Support for parenting issues

Hello:

Though I only recently started posting, I have been a long-time lurker who has benefited greatly from the wealth of knowledge shared on this thread.

I am going through issues with my teenage son and I am looking for a forum where I can communicate with other parents experiencing similar issues. Any parents out there know of such a place? I would love a place like this in that context.

My child is 15 years old and I feel like I'm losing him. It was hard enough going through those issues myself at that age, watching him go through it is especially painful. I know a certain amount of it is typical teenage angst, but it appears to be deeper than that.

Thanks for your help.

I have a 16 year old girl and would like to know the same thing.

Hey QueenCopper. Nice to hear from you.

Parenting is rough, isn't it? It's especially hard for me because I'm a talker. I'm all about bringing issues out into the open and talking them through until I'm blue in the face.

My son is the complete opposite. He refuses to admit anything is wrong, ever. He won't even admit he's sad when it is appropriate to be sad. Nothing. He's moody, quiet, unmotivated, tired all the time, his grades are dropping, and he hides in his room most of the time. He sleeps more than he should. He refuses to even consider therapy. He has a visceral aversion to it when I mention it.

I know this isn't the place for this type of thing, but I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

Hope they were checked for Mono.

Just tested last week, as a matter of fact. It was negative.

I hoped it was positive so I could have something to go with. A course of antibiotics would be so much easier than a life of trial and error. But alas, I remain positive that we have a lot to work with. I will not give up.

Aside from depression, drug addiction can look like that. Sorry, whatever it is it must be devastating and scary.

That's my biggest fear.

Thanks for the support. I appreciate it.

I have a friend who went through that with her daughter. They know at NA what all the signs are, what to look for, what to do. Maybe see if they have an online forum?

Her daughter has a beautiful life, healthy children, stable, healthy life. She was into drugs really really bad and came out 110%.

My son went through a shorter period in HS. Hes a great guy, healthy relationship, college, successful job, only a social drinker. Struggles with anxiety like most in my family, but doesnt self medicate as he hates drugs now.

This is years later, i couldnt imagine them ever getting mixed up with that sort of thing again. Some learn the hard way.

Not trying to minimize, but its not necessary the end of the world or the worst that can happen. ��

Mono is a virus, btw, so antibiotics wont help and it can sometimes be chronic.

I teach high school and have three sons of my own. What you describe in your son means something is going on. The difficult part is figuring out what it is. Much of the time, it is drugs. I've also seen online porn, questionable social media (not the usual ones) has ended up being the culprit in more cases in the last year or so.

I was fortunate with my own kids that we had open enough lines of communication that they eventually let me know what was going on and we were able to find solutions (and fortunately with no long, term consequences). In my students, I find some parents are very aware there is a problem and are amazingly frank about what their sons are into (thus, my awareness of the problem with porn and social media on more than a few occasions). It is in the cases where parents are in complete denial that things really get out of hand. I'd encourage you to find a way to communicate that if he will just open up, you won't inflict punitive consequences, but rather, you simply want to be able to help him find solutions before things get truly destructive for him. Mine always came around; may take some time to get there though.

I feel for you. Been there; done that. The good news is that IF you can get if figured out before things get too far out of hand, things are fixable.

Thank you. I have been so stressed! My daughter tells me more than I want to know. I just don't know how to deal with that. Parenting is so super hard. It doesn't help that I am a single parent and I work two jobs.

I'm not sure of any specific place. I a 16 year old child and weve had our ups and downs through a divorce and custody case. I have him in therapy now. Teen years are tough and I have an older son where we started hitting issues in the teens as well. What do you mean by "losing him"?