Hi @EmilyJ , thanks for reaching out! Sorry it has taken us so long to get back to you.   I can definitely understand your hesitation about letting your daughter get involved in the fundraising event at her school. While a pie-throwing contest does sound like it's intended as a bit of fun, I can see how this situation could make a young person feel pretty isolated and humiliated if they didn't feel as though they were in on the joke or if it seemed as though their peers were ganging up on them.   How is your daughter feeling about the event? You mentioned that she was a bit nervous, which is certainly understandable. Does she get along well with the other students at her school? It sounds like she's a great kid who is really getting involved and giving her best at school, so I know that sometimes tall poppy syndrome can rear its ugly head when someone is doing well.   It sounds like you're doing a great job of balancing your own expectations and fears for the event with your daughter's desire to get involved and give it a try. I'm sure she really appreciates you giving her the chance to make the choice for yourself, which can be such a hard thing to do when you're concerned that your teen might have a bad experience. Are parents able to attend the event? If your daughter doesn't end up enjoying the event, do you have any ideas on how you might support her afterwards?  ... View more

Hey @LittleWren , thanks for sharing your experience here. It makes such a different knowing that you're not the only parent going through these things, and you've given some really great advice.   I'm glad to hear that sitting down with your son and letting him vent his frustrations and ask questions was productive, I'm sure he was grateful for the opportunity to be heard. I really like what you've said about parenting your kids differently because they are different people with different personalities - it can be so hard to grasp the reality of that as a teen, but good parenting really isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' experience!    It sounds like you're fostering really healthy relationships with money for your teens. It can be a tough transition when they realise that they have to pay for their own 'wants', but I know that once I started working for my own money, those fun outings with friends and little treats for myself felt so much more meaningful because I'd earned them. It certainly made me appreciate the value of money more.    How has your son responded to receiving less financial support from you? Fingers crossed he's able to find some work - what kind of part time work do you think he'd be interested in doing?  ... View more

Hi @FarGoneConcl    Just wanted to chime in and say it sounds like you're doing a wonderful job of supporting both of your sons and fostering a positive relationship between them, even if there have been some challenges along the way. While I don't have Aspergers, I grew up with a mental health condition and the same kind of tension that you're describing definitely arose between myself and my sister - it was hard for her not to feel resentful at times because I got a lot of my parents' attention and they always seemed to 'go easy' on me. Spending one-on-one time with my parents and getting a chance to voice her frustrations definitely helped her to recognise that she didn't resent me as a person, she just needed to feel like her problems and efforts were valid as well (which helped our relationship as siblings, too!).   You mentioned that you're not quite sure how to broach the subject of work with your eldest son without throwing him off even more. It sounds like he's got a tricky relationship with money, despite your best efforts to encourage him to develop some more financial independence. If you feel like it would be useful to you, here's one of our articles on supporting your teen to find a job. Although your eldest isn't a teen anymore, it sounds like there could be some useful tips in there for you nonetheless. Also, the National Autistic Society have some great resources for young adults who are on the spectrum and are seeking work, so feel free to check that out too.    How are you holding up with all this? It can be tough to notice your kids comparing themselves to one another and struggling to take those next steps into adulthood. Do you have anyone in your life to talk to about what's been going on with your sons? ... View more

Hi @LittleWren , I'm so glad to hear that you were able to have an open conversation with your son about the idea of experimenting with drugs and that it was well-received on his end. It sounds like the two of you communicate really well and that there's a lot of honesty between you.    I can completely understand your concerns and your hesitation to let him try any sort of substances, particularly if it goes against your values and if you hold concerns for how it might interact with his medication. It's incredibly difficult to balance the complexity of trying to keep him safe while also honouring what you believe and value, but it sounds like you're doing a great job of walking this fine line by setting clear boundaries about what you're willing to allow and what consequences will ensue in future.   Not a lot of parents would have the courage to create this kind of space for their teens to form their own conclusions about something as tricky as substance use, and I think it speaks volumes of your trust for your son and your compassion as a parent that you're allowing him to be an active participant in these kind of discussions. It's great that you had a chat with him about the possible side effects too, hopefully giving him this kind of information about the possible adverse effects of using drugs might help him to form his own opinion of whether it's a useful choice for him.   How do you think you'll cope during this 'one time' experience? Is there anything that you can do to look after yourself before or after to make your unease with the whole situation a bit easier to sit with?  ... View more

