still holding on - 4

[u-turn]

Some troubles with the kids that W&I may have caused or certainly didn't help with.

S-20 was diagnosed with PTSD and depression from a campus counselor. (I don't know if this diagnosis is valid though - he went in to the initial meeting with this self-diagnosis in mind; I believe this counselor is a student that is being observed by a DR.; and S-20 said the counselor teared up during their meeting (not a good sign at all - in my opinion).

We have known this for a couple weeks and he posted it on FB the other night. This started a flood of sympathy posts to him, and a couple of "what are you thinking putting it on FB for the world to see" posts and text messages. I think he needs another opinion, but he has gone silent and isn't taking any calls from us (just a couple texts to d-14).

This diagnosis may stem from a drowning while he was working as a lifeguard, a traffic accident that he stopped to help with, and the troubles with his family. He basically came home from college and everything was unraveled.

I don't know enough about PTSD at this point to help him or even offer an opinion (which he would not accept anyway), except to get an opinion from a different C. My W's opinion is that he may have needed a label to get some attention and to have an excuse for not doing well at school again. This could be (he has wanted attention like this in the past), but I don't know how to help him right now.

I think the emotional condition I was in early summer and not really controlling myself too well until after he left for school, affected him a lot too. We all value our family and he saw it falling apart.

He did only see things in a semi-bad condition (he was not around when the bomb dropped in the spring - when I was a complete wreck). I wasn't DBng properly or riding the PMA train until after he left and unfortunately he missed that.

and

S-17 was caught smoking and the first excuse he used was it helped him to deal with the family troubles. I think we have this worked out, but just when I thought that I was doing ok holding this family together, I realize that I need to do more.

I am home with S-17 and d-14 for a couple of days (schools out). I am having some quality time with them and trying to get this house back in order.