you know that I edited part of your post to suit our community guidelines. If you have any questions about this at all please don't hesitate to ask!  ... View more

Hi, @LilBlue2 thank you for sharing this with us. I can imagine how stressful it was to receive a visit from the DHS and how unsettling it must be to process this situation with Jack and Susan.    It sounds like there have been many changes in the past few years between COVID, pregnancy/adjusting to newborn life and navigating your relationship Jack. It's common for shifts in family dynamics to occur when a little one is born, and while it's tough, you're definitely not alone with the feelings you've had for the past two years. Understandably, you're protective of your and your baby's health at this time!    I'm sorry to hear how the situation played out - I don't blame you for feeling hurt and betrayed. You mentioned it hasn't always been easy with Susan and Jack, but it also sounds like you thought differently about Jack in the past. Can I ask what has previously helped your family get through these bumps in the road?    If you're comfortable sharing, I'm curious to know if you have people in your life that you can talk to about this stuff? It can be hard to talk about, but I can imagine it's also very hard holding it all in! I thought it might help to share some links to resources and further support in case you're interested:    Raising Children Network is a support service for families, and they offer a range of content on just about everything to do with family/parenting life. They have this section on their website about blended families and stepfamilies. They have a video on communicating with ex-partners, negotiating family rules, + more. Stepfamilies Australia is another great support service to check out.  Relationships Australia is a counselling service specialising in navigating relationships and working closely with families.  If you like, let us know how you go with those resources and if you need to chat some more. Also, just letting you know that we've edited parts of your post in line with our community guidelines. If you have any questions at all, please let us know. ... View more

Hi @Mauii thanks for offering some support here.   It sounds like you've got some experience with ASD and getting the right support?  ... View more

Hey, @Rainbow_ADHDash thank you for sharing about your son.    It's great that you are seeking different ways of getting support while waiting for an appointment with a mental health professional. It's so tough waiting for appointments when concerns arise in daily life.   One suggestion (that you might already be doing) is to record the concerns you have and challenges you notice, such as time scheduling. When you eventually attend an appointment, you'll have plenty of tangible examples to discuss.    Time blindness is one term to describe the challenge with people ADHD have with time management and planning (you can read a bit about it here). I thought it might be helpful for you to check out this website which provides support for parents of children with ADHD between the ages of 5-11 years.    As we're an Australian-based service, support groups or services may be available in your local area however we aren't aware of them. Does your son's school provide any support? Speaking to his teachers about how to best support him and asking about possible services could be worthwhile.   It sounds like although your son is having some challenges with keeping time, he's experiencing a common aspect of ADHD that can be improved on with strategies and support.   In saying that, it's understandably worrying for a caring parent like yourself. Are there any people in your life who support you when you're worried?    Hope to hear back from you soon and take care!  ... View more

Hi, there @rozelle welcome to the online community.    I'm so sorry to hear how your son is struggling. I can imagine it isn't easy to watch him go through challenges with social life and rejection from peers.    You sound like a dedicated and resourceful parent, and although your son is having a tough time, I'm sure having you by his side makes life easier to navigate. It's good to hear he is speaking to a psychologist, but I can understand your concern about his loneliness.    Do you have any support for yourself? I can imagine all this is stressful for you too.    I'm going to get in touch via email to ask some questions to see if we can offer some suggestions. I hope other parents share their stories and advice with you. ... View more

Hi, @Marlo_beach thanks for introducing yourself to the online community.    I appreciated your tip for parents of teenagers. It's a beautifully worded piece of advice, and it resonates with a lot of the experiences shared here.    You mentioned that you joined due to other issues, which I'm sorry to hear. If you think it would be helpful to tell us more about what's going on, you can create your own thread here.   Hope to chat with you at some stage!    Take care      ... View more

Hi @Edavis433    Thank you for posting about boundaries with your son. I can imagine the situation is wearing thin on you and your husband - after trying to support it stings to be shouted at and disrespected.    I'm sorry to hear you're going through all this, and I can see why you're feeling conflicted. Yours and your husbands' well-being are important, and it sounds like this isn't a sustainable situation for you all - but, understandably, you'd worry for your son, which makes this, as you said, heartbreaking.    You mentioned that your son has ADHD, and I'm wondering if either of you has ever looked into support services? There are support groups for people with ADHD and ones for their families too. It might be nice to vent about with people who have similar experiences.    ADHD Support Australia might be worth checking out if you're interested.    It sounds like your son is struggling, and I'm not sure if he'd be open to getting support, but someone like a mental health caseworker could assist with areas like housing and Centrelink - maybe even provide help with living skills and transitioning to living out of home.    If that's something that you're interested in looking at, Flourish is a service that offers support with housing, education/employment, and mental health here are all their services.   Let us know what you think of those resources and if you have any questions for us.  ... View more