Hi @danluke_36 , it's really great to hear from you again. I'm glad to hear that your teen is communicating a little more openly now, that must feel like a big win (and a bit of a relief I'd imagine!).    That's a really tough situation that you've described with your teen's relationship with sport. It sounds like she's really pushing herself to an extreme level, and that she's not necessarily listening to what her body needs despite the fact that it's giving her some very clear signals to slow down. You mentioned that her swimming coach is a bit concerned for her as well, have you two spoken about her competitive drive and how it's affecting her?    You mentioned that her Dad was quite an active person and that they used to share this in common. I know she's not very open to talking, but have you ever spoken to her about the relationship her and her Dad had with sport? Based on what you've told us about her past, do you think she could be pushing herself because physical activity is something that connects her to him?    You also mentioned previously that your teen is still not a big fan of seeing a psychologist or the doctor. Is she still seeing anyone regularly? It sounds like she might benefit from exploring these problems surrounding sport with a professional, particularly if she's not able to put her finger on exactly why she's pushing herself so hard. If she's not up for talking with a clinician, how do you think she'd feel about seeking support from a more informal source, like a youth group, your local PCYC or even her sports team? It sounds like sport is really important to her, so perhaps the idea of listening to her body and looking after her physical health as a way of improving her sporting ability might resonate with her. What do you think?  ... View more

Hey @my2kidsrock , I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience and offering this great suggestion. It's so nice to hear that you were able to come up with a way to re-introduce your son to the people in your life and that this was a process you could share in together. I'm really glad to hear that most people surprised you and were accepting - unfortunately, there's always going to be people that can't quite wrap their heads around different expressions of gender, but it's comforting to know that so many people have made an effort to accept your son for who he is. Again, as I said to @mum70 , I'm confident that your support would have meant a lot to your son, and I really admire your commitment to being there for him as he goes through this journey - you sound like a really supportive parent.  ... View more

Hi @mum70 , I can completely understand that this would have been quite a shock, particularly if you were trying to manage and process difficulties with your husband's illness at the time. It's wonderful to hear that you have the space and capacity to support your child as much as possible now. As an LGBTQIA+ young person myself, I can say from experience that sometimes a parent's unconditional love can make all of the difference when you're grappling with who you are, so I'm sure that your support means a lot to him.    You mentioned that you've got a wedding coming up with your family and friends, and that this might be a tricky situation to navigate in terms of introducing them to your child's new identity. What options are you considering heading into this event? How is your son feeling about it?   @my2kidsrock has offered a great suggestion. Does posting something on social media feel like something that would work for you and your family, or is this a conversation you'd prefer to have in person either during or in the lead up to the wedding?   I also wanted to check in and see how you're coping with your child's transition. It can be tough to think of your child in a new way, even if they have your full support, so I hope that you're taking time for yourself to adjust to these changes. It sounds like you've had a lot going on with your husband too. Do you have anyone outside of your family to talk to about what's been going on?  ... View more

Hi @Hopesprings123 , thank you so much for sharing your story and some really thoughtful advice, I'm sure it will resonate deeply with other parents in similar situations and offer them some glimmers of hope that things can improve.   I love your advice about giving your daughter sour gummies when she's struggling to manage her emotions. As a young person who has struggled with panic attacks, I always carry a packet of sour lollies in my bag just in case - it really does ground you! I'm glad to hear that you've found some useful strategies to help your daughter cope in some really challenging times. From the way you speak about her and the difficult experiences you've shared together, I can tell just how patient and compassionate you, and sometimes having a parent like that can truly make all the difference.    I hope that you'll keep us updated on how you and your daughter are progressing, and that others will draw strength from your story  ... View more

Hi @Harleydog , I just wanted to follow up and say that I'm incredibly sorry to hear about what you and your daughter are going through. Seeing your child in so much pain can be incredibly traumatising, so I'm sure that the last few weeks of ED visits and trying to find another mental health facility have been both physically and emotionally draining. I'm glad to hear that your daughter is heading to another facility on Monday - hopefully they can provide her with the additional support she needs to continue recovering.    From what you've said, I can really hear how dedicated and reliable you are as a parent. Being there for your daughter seems to be your number one priority, even if it comes at the cost of your own health at times. I'm a big believer that you can't give from an empty cup, so I'm really glad to see that you've reached out to your GP and you're exploring other options to look after yourself while you're supporting your daughter. Is there anything that you can do at the moment, even if it's only for 5 minutes, that is just for you?    You mentioned the idea of homeschooling your daughter for a while to help with some of your financial stress and to give her a chance to recover at home. What would that arrangement look like for you in terms of your job?    You also mentioned that you're seeking peer support from other parents who have been in similar situations. We have definitely heard from other parents on this forum who have supported their children through a suicide attempt, so I hope that reading their stories and hearing from them will provide you with some hope. If you think it would be useful for you, Beyond Blue have also written a great guide on supporting someone on their way back from suicide, which has been created by people with lived experience of this very challenging situation.    Please feel free to keep us updated on how you're doing and know that we are here to support you while you're doing the tough and important work of supporting your daughter  ... View more

