Tough Love week 2

So for the past 12 days my son has been in a treatment center to help him develope the life skills, coping skills necessary for him to succeed for when he is an adult. The first day of admintance was very very tough, it was hard seeing my son cry about being put in a repite group environment. With a lot a encouragment from my son's therapist, and my family advocate and friends I was able to get through the first few days.

I did make sure to ask alot of questions, because I wanted reasurance that they were going to help my son. So far my son is on Intake level in which in the first two weeks of being there his is given choires, and responsiblity and the chance to earn allowance for doing his choirs, participating in group, following the behavior rules and going to school and doing his homework. I was so glad to hear from all of the staff, therapist and teacher on how well he is doing.

My son told me he was proud of himself because as of right now he is carrying all "A"'s in his classes, which he hasn't done for a long long time. My son also said that as he is away from me, he is finding that he can do a lot of things he didn't think he could do, because I was always around to help him or do it for him. I truely tried not to do things for him, but when he was refusing to pick up after himself and had his cloths and games all over the house, I couldn't just let it sit there.

Also by him being away he is realizing what is bothering him and has pinpointed what he wants to work on, he is setting goals for himself while I work on the famliy goals. My son will be able to earn day and weekend passes so in order to remain consistent of his treatment I requested the privledge and allowance packet so I can incorporate it at home, his rules aren't much different than what we had, just more structured, and that is one of the things my son needs. His entire day is planned out for him on a schedule, which when he was younger I had, but when he turned 13 I thought he had out grown it, and that is where I went wrong. I was told children with bipolar need structer, consistancy and activities to keep them occupied, and that video games including computer games should be limited because of their addicitve behaviors. My son became a game addict, he hated shutting down the computer when it was time for bed or hate turning off his play station. So now I will have to put a schedule of what times he can play and make sure it isn't too much or too often.

I am very glad I made this decision because I can see a small improvement in my son, he isn't lashing out and hasn't had an episode while there ( I truely hope he doesn't, but they tell me it could happen and to prepare myself if it does)

I recommend that if you have a child who suffers from bipolar and has been hospitalized and been in partical treamtent, but the behaviors aren't getting better and you child is missing alot of school, then you should find a treatment program that will help your child develope the coping and life skills necessary so they can have a happy heathly life. But make sure the place you choose is acrediated and do alot of research and ask questions. You will also want alot of emotional support because it is hard. I still have times when I cry because I miss my son and want him home, but at the same time I know he would go back to his old behavors and that it would be toxic again.

Today is one of the harder day because it is my son's birthday, but thankfully they are letting me go up there and bring a cake for him and his unit, so at least I won't miss his birthday. This week will be tough mainly because his birthday is 4 days before mine and Saturday they don't have visiting time and every year my son has spent my birthday with me, but it is something I will get through, I have plenty of support and everyone keeps reassuring me this is all for the best, which is true, I agree, just hard being mom.