I’m in tears. My son was diagnosed 15 years ago, and after 12 years of resisting medication and erratic unemployment, he was finally stable and had kept a part-time job as a prep and fry cook at a wings restaurant for almost 3 years. He told me tonight that he decided to quit. He said co-workers were smoking pot and management wouldn’t do anything about it. It’s probably a good thing for him to be out of that environment, but I am absolutely heartbroken. In the middle of the pandemic and high unemployment, I just don’t know what he is going to find. He has a case manager, but she does absolutely nothing to help him. He lives in another state, so I can’t even be there to give him any encouragement or emotional support. He has been supporting himself, along with some SSI assistance, and my husband and I will now need to help him out financially. He lives in a small studio apartment. Fortunately, we are able to provide some money to him, but we have been trying to save for retirement (we are in our 60s) after my husband was out of work for 5 years. I don’t even know what suggestions I hope anyone can give; I just need to share my feelings of despair. It’s just been in the last year or so that I felt like my worry for him didn’t occupy my every waking moment, or keep me up at night. I know this pattern is not uncommon for people with this illness, but I feel sick that it is starting all over again. I have my own struggles with depression and anxiety, so his situation impedes my own recovery.
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@bonely So sorry for what you are going g through. Since your son was working could he possibly qualify for unemployment?
Also, maybe you can suggest to him to request another case manager that is more responsive and helpful.
As far as self care I would suggest joining your local NAMI group for support and guidance. It has made a world of difference for me. I hope things will get better for you and all of us caregivers. Hang in there.