Hi @lostmom2 and welcome to the online community. I'm so glad that you reached out for some support as it sounds like it has been a very lonely experience trying to come to terms with your child's new identity.   I'd like to start off by saying that your feelings of concern, grief and loss are absolutely valid. You can definitely love and support your child as a transgender woman, and still feel a strong sense of loss for the young man that you knew, raised and loved. I don't personally identify as transgender, but I do identify as a lesbian and am a proud part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I know that when I told my parents about my sexuality, I was asking them to reconsider, and in some cases completely change, the visions of my future that they had been imagining for me since I was a child. They loved and supported me, just like you have loved and supported your daughter, but I would not blame them for a minute if, in their own minds, they held fears and concerns about what my future might look like and how I would be perceived by the rest of the world. It is okay to need time to adjust. This does not make you a bad parent.    I can hear from what you've said that you're unsure and have some questions about your daughter's gender identity, specifically how she could feel like a male throughout most of her upbringing and then suddenly have these feelings change. I know for some people it can take a lifetime to discover their sexuality or gender identity. Sometimes they may not be aware of how to describe what they're going through, or they may suppress these feelings out of shame. Have you considered talking to your daughter about your confusion? Perhaps she will be able to answer these questions for you or shed some light on what that her journey of discovering her gender looked like?   From what you've told me, it sounds like you're an incredibly caring and protective parent who has strived to give their child every opportunity possible to receive a good education and build a career for themselves. I can also hear that you tried very hard to make sure that your daughter felt supported and accepted when she came out, and that rejecting her is simply not an option for you. That's truly heartwarming to hear. At the same time, I can see that holding in your fears and concerns has taken a real toll on your own mental health and that you're struggling immensely with trying to process this huge change. Do you have anyone to support you while you're trying to be there for your daughter?    I'm so sorry that you feel as though you've been going through this experience alone. We have certainly heard from other parents in similar positions who are raising transgender young people, so hopefully you're able to find some connection and solidarity within our online community. Please know that you are not alone, and that it's okay to hold space for both positive and difficult emotions in this process.    (P.S. Keep an eye on your inbox, we'll send you an email to check in shortly  ) ... View more

Hi @Emzoh90    I'm certain that this is not the way you'd hoped to see your kids, but I'm glad to hear that you're still able to spend some time with them at your mother in law's place. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it is to leave them each day.    With everything that's going on for you, I can definitely understand why it's difficult for you to keep pushing through and do things like going to work. It would be hard to try and focus on anything else when you're fighting for your kids, especially for such a prolonged period. What do you do to look after yourself when you aren't at work or with you kids?    That's great to hear that you've been in contact with your GP, but I'm sorry that the waiting list is so long for counselling at the moment. In the meantime, if you think it might be useful for you, it might be worth checking out Relationships Australia. They have some great resources for parents who are trying to regain custody of their children and how to cope in the meantime.   Please feel free to keep us updated on how you're going, thinking of you. ... View more

Hi @searching4    Firstly, we want to welcome you to the ReachOut Online Community and we are really glad you found us. It sounds like it has been a difficult and unpredictable time for you, you son and your family. It must be heartbreaking to see your son experience anxiety in such an unpredictable way, especially when he appears to be doing everything possible to heal.    I am curious around whether you have an open line of communication with your son's psychiatrist and even a family doctor? It can take time to find the right balance of therapy, medication, and lifestyle elements that work together for an individual's recovery. Having an open communication with your son's health practitioners can help all parties understand what is working and also what is not working. This resource might also be valuable for you to review that explores a range of anxiety disorders and how they impact young people and how we can support our young people impacted  here.   In terms of your question around how anxiety presents, it is difficult to answer as anxiety can show up in different ways for people and it can take time for the individual impacted to understand what triggers a relapse. Therapy is an excellent space to learn what might trigger an attack, as well as how to manage an episode when it occurs.   I am also curious how you are doing with all this as well? It must be very hard to watch your son go through these episodes and feel almost helpless around how to prevent him from having to experience this every few weeks. I really want to commend you on the steps you have taken so far to support your son. Getting the right support is instrumental to recovery and it looks like you are keeping a watchful eye on what he is experiencing and how it unfolds. ... View more

