Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories

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!