Hello @danluke_36 , I’m sorry to hear about the current situation that you are in. It sounds like it would be tough at times being the main support for her. It’s great to hear that she is engaging well at school and enjoys it. Does she get much support from teachers or counsellors at school?   It’s awesome that she has been talking a bit more to you lately. Seems like your communication is starting to open up! Sounds like it would be hard managing her needing to see professionals but refusing to go. Have you been able to have a conversation with her about what might have changed and led her to not wanting to see her doctor anymore? Do her doctors know that this has been happening lately?   I also just wanted to let you know that I have had to edit some of your post to fit in with our community guidelines  . ... View more

Hello @Birdwings , you have raised some really interesting points, and I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for Year 12’s to do their HSC whilst adjusting to the current restrictions. I hope that the exams don’t last for too much longer.   I’ve also heard about some of the unexpected effects of lockdown and how others are now hesitant to be in crowds unlike before. I think it makes sense though as you mentioned that we have been in this mindset for so long that it can be hard to switch back quickly to the old mindset of being comfortable in crowds. I hope that things get easier as time goes by, and we are slowly introduced more and more to crowds. Do you think that is something that will help you? ... View more

Hello @Paula09 , I’m sorry to hear about the situation that you are in right now. It sounds like you are concerned about your daughter and are very supportive of her. It is great to see the support that you have had so far. I’m just wondering if your daughter has any other supports around her at the moment, such as a school counsellor or psychologist? I think that Birdwings has shared some helpful thoughts and comments, that I hope are able to help your current situation.   @Birdwings , it sounds like things have been really tough for your daughter lately, and it is great to hear about how supportive you are of her. Things must be quite tough for you at the moment too. You mentioned that your daughter was drinking alcohol at school, were any school staff members aware of this and did they offer your family any support? ... View more

Hi @Lelsar it’s really awesome to hear that you have reached out for one-on-one support and that you have other supports around you. Sounds like you also have a good relationship with your daughter’s father and that you both want the best for her. I can understand why things are hard for you at the moment, I hope that you are able to use some of the supports around you and that it helps you through these tough times . ... View more

Hi @Carol637, sorry to hear that you don’t have much support you at the moment. Things sounds really tough for you right now. I’m sorry to hear that your son became angry and hit you. Are you feeling concerned about your safety or the safety of anyone else in the house currently? Would you feel comfortable reaching out to your son’s school counsellor for support around how your son has been behaving? ... View more

Hi @Termitex2000 , it's good to hear that you have been able to talk with your daughter and that she plans to sleep over next weekend. I hope that she does end up spending next weekend with you  . It really sucks that you have not felt like a father for years now, it sounds like things have been really tough for you and this has impacted the connection you have with your daughter. Do you have anyone (whether that be a friend or professional) that you can talk to about how this has impacted you emotionally? ... View more

Hello @Fambam83 , sorry to hear that you feel like your daughters behaviour and attitude are getting worse. You mentioned that you don't have any family supporting you through this, so I'm just wondering if you have any professionals that are supporting you or your daughter throughout this? ... View more

Hi @Supportivemama I can understand your concerns about your son and how others might treat him and think that this shows how caring and supportive you are of your son. It is really awesome to hear that his dad is open minded and supportive too  .   I also understand your desire to want to hear about some other parent's experiences, so I have looked through and found some posts that you might find to be helpful. Here is a thread about supporting teens with their sexuality and here is a thread from a parent who's daughter has let them know they are pansexual. Hope this helps!  ... View more

Hello @Termitex2000, sorry to hear about the difficult position that you are in at the moment. Not seeing your daughter for months must be so difficult. Sounds like things have been quite challenging for you for a while. You mentioned that you have been involved in court processes before, do you have any legal support that you could talk to? Could they assist you with the enforcement form process?   I’m also just wondering if you have any professional support around you that you can talk to about what you have been going through and it’s impact on you? ... View more

Hey @lovemyboys , I’m sorry to hear about what you and your family have been going through. It sounds like things have been quite tough for a while. It also sounds like you have been trying to make an effort to help sort some of the issues out but that it hasn’t gone too well so far. Do you have any supports around you that you can talk to about what you have been going through ... View more

