What is it like?

What is it like dealing with mental health issues- let me tell you- hold on it may get a little serious for you all- but we who have special needs children are not alone-

I wrote to my very good friends an email thanking them for all they did for me when Marcus was in the unit. and explained to them what a toll it takes on those who care for the children with mental health issues or special needs issues- so here it goes

Sometimes you feel helpless- because you do not know what will work to get them through there meltdowns or their moments of craziness or the whoo hooo moments as Sarah calls them -
Something that may have worked one day may not work the next and it is a constant challenge-
Thinking about what is going to trigger a moment or why did this trigger a moment when one other time it did not.
You know you work it out and have to think a lot to try and calm things so they do not get overwhelming and when you finally get things worked out and are able to keep things calm- you collapse- why it is emotionally and mentally and sometimes physically challenging.You can worn out - drained - it is tiring -it wears you down.
I am not as worn down as I had been because the meltdowns are working through faster- but tonight it took about an hour to finally have him realize what he was doing was not okay and there were consequences to his behavior- which causes sometimes another flair up-and then you have to work it all out again

So if you know of someone with a special needs child or one with mental health issues- they need your love they need your support - they need your prayers- they need your hugs-they need you to say can I watch him/her for a few hours for you so you have a mental break- they will appreciate it I am sure