(((beauflow))),

I am so sorry that your family has put "their problems in your lap" so much. You have certainly thrown enough life preservers to your brother and no, you can't jump in because he is at a point where he will pull you under as well. And basically that sounds like what both your mother and brother are doing. They are not getting the picture that they need to take the life preserver and swim to their safety.

You have given your brother the right advice, he needs to get PROFESSIONAL HELP.
I am also surprised that the hospital keeps discharging him with no outside plan to help him. A hospital is there to help stabilize the patient and help them get the outpatient help they need "as a life preserver" to help themselves get better.

It sounds to me that your mother is an unstable disfuctional person and this has caused her children to struggle as well. Unfortunately this happens a lot and I have been a member of PC for a little over a year now and have read the threads of many who are troubled due to their disfunctional parents and family. And I keep reading how many of the members have had to just break free and stay away from their families. It is unfortunate but often necessary for their own mental health.

I have gotten to know you beauflow and I know you have been trying very hard to "help yourself" and I have seen you make a lot of progress. I know you have such a good heart as well, and I understand how hard it is to say "no" to your brother. But you are "not" a professional and he will drag you down with him, and you know that as well. So what can you do? All you can do is direct him to get help beauflow, and if he doesn't do that there is nothing more you can do for him.

The bottom line is that we can only "help" others "help" themselves, we cannot do the work for them when it comes to their psychological issues.

beauflow, you have a nice boyfriend and you deserve to have your own life and happiness. Your family members need to help themselves. Your brother is not listening to you and you have done what you can for him. And you already know that he has some dangerous issues going on as well. You have tried to report him to get help for him and the hospital has not listened to you. I don't know what else you could do.

You have to take care of you and come to terms with your brothers unwillingness to keep getting help for himself.

(((Hugs)))
Open Eyes