[PaulGauguin]

Just a vent.

I really hate depression and I hate the way it makes the depressed person interact with others. My son decided not to go to work tonight and I guess he’ll probably get fired again, his 4th job in 6 weeks. I could take this I suppose, I mean, I get that he is having trouble coping but he also ditches his counselor appointments. I’m beginning to realize that he basically just wants to get drunk or high with his friends. He came home tonight and he was obviously upset so I asked him to sit down and talk to me. He told me to leave him alone. I asked if he was ok or if he was feeling bad (he looked like he maybe had a stomach ache or something) and he just ignored me.

I guess I also have a question. Does depression make you a jerk also? I remind myself that he is struggling but at the same time I’m not a doormat. I don’t understand his resistance to help or his resistance to at least talk to a willing person. I try to disarm him with passive, understanding behavior but frankly tonight I just wanted to tell him to kiss my ***.

I’ll keep trying to be a help but I will never understand how sometimes depressed people can’t take a step or two toward their own solutions. I can’t do it for him. I guess mostly I get to worry and lose sleep.

[Travelinglady]

I can understand. My husband is bipolar (and I am, too). There are so many things I need him to do around the house, but he is just not motivated. But I have been there, too. Is your son taking an antidepressant? Just wondering...You don't need to respond, if you don't want to.

I have started a group for parents of mentally-ill adult children. I don't have many takers yet, but it would be a good place for a lot of venting. Here's the link: http://forums.psychcentral.com/group...ll-adults.html.

[PaulGauguin]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I can understand. My husband is bipolar (and I am, too). There are so many things I need him to do around the house, but he is just not motivated. But I have been there, too. Is your son taking an antidepressant? Just wondering...You don't need to respond, if you don't want to.

I have started a group for parents of mentally-ill adult children. I don't have many takers yet, but it would be a good place for a lot of venting. Here's the link: http://forums.psychcentral.com/group...ll-adults.html.

Thanks very much for the link. I really need to break a barrier here. He simply doesn't want to talk about things and can get pretty crappy with people when they try and help. It's very frustrating. He was taking an antidepressant but honestly seemed even worse while he was on it. I had hoped a counselor would assist in helping us determine what issues he truly has so that medication wasn't a shot in the dark. But he keeps blowing off appointments and it's expensive to pay for nothing. I will definitely check out your group.