My family's journey to recovery...
Last November, my son told me he was hearing voices and seeing shadows. He said he saw a hand come over the car and one that came out of the wall in his room. A week later, he revealed his plan to kill himself as we sat in the car in my driveway. He told me if he was left alone after school that he would hang himself. I admitted him for observation at a mental health facility that night. In January, he told me he was really hungry but the "other" boy wouldn't allow him to eat. If he ate, the "other" boy may hurt people. In his mind, my son was starving himself to keep everyone safe. My son finally confessed to me he wasn't in control anymore. I admitted him a second time.
My family's journey to recovery has been overwhelming and exhausting at points, but there is hope. Staying bottled up doesn't help. I want to rip the lid off mental illness. Dump out the shame and fear. Open up without judgement. I know that together we can support each other. Together we can get the ones we love help.