Hello @feeling_lost , I am sorry to hear about what you have been going through with your son. It sounds like things have been quite challenging and I can understand your desire to protect him. You sound like a very caring parent as you have been involved in getting your son all types of supports. You mentioned that your son has been self-medicating and not taking his prescribed medication, is this something he has been managing with his current treatment team?     Also, you mentioned that your son is able to manipulate and tell counsellors what they want to hear. That sounds like quite a tricky situation. Have you had the chance to have a discussion with your sons counsellors to help them be more aware of this and also potentially confirm/deny things they might be uncertain about that your son might have said?   I am sorry to hear that you have felt unsupported after your son was discharged from hospital as he was feeling suicidal. That must have been a really tough experience. Do you have any current concerns for your son's safety? ... View more

Hello @JwitsomeR , it’s a shame to hear about some of the issues you have been experiencing with your son lately. It sounds like you care a lot about your son and are concerned about his ability to adapt to adulthood. It sounds like you might have discussed your concerns with your son before, and if that is the case, I am wondering what his thoughts are on adulthood and getting a job? Have you discussed the possibility of getting him linked in with a recruitment agency that will help him secure job interviews and hopefully a job?   ... View more

Hello @hamad87 , and welcome to the forums. Hope you are doing well too! Please feel free to share any concerns or experiences you might have as a parent relating to your teen or your own mental health and/or coping strategies. Feel free to have a read of our community guidelines here if you would like to review them before posting.  ... View more

Hello @lifeconcernsme , welcome to the forums! It's really nice to hear that you are proud and supportive of your daughter and that you have some awesome coping strategies that you can rely on! We're really glad you joined and we're here for you any time.  ... View more

Hello @rkt123 , sorry to hear that you are feeling like you are at your wits end. It sounds like things have been quite difficult for you and your son lately. You mentioned that your son has been having issues at school and has been aggressive to his teachers before, have you been able to discuss any of these issues with his teachers/ staff from the school? Have you been able to discuss your concerns about your sons behaviour with them and discuss any support options? Have you also had the chance to discuss your concerns about your son's friends and his behaviour with him?   It sounds like there has been a lot going on for your son lately, so I just wanted to ask whether you have any concerns about his current safety? Also, I just wanted to let you know that I have edited your post slightly to fit in with our community guidelines .  ... View more

  Hello @Birdwings , I am sorry to hear about how long you and your family have been in lockdown for. I can’t imagine how hard things have been for you, especially considering that you have been vigilant as you are understandably concerned about your physical health. It really sucks that you have been finding yourself getting worried as your daughter’s compliance has been wearing off. It sounds like you are quite close with your daughter and supportive of her. Have you been able to have a talk with her about you being a bit concerned about her compliance? Do you think it might be helpful to discuss this with her and maybe consider some alternatives where your daughter is still able to get the social support but in a more compliant way so that you are left feeling a bit more relieved? ... View more

Hello @Tek1971 ,  I can understand how you feel like you would love to see some signs of improvement. It sounds like you care a lot about your son and that you are very supportive of him. Hopefully things will get better soon as he is seeing various professionals for support.   That seems like a difficult situation to be in. I can understand that it must be hard for you/your son to agree with your medical team's recommendations after hearing about the recommendations that your friend was given. Do you think it might be helpful for you to raise your concerns with your medical team? Could it also be helpful to involve some sort of drug counsellor for your son to get support from? They might be able to help him work towards his goals, whether that be reducing his drug use/stopping it or something else.    Hopefully some other members of the community can jump in and share some of their experiences soon too!   I also just wanted to quickly let you know that I have edited some parts of your post to fit in with our community guidelines  .  ... View more

Hello @Butterfly51 , just wanted to jump in and say how it is great to hear that things are getting better for you and your daughter. It sounds like things have started to settle a bit between your daughter and her ex-partner and that they are able to maintain some friendship. I wish you and your daughter the best moving forward . ... View more

Hello @Mel3115 , sounds like there has been a lot going on lately. I am sorry to hear about what your daughter has been through with this person. Seems like there has been a lot for everyone to process and it is unfortunate that she has been left feeling really hurt and you feeling angered and down. Have you been able to discuss how you are feeling and how your daughter has been feeling with her? You might find having an open discussion with her to be a helpful way for yourself and her to start to move past this .   ... View more

