Hi! We’re dealing with an abuse issue and we’re definitely in a family crisis situation. Our 44 year old son is having severe emotional problems. He is the father of 5 (16-6 months old). He had Covid twice abt 3-4 years ago; the second time lasted several months and he came out of it in bad shape mentally (depression and anxiety). He refuses going to any doctors. He was once on a med for anxiety(?). Said it made him feel loopy. He stopped talking it and vowing not to take it any more. He is a non-smoker but is also hooked on nicotine since Covid.

The anxiety and depression he has have continued but now he has had uncontrollable fits of anger in which he screams and yells loudly and strikes and slaps his son (our 16yo grandson and our major concern at this time).

He also punishes him for a variety of infractions such as: demanding respect form his so, Zwanting a different breakfast than the others, writing in his journal 10:00pm, getting an “F” in a college class, taking his plain flip phone away also read his texts. Punishments include grounding our grandson 5 month, restricts contact with friends, no social life, won’t let us see our grandson unless our son is there to chaperone, made him quit is part time job which he used for college costs and gifts for his Mom and Dad and sibs, locked down his computer (listening to music and watching YouTube), cancelled a Church retreat trip,

Our homeschooled grandson is intelligent, articulate, bright, studious, and has a deep faith, but is questioning God and his faith. He and his sibs love coming to our house to visit, play, watch cartoons and football. It’s a safe place for them and we absolutely positively love them with our whole hearts. We also suspect that our DIL is being bullied into submission. It started getting bad for our grandson on 10/24 it didn’t seem as bad until the last 3-4 months. Within the last 2 months it has gotten worse. Over the past week. It has escalated out of control. Also he expects his son to graduate from college by the age of 19. Our son has chosen our grandson’s college classes. It is a more than a full schedule with very challenging classes. He just completed his 1st year. Is he perfect, no. But he is a good kid. We are completely concerned for his welfare.

My husband and I as well as our DIL’s parents have being trying to find a way simmer this down. Our grandson has said he feels hopeless and crazy and has mentioned taking drugs to numb the pain he feels and mentiond wanting to end it all. To my husband, DIL’s parents and me we’ve been terrified, scared, sad and stressed. My husband and I are seeking mental health counseling. We feel like we’re in a deep, dark hole.