What do you do when you have a son who's in prison for a sex crime that was the results of this disease. He was never diagnosed because I couldn't afford the psychologist to test him that my attorney recommended. He's now serving a 14 year sentence and not receiving any medication or help. He's just sitting there. It's been 5 years now and all I know what to do is listen when he talks about how depressed he was growing up. There are some days when he talks about the good times. But when gets sad or do not agree with what we are saying, he just gets very quite. I remember before the incident, he would get very quite when things didn't go his way. He would go to his room and just sit in the dark for hours. There where nights when I would go into his room and he would be under the cover with a flash light on. He said he was afraid of the dark. He was about 16. Then 2 years later, he molested a 10 yr old boy. He broke into the home carrying a plastic water gun in his jacket. To a 10 yr old, it looked real. So the judge gave him 14 yrs in prison without any rehabilitation. What can I do to help him now. So he can become somewhat productive in the community. My son has never been in any trouble, not even a detention from school. He was active in church until we relocated and he had to find new friends. There were several days he would come home crying over little things like, a girl sad he was ugly. I know if he was under a doctor's care, they would diagnoise him with schizophrenia or Bipolar. I need to know what can I do as I write and visit him.
Q: Help! I don't know what to do!
Hello Mother In Need of Help,
I understand your concern that your son is not getting treated for his mental illness while he is in jail.
Please as Dave said when he responded to you: Be strong.
Not everyone reading your question or responding to your question is going to have the same suggestion I do. I am going to answer your question on the assumption that your son has schizophrenia or another serious mental illness.
I have gotten flak in the past for responding to a question similar in nature to yours, so I am going to state up front I'm not excusing his behavior. I am going to respond the same way I did in the past because I understand all too well what can happen when someone with schizophrenia commits a crime while psychotic. I have met people with schizophrenia who committed crimes. They are now fully functioning members of society. One person has recovered to the point you would not know by looking at him that he has schizophrenia.
So I realize I'm going to get flak for responding to you with empathy. Not a lot of other people in society would have this compassion.
I will ask you if there's any way you can talk to the staff at the jail to try to get him evaluated and placed on medication. Or if there is any way your son can request a meeting with the psychiatrist on staff to talk about his symptoms or play up the symptoms he is having.
Should this not be possible, I want to end by echoing Dave's response that your love will help your son recover, although ideally he'd be on medication right now. You may want to visit him regularly. Keep up as much of a positive spirit as you can.
Regards,
Christina
I am sorry you and your son are going through this.
I read in your question that you truly care about him. Until he gets out of prison that is the best thing you can do...tell him you love him, tell him you are there for him. Family support is very important in recovery.
Be strong and be consistant in regards to what you do.
Take care.
Dave
Further:
You asked how you can help your son become a productive member of society.
While he is in jail, he should take advantage of any educational opportunities, creative writing workshops, therapy, work programs or other structured activities designed to aid him in re-entry.
Bring him books and magazines to read perhaps.
Lastly, your son will become a productive member of society if he understands and is aware he has an illness, and if he understands the nature of his crime and the implications for when he is released. He will have to be proactive in committing to his recovery when he gets out.
Regards,
Christina
Regards,
Christina
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