Momsupport, your post has me really misting up. I soooo agree with Lisa Michelle and the others that your caring and acceptance goes farther than you may ever know.

BNLsMOM: "Your son's story reminds me of myself when I was in college, except I never reached out." And farmergirl: "...college and my world just fell apart...Why couldn't I make it a few more months? I just couldn't." Yup, those parts are my story too. Could barely leave the room, never made classes, couldn't reach out, had no idea what was wrong with me. Dropped out, my mother was furious (sniping behind my back --didn't find out for about 25 years...when my sister told me), but clearly the explanation was that I was a useless loser (all the straight A's, art and figure skating that preceeded it clearly didn't count anymore...) and it was all just swept under the rug. Never did come anywhere near potential again. Didn't get properly diagnosed till 46. Denial and shame are powerful and can have long lasting effects.

All that is to say that though you cannot fix it, but the "what" you can do is being someone he can talk with --and that you are doing. The most important thing. Everything else can be some guesswork and trial and error -- stay in/take a break, meds/docs etc, but on the being someone he can talk with -- in that you can be confident you are doing the right thing, even when all else feels topsy turvy. (And the bouncing back and forth... yeah, that's a big part of it alright.) Major kudos to you for that, momsupport!