Hi @summertime and thank you for reaching out.   I'm very sorry to hear about what has happened with your son and his teacher. The content of the video that she shared with him sounds quite traumatising and incredibly inappropriate, so I'm glad to hear that you reached out to the school principal and made a complaint. If you're interested, it may also be worth investigating your options with the eSafety Commissioner, as this sounds like a really unusual and disturbing piece of content for a teacher to share with students, particularly ones who are as young as your son.   You mentioned that your son is quite sensitive and that you fear he may have found the video quite distressing. Have you spoken to him about the video and what he might have seen?    You also mentioned that you're unsure as to whether this experience is a deal-breaker and whether you should move your son to a different school. I can completely understand your hesitation and uncertainty after this incident. This sounds like a really tough decision to make, particularly if you've only just transferred him to this school recently. What options do you feel like you have moving forward?  ... View more

Hi @TaylorMS1986 and welcome to the online community!   That sounds like a very difficult situation with your step-daughter. I can completely understand why you're feeling exhausted - it sounds very draining trying to give her reassurance and manage her anxiety when she's convinced that something is wrong.    It also sounds tough balancing your own views of the situation with your partner's. It sounds like he's quite concerned about hurting his daughter's feelings, but that hiding his true feelings hasn't been particularly helpful for her since she's still continuing to worry and self-diagnose. How do you think your partner would react if you told him that you're quite worried about your step-daughter and you'd like to explore getting her some psychological support?    With all of this going on, how have you been coping? Taking some time for yourself and getting some respite can be a really important part of 'staying sane' while supporting a young person who is struggling. Is there anyone in your life aside from your partner that you can talk to about what's been happening? If you think it would be useful for you, feel free to check out our article on looking after yourself when you're teen is in distress as there are some good tips in there (but please keep in mind that the services listed are Australian as we are an Australia-based service).  ... View more

Hi @Baileydog2020 , I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through with your son, it sounds like it's causing you a lot of pain. How do you think he would react if he knew just how much his actions were hurting you?    In terms of finding some emotional support, is there anyone in your life that you trust and feel like you could talk to about what's been going on? It may also be worthwhile seeking out some help from a counsellor or psychologist, so feel free to check out the Australian Psychological Society's database for finding psychologists if you think that some extra support would be helpful for you.    With everything that's been going on at home, I hope that you're being kind to yourself. It sounds truly heartbreaking to feel this sense of distance between you and your son, but please know that it is not your fault as it sounds like you are a loving and caring parent who only wants to love and support their teen.  ... View more

Hi @mazmaz , that sounds like a tricky situation with your daughter. It can be really challenging to set up clear boundaries around social media use (let alone monitor them) because teens can be so private about the choices they make online. Have you and your daughter had a discussion about what expectations you have of her when using social media and communicating with people online?    I'm sorry that things escalated to the extent that the school had to become involved but you're right, perhaps this will help her to recognise that pretending to be someone else online and requesting photos can be very damaging. How did your daughter respond to the school becoming involved and you finding out what she did?   I can imagine that it's really tough to know that your teen has acted in a way that doesn't align with your values. How are you feeling given everything that's been going on?    If you think it might be useful, here's an article on how to prevent your teen from engaging in social media bullying. I'm certainly not trying to label your daughter's behaviour as bullying since I only know a few details about this situation, but the article has some handy tips about talking to teens about how they choose to use their online accounts so feel free to check it out.  ... View more

Hi @Elfin and welcome to the online community. Your son sounds like quite the character - reading about his stuffed animal zoo made me smile. I'm so sorry to hear that he is struggling at school at the moment and that he's experiencing low self-esteem at such a young age.    I can completely understand why you're finding it hard to cope at the moment. It is one thing to hear that your child is struggling at school, but it's another thing to work there and be privy to what's going on firsthand. Do you have anyone you can talk to about what's going on for your son and how its affecting you? You also mentioned that you aren't in complete agreement with what the other teachers say about your son. What's that like for you?    I can see here that the best parts of your weekends are family time and heading to the beach, which sounds absolutely lovely. It's great that amidst all of this you're able to hold onto some small moments of joy. It sounds like your son is in a similar boat and that home is a safe place for him where he can be himself. Don't underestimate the value of creating an open and accepting place for him to come home to after a tough day at school, sometimes that kind of support can make all the difference. Hang in there @Elfin , we are thinking of you. ... View more

