Allan,
I have a daughter diagnosed with bi-polar II so I know only a little of what your going through. I can only say be strong and supportive, it is very tough on all wondering what the next day may bring. The best of luck to you and your family.

Prayers and good thoughts coming your way.

 

I appreciate all your kind words , Ian has been under the care of a psychiatrist for a while now and is on a series of medication . We have also found a psychologist that Ian (who is as stubborn and generally uncommunicative as his father "me") is willing to talk with and open up to . I also appreciate your permitting me to drift this much OT as I feel even though I am a relative newbie a certain friendship and camaraderie with the group .
My Thanks

 

Allan
You've taken the first step in talking to someone else - That is the admittance that there is a problem that you are having trouble with - You and your wife need to seek counseling for two reasons, first is for your own health - If you're not healthy you can't help anyone else - Second you need to really understand what you son is going thru so that you may better help him
To seek assistance is never wrong - To use FTE has given you the opportunity to reach a broad wealth of experience from friends that have been there or know someone who is going thru the same thing
I've been in counseling for 10 years because of my PTSD - I am constantly learning new things about the effects of PTSD - If I have to continue seeing the shrinks until for the rest of my life I will
I can be reached at: rctree @ netzero .com (Remove the spaces)

 

Hey Allan,

I don't know if you read it or not but I posted a thread about my own dealings with depression just a couple weeks ago. I hate to hear that you guys are having to deal with this at all much less right now. As has been stated though, holidays and for some reason December in general are very hard on people dealing with depression. I have fought it since 1995 and it is a very difficult beast to handle. I've never tried to end my life but there have been many times that I wished that God would see fit to call me on. Most of the time the biggest thing a person with depression needs and doesn't have is HOPE. Sadly most of that hope has to be found within (in my case thru God's help). As I stated in my post a couple weeks ago....depressed people NEED friends, family and just anyone to communicate with them and keep them constantly busy knowing that even though they don't have hope right now there are others that are standing in for them and that hope. We all know that better days are to come in some form. I'm sure Ian is like me and just can't see those better times just yet. Medicine and counseling have had little if any effect on me and my situation.....shear will and God's grace (mostly the later) has been what has gotten me thru my worst times. The lack of hope in one's life generates a lot of fear. Fear is always about the future and lack of insight as to what that future brings. Depression tricks our brains into “knowing” there is nothing better. It's a cruel trick and one that the doctors honestly don't understand and neither do I for that matter. I do know that Hope is the one thing greater than fear. If there is a way y'all can get him to see that his mind is playing a terrible trick on him it could help. And it's always good to hear that you aren't crazy....your mind is just not functioning like it is supposed to right now. I will keep all of you in my prayers. As others have stated I'm willing to help any way I can. PM me and I'll be glad to give you my email addy.
Wayne

 

Very well said Wayne and good advice. Best wishes to you as well.

 

I don't get on the forum(s) much at all anymore, but today for some reason I did and this thread is precisely why I do. Community. Common interest and compassion. Allan, I am in no way competent to address such weighty matters, but I am perfectly suited to tell you and Ian that there is hope to be had. I firmly believe faith is the most perfect way of approaching life's joys and struggles, much as Wayne stated just above. I see more and more every day with increasing clearly that it's how I've gotten as far as I have in life, in spite of myself.
As the father of 3 boys, it strikes tremendously close to consider the pain of a son.
Ian, you, your family, each person who can encourage Ian directly, are each and all in my fervent prayers and will be until I hear report of favorable answers to those prayers. Life is so much more than old trucks, and it's so much more than Ian's perspective right now. I hope and pray he can come to see that very, very soon.
Jon M. Leeth

 

Very sorry to hear of your sorrows, all I can offer is our prayers for your family and especially for your son that he can get through this hard time he is facing. Faith can move mountains.

 

Hey Allan,

Hang in there....our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Dan

 

It's a terrible feeling to see a loved one suffer.....I have been in your shoes. Keep praying and supporting your son. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

 

I don't post much on this or ANY forum anymore. In the last year or so, I have tried to limit my time on the computer to what I believe to be a healthier dose. Having said that I saw your post and I'm glad to see you using the group for what it should be used for--support.
This is so much more important than the needs we think we have regarding our old trucks. It makes our love for the old truck hobby seem so frivolous and unimportant.
My hopes a thoughts are with you and yours and I thank you for having the strength to reach out...slim

 

Allen,hang in there buddy.My son has had a few bouts of depression in the past and I have a pretty good idea what your going through. Through God's grace, Pastor Twists' help, and me and the wife being there for him we made it.Tell him how much you love him everyday and that there is nothing that will change that.My prayers and best wishes are with you.

 

Prayers to you and your family...my wife's father lost his battle with depression at age 52. It is really hard to comprehend what they go through, hopefully your son will find a treatment that pulls him through.

 

Allan, our thoughts and prayers are with Ian, you and your wife. Depression is such a devious medical condition. Like Wayne said, your mind plays tricks on you. May God bless you and your family.

 

Hey Allan,
I've got a 21 year old son & I hear you on the challenges. The best times we have are out working on our truck. I hope you & Ian can enjoy your truck time - it's a form of healing.

Hang in there.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Allen, the news of Ian's suffering saddens me greatly. Being that I had many suicide attempts in the late 80;s and early 90s, I remember the thoughts and feelings I had in my darkest moments. I would not wish that on anyone. Ive never had the pleasure of meeting your Son, but one thing I can say is IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. To the contrary during my problems I truly thought my loved ones would be much better off without having to deal with my troubles, I figured they would be sad for a while but would get over it. I WAS WRONG! About the only thing I can say to do, is to remind him how much you need him, and how crushed you would be if you were to loose him. You have already got a lot of good heart felt suggestions, Ill certainly pray for you and yours, and PM me if you need to talk. Depression is hard, and it took me a while to find what medications worked for me and witch ones didn't and at what amounts. Plus for me it took finding the lord. Best of luck, this is one of the hardest times of the year for someone who suffers from depression.