In the best interests of the child
It makes sense that parents who have children with mental illnesses should have an array of therapeutic choices to choose from -- but according to a recent article in the New York Times, that's not always the case. For reasons of philosophy -- or cost -- sometimes only medicine is offered as a solution. Other times only therapy is suggested. Sometimes the blame is placed on the parents and that is the end of the story.
The best therapy for the child may be any of the above, none of the above or a combination of the above. Just as our physical ailments can be a combination of genetics, nutrition and lifestyle, mental illnesses also can have complicated solutions. Here's the story in full.
Comments
I am bi-polar. Both my step dad and mom have been nurses in the psychiatric field for years. I was just considered a difficult teenager. I was even tested by professionals as a condition for a mistake I made.
Tests came out with what could be considered normal for a teenager and abnormal for an adult. I was 14 at the time.
Treating mental illness is difficult at any time, as I am sure there family members can tell you.
Its only now at the age of 32 that I have been able to seek long term treatment for myself. With a gigantic push from my wife =)
Pointing fingers or blaming anyone is simply ridiculous. That never solves anything. Having a child with any medical problem requires the parents to become advocates for there children, seek help. Seek help again. Research. Go to the library and Google everything you can about the problem. Back your research up from different sources. Ask other parents that are going through similar problems.
Armed with the knowledge you can ask the right questions. You may have to knock on a lot of doors, but you can do it.
Personally I am very cautious of any prescription medication prescribed for my child that has not been around for 20 years. I like to see well documented long term side effect knowledge. I like to know that this has been safely used on children. I will do my own research and come to my own conclusions.
I assume that is my job as a parent.
Posted by: John Zacharias | December 29, 2006 4:06 AM