I would like to hear how other parents are coping with a child recently diagnosed with a psychotic/delusional disorder:

I have a 24 year old son who's mental health has concerned me since he was 15. Sadly, I couldn't get him to see a mental health professional and I felt Baker Act was too extreme. Besides he wasn't homicidal or suicidal initially. But I knew it was strange when for instance, he became obsessed with the need for his face to be "perfectly symmetrical." He would see things about his appearance that no one else did (mainly me because I'm the one he told). He would use eyebrow pencil to draw his eyebrows as close to the same as possible.

Although this was strange, it wasn't particularly harmful and I thought it might just be OCD type obsession. However, over time he has added some other behaviors and when put all together they point to delusional disorder - at the least. He thought his roommates were trying to poison him or worries that restaurant workers might put something in his food to try and poison him.

He will finally get some help because after an altercation with his dad that landed him in jail, his dad told the state attorney that we thought he needed to be tested for mental issues. Oh, how I have longed for this day! So he's going next week for the psych eval. Additionally, I was able write up some history and gave it to someone who will give it to the evaluator before he's tested. I didn't want him to "beat" the test because he definitely needs help. I was so nervous about doing that though. If he ever found out he would never trust me, and I'm currently the only one he does trust.

The hardest thing about all this is how much I see that he is suffering. Because of the delusions he's constantly on guard and never feels safe. He also doesn't have any friends and any life outside of going to work. My heart breaks for my baby boy...my only child. And then there are those moments of guilt where I feel even if I didn't cause it, I added to it. I've had so many shouting matches with him trying to convince him that what he was saying was wrong. Or I'm defending myself while he angrily tells me how I ruined his life. His "evidence" of is any consequence or discipline I gave him during his teen years. He says for instance that I was cruel because I removed the tag from his car because it was unsafe to drive and he wouldn't park it.

According to what I've read about delusional disorder, all this is part of the symptoms; severely exaggerating something and relentlessly holding a grudge. Thankfully, over the last two weeks I finally realized how ill he was when I read about delusional disorder and it fit him to a "T". I know now he can't help the things he says and he really believes them. So I don't argue with him now. I don't want to add to his stress. I try to love him more instead. I change the subject or answer him in a factual way, sometimes trying to inject humor. It's so hard to get him to laugh anymore.

I'm sorry for going on but I'm so heart-broken and devastated. He's such a beautiful boy inside and out. I pray that God has finally given us the answer to a long held prayer and he will get and receive help.

Does anybody have a similar experience? I would really appreciate knowing someone understood.