Hi, I'm a new member, hello everyone

[Chris_C]

I'm a 5o plus year old father of 2 sons and also have 2 beautiful grandchildren. The negative side to my beautiful family is that my youngest son (late 20's) is in prison for a serious crime. However, his term is reasonably short and he hopefully will get parole in the next year. He has suffered anxiety and depression for over 10 years now, and my wife and I have supported him as best we can and provided a save home and financial support. He is a very smart person who just cant seem to stay focused due to his illness. I have spend allot of time developing skills to best assist him, but I myself suffer anxiety too, so I to have my bad days.

The reason I have joined here is to seek advice and hopefully offer any assistance to others as a way of giving back to others who suffer this debilitating illness. At present my son is very angry at the system and the people who run it and we are taking the fallout of his anger, he can't see past why guards and staff treat him badly. This is one of his main issues in the inability to understand why people act this way and it upsets him. My wife and I are at a loss on how to cope and help him during these times (its very up and down).

I hope to talk with others both in a similar situation or would like to know the things I do to help.

Cheers

[Guest_128]

Hey Chris,

Welcome to the forum,

You seem to be a normal (whatever that is) guy who loves his family very very much. I feel your pain as a parent,sometimes our life doesn't turn out to be how we thought it would,we do all we can and more. I want to congratulate you and your wife for not giving up on your son. It must be so hard on you both,to get to this age and life not to get easier.

I would like to think that both of you have more effort with each other and enjoy life together. I am not saying give up on your son,just for the both of you to come first now.

Later

[solabear]

Hello Chris,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for joining us. I hope you will enjoy being part of this wonderful community we have here. Also thank you for sharing your story with us, you are a wonderful father who would never give up on his children, that shows what a great person you are. And you want to help others who suffer from anxiety, it shows that you are a caring person.

I'm really sorry about your struggles, I understand and here to listen.

Lovely to have you on board

Hugs from Sola

[Chris_C]

Cheers and thanks

[Chris_C]

Thanks Sola for your words

[solabear]

You are more than welcome, I hope you are travelling well.

Hugs from Sola

[geoff]

hi Chris, what you and your wife have done is amazing, but with only one draw back and that's your son who is serving time, and I must expect that you and your wife feel devastated by the all the help you have given your family, I feel so sorry for you.
At the moment I think you should be seeking help yourself because this is creating an enormous pain for the two of you, but you need to regain your strength so that you can see past the ramifications, because it's you, your other son and two little g/daughters who still love you and want to be with you.
No way should you ever feel as though any of this is any fault of yours, go and enjoy your little ones, grandparents are their pride and joy. Geoff.