Mental Health and Suicide

mom4bwayboy
Tue, 09 Dec 2014 21:54:47 +0000

Sorry, I misspoke. I meant that some young people with the issues mentioned above - whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, medicated or not - often graduate to other substances and behaviors. There are many people out there who “self-medicate” with all kinds substances/behaviors - legal and illegal, prescribed and unprescribed, in foods and drinks, through physical exercise and dangerous thrill-seeking. Colleges are hotbeds for “sharing” prescription medications, even providing a hefty supplemental income. Mega-caffinated energy drinks (with and w/o alcohol) sales are soaring. A little something to keep me focused, or take the edge off or pick-me-up, becomes a way to wake up and go to sleep, or just to make it through the day. The professions “artsy” kids go into have odd hours, are full of judgement from others and would provoke anxiety in anyone. For performance-driven, creative 17 - 22 y-olds who have executive function/focusing issues, anxiety, depression, bi-polar tendencies, the slope can be very slippery. I - and many families I know - live with the effects daily. Some make it through to the other side. Some don’t. We keep looking for the light. Sometimes there’s a bit of a glow. I like to believe it’s getting stronger, but all it takes is one “accident”.