Hey, @Dainelisleyvac thank you for sharing what is going on for you and your daughter. So many parents and carers here post about ADHD - if you look at some of the other threads, I'm sure you'll see that you are alone with the challenges you mentioned.    Finding what works with ADHD is a very individual thing - it's great to hear you're open to getting some professional support as they'll be able to help you find what works for your daughter. One potential avenue to explore is support groups, and there's a list of all the ADHD support groups around the country here.    It might be worth seeing a GP to see what support is available to you in the short term - although I did want to acknowledge how difficult it can be to get ADHD support. These articles on ADHD + parenting and school have some good insights that you might be interested in reading. I'm curious to know if the school have offered any support to help your daughter remember her belongings?    I did want to let you know that ReachOut's support is designed for parents and carers of teens. So I thought it might be helpful to check out Family Services Australia provides support and services for all areas of parenting.    Let me know what you think!          ... View more

Thank you so much for sharing your story with the community @Hopesprings123    You and your daughter went through such a challenging journey, and I have no doubt that the improvements you see are a testament to the love and support you showed your girl.    It shows that no matter how dark and scary things get, there is always the potential for growth and healing.    It sounds like you went through a lot during that time, and I want to acknowledge that - please know that we are still here to listen when the weight of the past few years is on your shoulders. Thank you again for showing such beautiful support to another parent having a hard time - it makes such a huge difference to know you're not alone and there's hope.  ... View more

Gosh, this must be so concerning and exhausting for you and your son @parent2427. I'm glad you've opened up about this, as I know many parents of young people with ADHD here in the online community.    It can be a lot of trial and error to get the right balance with ADHD medication which can bring up a lot of grief and frustration. You are definitely not alone with these challenges, but it's tough to know the right thing to do.    I'd strongly recommend having regular appointments with your family GP or psychiatrist to monitor the side effects you've described. Different medications and dosages work better for each individual, and striking that balance differs from person to person. Have you raised your concerns with a health professional?    I thought it might be helpful for me to share the contact details for Healthline, which is a helpline run by registered nurses who can listen to your concerns and provide referrals based on the information you give them.  You can give them a call on 1800 022 022.    I also wanted to share ADHD Support Australia's website, which has tonnes of resources, support for parents and a directory for ADHD specific support services.    I can imagine this situation is taking a toll on you and your son. Do you two have a support network around you during this time?    If you feel up to it, let us know how you go with finding help, and if there's anything we can do to help, please let us know.    Hope to hear from you soon!      ... View more

Hi there @Orangecat    I'm so glad you decided to share this with our community.    Although postpartum anxiety and depression is a very common experience, it can still be difficult to open up about. The important thing to know is that you are not alone with this, and there are dedicated support services for parents struggling with this.    ReachOut caters to parents and carers of young people between the ages of 12- 18 years, so we might not be the most helpful space for you.   You deserve the best support available, so I've put together a list of possible services for you to consider:    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) supports parents' mental health during pregnancy and the first year of their children's life. They have a counselling helpline (1300 726 306) available between 9 am-and 7:30 pm, and you can read more about the helpline here. There is a lot of information on their site for new parents here. Family Services Australia might also be worth checking out. They have a range of support available for families at all stages of their parenting journey.  Parentline is another helpline dedicated to supporting parents and connecting them with local services. Raising Children Network offers tonnes of content on all things parenting. They also have a part of their website dedicated to parents' well-being here. I found two articles you might like to read, "Postnatal depression" and "Postnatal anxiety".  Find a Psychologist is a search tool that allows you to enter your area and concerns to find an appropriate psychologist. I'm not sure if you have already seen a counsellor or psychologist, but I thought I'd include this just in case you don't. Making an appointment with your GP to discuss a mental health care plan will help you get free medicare rebated sessions.    I truly hope you can connect with the right people and arrange some support. Nobody should go through those feelings of anxiety and depression alone. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments!    ... View more

Hi @Names, it's so good to hear you had a long chat last night, and it sounds like you had an impact. The apology letter is sweet and testimony to what an open conversation can achieve. I hope the two of you continue to have good chats like this!    I'm sorry to hear that you went through DV with your daughter's father. I can understand why you'd be hyper-aware of your daughter's characteristics after an experience like that. DV is a terrible thing for a family to go through, so it's great to hear that you have regular support from a psychologist. Do you find chatting about your daughter and triggers helpful?    You might be aware of some of these services, but I thought I'd share them with you just in case:    1800RESPECT is a 24-hour counselling service for people affected by domestic and family violence. This helpline could be good to call in those moments when you're feeling triggered by your daughter.  Life Supports Counselling helps people find trauma-specific counselling and can be contacted via phone for guidance.  I hope that helps and please let us know if there's anything we can do to support you right now!       ... View more