Help my son might be wrong diganosis
my son is 21 n he's a twin. ever since like 5th grade he had serious anxiety about school & we tried everything to get him there-meds, counseling, all of it. they said it was social anxiety and ocd. the best combo for him ended up being cymbalta + wellbutrin. it worked for a bit in high school but after he graduated & got a job things went downhill quick. then his work had more social stuff & he quit. now hes like stuck at home, smokes weed,drinks sometimes, takes kratom. lost weight too. he dont wanna go out anymore or get counseling. no motivation, no idea what he wants to do with his liife. drivers license? forget it. his brothers r doing great tho. i just feel so helpless. tbh im starting to think there might be something else going on that we missed. like the drug use is a symptom not the cause. anyone have any advice?
9 Replies
Hey, sorry if it feels like hitting a wall. Can I share some thoughts? What does he enjoy doing besides what he's already into? The ony thing you can really do is be patient. Try not to nag him too much-it's hard, but imagine how tough his life is compared to when we grew up. It's way tougher now. Maybe suggset something like camping or enrolling in an apprenticeship program for 14-19-year-olds if he's not back at school. You learn a lot more outside of the classroom sometimes. He's just stuck in a dark place right now, so give him space and don't force conversation. Sending you lots of love and happiness xx
Just wanna say, if you're thinking about taking someone off meds, definitely talk to a doctor first-obviously. But honestly, once they find something they genuinely enjoy doing and get some sun on their face, things might turn around for them. I'm not a counselor or anything like that-I've had my fair share of tough times with negativity in life-but sometimes a change can make all the difference. Hope this helps, you know? Take care! xx
Thanks a bunch! Really appreciated the help and advice.
I think he's really lucky to have someone who cares about him so much, but maybe he doesn't see that. One thing I was wondering is how he is wiht animals. I've heard of people with social anxiety finding comfort and connection through having a pet dog or cat-something that hasn't worked with anything else. Maybe we could take it solw, like leaving an open magazine with a cute puppy on the cover whre he can see it. I was thinking about getting a small dog to help me get more active too, and seeing if he'd be interested in going to a rescue center or adopting one himself. It might be tough for him, but maybe having a pet could give him a reason to start his day adn interact with the world more.
thx i luv the pet idea he rly likes cas we hv 2 already bt maybe he could gt 1 tht''s jus his
Hey there, I just wanted to share how having a pet has really helped me with my mental health issues. I deal with borderline personality disorder and ADHD plus some physical illnesses too. My life has been pretty tough, so managing my mental health is super challenging.
I adopted a small dog from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home who had been homeless before that, and it's honestly the best decision I've made. He gives me something to take care of, which helps focus on something positive every day. Pls, walking him forces me outside where I've met lots of new people and we chat sometimes.
It's also really improved my physical health and overall mood. Animals are amazing because they give unconditional love and can sense your feelings too. Maybe getting a pet could help your son, but it's definitely a big responsibility. For me though, caring for my dog has shifted my focus away from myself.
Maybe he needs another evaluation. Sometimes professionals don't get everything right the first time around. He's realy lucky to have such an understanding parent. Even if he doesn't realize it now, he will one day. Best of luck!
i really appreciate your response, maybe we can continue the conversation later i guess.
2 things: pets rlly help with anxiety and depression. got support animals too. second thing, smoking weed messes w ur meds. it's a depressant. i saw someone i care about smoke nonstop for yrs & it was nuts.
Agree about the pot. Smoking it and taking Kratom too. Not sure which is worse. He wants to quit Kratom though. Working on it. Thanks.