Hi @Stress-head , I'm sorry to hear that your son is experiencing some social anxiety at the moment. It can be really tough to make and maintain friendships in early adulthood, but it's great to hear that he's involved in something like SES that would give him a sense of purpose and indirectly makes him connect with others. You mentioned that he doesn't want to go and see his GP and that he isn't particularly receptive to any advice. How do you think he would respond if you offered to go to the doctor with him? Perhaps having some support in the room could ease some of the burden of talking about what's going on for him.    If you think it would be useful for him, here's an article on things to try for anxiety as well. Despite his resistance, it sounds like you're doing a great job of supporting and encouraging your son. It can be hard to access support when you're feeling anxious, but it seems as though you're giving him all of the tools necessary to get some extra help when he feels ready to do so.  ... View more

Hi @Bummedmom , I think having a discussion with your son and reminding him of your values as a family and what consequences are on the table if he chooses to go down that path is a great idea. It sounds like you have a very open relationship with your son and that you've built a really strong foundation of trust, so hopefully he is receptive to what you have to say and understands where you're coming from.    I'm glad to hear that you and your husband have been supporting each other while you navigate this situation, and that you're doing fine. I really like the approach that you took with your older son with regard to smoking - I think that encouraging your teens to learn for themselves what the negative side effects of smoking cigarettes and other substances is a great way to show them that you aren't just trying to be punitive, you're trying to encourage them to do what's best for their health and wellbeing.    If you think it might be useful to you, here's the link to one of our articles about talking to teens about drug use. It sounds like you're already doing a great job of having these kinds of open conversations, but feel free to check it out nonetheless.    Keep us posted on how your discussion with your son goes!  ... View more

Hi @Nathalia123 and welcome to the online community!   I think it's completely normal for a teen boy to cry if he hits his head - that sounds like it would hurt! Has this happened to your teen or someone you know?    If this is something that has happened and you're feeling unsure about the extent of your injuries, I'd encourage you or your teen to seek medical attention if you feel you need to.  ... View more

Hi @ImNotOk , we're glad you found us and reached out.    First off, I want to say how sorry I am for what you have been through with your son in the last few weeks. It's unbelievably challenging to ever see your child in pain as a parent, but this sounds like it has been a truly harrowing experience. I'm sorry you've had to go through that, but I'm very relieved to hear that your son is doing okay and that he's open to receiving some outpatient and rehab support.    You mentioned not knowing how to deal with the guilt of what has happened, and it seems as though you've been questioning how things might have looked if you had done a few things differently.   Although these words might not resonate with you right now, please know that this is not your fault.   As you mentioned earlier, you couldn't afford to send your son to a treatment centre earlier on, and you also had no way of knowing that he was awake in the early hours of the morning when you thought about sending him a text. If you had had the resources to do so, or if you had have known that he was awake and needed to talk, there is no doubt in my mind that you would have done so, because it sounds as though you love him very deeply and you're always ready to offer him support. Hindsight can be unrelentingly vicious and can wreak havoc on your mind, but I hope that in time your feelings of guilt will subside because they are undeserved - you sound like a great parent who would always, always show up for their son.    How are you coping after everything that has happened? Is there anyone in your life that you can talk to openly about how you're feeling, or perhaps a psychologist or counsellor that might be able to help you through as your son continues to recover?    I'll be thinking of you @ImNotOk . I hope that things continue to improve from here and that your son gets well soon. Guilt and shame can't survive when they're dragged out into the light, so I hope that sharing your story has been helpful for you and that you can see that you're not alone. Sending all my best to you    P.S. I edited some of the details out of your post to ensure that they are safe for the rest of the online community to read. This can be a really tough subject to talk about, so if you need any advice on how to post in a way that's not too distressing for others, feel free to check out our community guidelines.  ... View more

Hi @dmer21 ,   First off, I want to say that I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through with your partner's son. It sounds as though you're trying to be supportive and understanding of what he has been through with his mother, but that his behaviour has become really overwhelming for you. I'm sorry that things have escalated to this point, but I'm really glad to hear that you're putting some strategies in place like talking to a counsellor to look after yourself.    From what you've said, it doesn't sound as though your partner sees a problem with his son's behaviour, which is really tough. Does your partner know how significantly this situation is impacting your mental health?    I can completely understand your confusion here, @dmer21, and I want to reassure that it's okay to feel a bit suffocated and overwhelmed by your partner's son's behaviour. Feeling this way doesn't mean that you don't care deeply for your partner and his kids, it may simply reflect a difference in parenting styles and different opinions on what behaviour is acceptable. You mentioned that you're feeling ready to take your daughter and leave at the moment, which shows me just how much you are struggling. In an ideal world, how would you like to see this situation be resolved? What would you need from your partner and his son?    ... View more