Hello @Teenagemum11 , I am sorry to hear about what you have been going through lately. It sounds like things have been quite difficult, so it is awesome that you have been engaged in various supports that have been helping you through. It's lovely to see the support that you have been giving today, I am sure it is appreciated  . Hope that you are also able to take the pressure off when possible! ... View more

Hello @Butterfly72 , I am sorry to hear that you have some concerns about your son moving forward. It sounds like you care a lot about your son and that he cares a lot about you too. Sounds like you have a supportive and understanding relationship with your son.   I have attached a link here to another thread that discusses supporting teens with their sexuality. Hopefully you find the other comments and links to be helpful .  ... View more

Hello @Becky2022 , I am sorry to hear about what you have been going through lately. It sounds like things have been tough for your daughter as well. It really sucks to hear about how Friend B has been treating your daughter. It sounds like you are really supportive and care a lot about your daughter, which she probably really appreciates  . Have you been able to have a discussion with your daughter about what she would like to do moving forward with these friendships?  I have attached a link to a RO article here that is about bad friendships that you might find to be helpful.    You mentioned that your daughter has been self-harming, do you have any current concerns about your daughters safety? Also, has she been able to see any professionals/supports about her self-harming? She might find seeing a professional for some support to be helpful.  Unfortunately, we are a service located in Australia and cannot provide you with direct links to services, but you might be able to go to your GP to get some referrals for services local to your area.  ... View more

Hello @Frygirl26 , that sounds like a difficult situation to be in. I can understand you allowing your son to use the credit card for little purchases, but it sounds like things have been different lately. Have you had the chance to talk with him about his spending? Have you been able to ask what he spent $500 worth of purchases on and let him know what an appropriate spending limit would be for the future? ... View more

Hello @cris122280 , welcome to the forums. We are glad that you have joined and hope that you are able to find the support you are looking for. If you do want to share more about your situation, please feel welcome to create your own thread by clicking 'Start a topic' in the top right hand corner  .   ... View more

Hello @Mv161705  I am sorry to hear about the situation that you and your son are in. It sounds like things have been tough for a while. It also sounds like you care a lot about your son as you have been getting him various professional supports and treatment. It is a shame that he has not found the treatment to be that effective so far. Is there anything in particular that he has found to be somewhat helpful so fa   It sounds like there is a lot for you and your partner to deal with. I am wondering if you have much support around you that you can talk to about what you are going through? Parentline is a free and confidential counselling service that you could use if you wanted to talk things through with a professional. ... View more

Hello @Sotiredsohurt , I am sorry to hear about what you and your family have been going through lately. It sounds like things have been really tough for you. It is a shame to hear that your son has behaved violently towards your wife and mother-in-law, it must be really hard to manage that. It also sounds like it was really tough for your family when child protective services were involved. Were they able to support you in any way, such as by referring you to some other services that might help? It sounds like you care a lot about helping your son as you have looked into getting him some professional help. It does make it tough that he has been unwilling to get some genuine support.   Do you know of any services in your area that might be able to support you through this? We are a service located in Australia and so cannot provide you with relevant services, but would encourage you to seek out parenting support services local to you. Also just wanted to let you know that we have sent you an email, so please have a read when you get a chance  .  ... View more

 Hello @Jojo_123, I am sorry to hear that your daughter has been behaving differently over the last 18 months. It sounds like there has been a lot going on for you and your daughter and that there is a lot on your mind. It sounds like you care a lot for your daughter and want to support her. It is great that you have spoken with her about seeing a professional for some support and that you have researched some options. It sucks that there are long waiting lists that your daughter would have to join if she were going to seek further support.   You mentioned that your daughter has been refusing your help in seeing a professional so far, do you think she would be interested in telephone/chat counselling? Kids Helpline and Headspace offer free and confidential telephone and chat counselling with professionals that your daughter could use. I have also linked a thread from a user who is going through a somewhat similar situation here. Hopefully you find the advice and relevant links to be helpful.   You mentioned that your daughter has self-harmed before but that you are unsure whether she is still self-harming. Do you have any concerns about your daughter’s current safety? ... View more

Hello @Collyflower89 , it sucks to hear that your daughter struggled with the first lockdown. It must have been hard for you to support them during that tough time. It is great that you were able to spend some time doing some activities and that you found this to be helpful. Sounds like you were concerned about your daughter during these times, it is good that she had you looking our for her and supporting her along the way . ... View more