@Mama1234 thank you for sharing your story and offering such a kind message of support. It is so heartwarming to see that you are standing side by side with your 11-year-old while she's navigating these tough feelings. Smashing a laptop with a baseball bat sounds like a great energy release, did your daughter find it helpful?    I completely understand where you're coming from when you say that you haven't fully wrapped your head around why your daughter would want to self-harm. It can be really confusing and difficult to hear that your child is in pain, especially if you're used to parenting a mostly happy teen. Regardless of whether it makes sense or not, I can assure you that you're doing a wonderful job of supporting your daughter without judgment by creating a safe space for her to talk about her self-harm urges and explore some healthier alternatives.    How are you coping with everything @Mama1234 ?  ... View more

Hi @Nsocks and welcome to the online community. I'm so glad that you reached out - it can be really difficult to cope when your teen is self-harming, but you are definitely not alone in this journey. You mentioned that things have escalated lately and that your daughter is struggling with sleep and eating - is there anything in particular that might have prompted these changes, or have they been out of the blue?   You also mentioned that you think she might be self-harming again - are you currently concerned for her safety? When she was self-harming last year, did she talk to you about it?    Thinking of you @Nsocks, please feel free to keep us updated on how you and your daughter are doing.    ... View more

Hi @ODDson ,   That sounds very stressful waiting at home and wondering whether or not he is going to walk through the door. Do you have concerns for his safety when he doesn't come home, or do you usually have some idea of where he might be?    I'm very sorry to hear that the positives are brief while the issues last for hours. I can completely understand why you and your family might be feeling exhausted by the process of managing your son's behaviour - it can be pretty hard to hold onto hope sometimes. What keeps you going when things are tough?    You mentioned that you're afraid that this might be the start of your son going off the rails. How do you think your son would respond to the idea of going to a psychologist or counsellor to help manage his behaviour?  ... View more

Hi @TiredMumof4 , I'm very sorry to hear about your son - it sounds incredibly stressful not knowing where he is and anticipating the legal consequences of his actions. I hope that you are looking after yourself during this time of uncertainty.    As for resources, Shine for Kids put together this guide for supporting children with a parent or loved one in prison, which might help you to support your daughter. Towards the back, there is a list of support services for families who have been touched by the criminal justice system for each state as well. It can be so difficult to explain such adult concepts like bail and detention to kids - does your 7-year-old ask many questions about what is going on with her brother?   Thinking of you in this difficult time @TiredMumof4      ... View more

Hi @my2kidsrock and welcome to the online community!   From what you've said, it sounds like you and your partner are incredibly supportive of your son. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, it's so wonderful to see that you are surrounding him with love and acceptance because that kind of support from parents can make all the difference.    I'm sorry to hear that your teen has struggled with isolation, and that he has started to engage in self-harm, but it sounds like you're doing everything you can to make sure that he stays connected to your family as much as possible. Does your son receive any support from a psychologist or counsellor?   Thanks so much for sharing, I'm sure this has given other users a lot of hope  ... View more

Hi @voicecrowe and welcome to the online community!   I can see that you've deleted your most recent post, but here are a few resources that might be useful for you in your current situation - here's an article on how to be the ultimate step-parent and one on supporting a young person through depression and anxiety.   You seem like a very caring step-mum who is trying to do the right thing by their family. If you change your mind and feel like you'd like to chat about what's going on for you, we are always here to listen  ... View more

Hi @NM74616 , I'm really glad to hear that you've found some support and solidarity in other parents. I can completely appreciate your hesitancy to access the mental health system if you've had some negative experiences with professionals yourself and on your son's behalf, unfortunately not receiving the right support can stay with you sometimes (and rightly so). All in all, the most important thing is that you feel supported, regardless of whether this support comes from.    It sounds like you're doing everything you can to surround your son with as much love and support as possible. As horrible as it is to hear that you too have experienced some tough times, I'm sure that being able to speak from lived experience has given you a lot of insight into how to stand beside him in a meaningful way. He sounds lucky to have you :)    I'm glad that sharing your story with us has been helpful with you. Please feel free to keep us updated and to write about how you're feeling here if you feel it would be useful for you. Sending all my best to you  ... View more