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Dealing with adult son with mental health: Parents want to share?
Mental Health | Last Active: Dec 29, 2025 | Replies (227)Comment receiving replies
@briarrose I truly believe confronting him is not the way to go. You won’t get any answers, he will probably leave and cut you off ( until he needs something)
It is really REALLY hard not knowing, but if you want to keep him in your life, you just have to keep letting him know you love him and he is safe and not judged.
I work on this everyday and now trying to make my husband understand as well. He keeps saying that I need to confront him, and that it is him— not the disease.
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@riverbendab
I understand what you are saying. It is the disease completely taking over. The addiction is now in control of his life, not him.
Of course, I want my only child to be in my life forever. I can "address" not confront him in a loving, safe and non-judgement way. My purpose would be to plant a seed. I have no idea if it will take. Only he can help his addiction - not me. But I want him to know - I am here to help him overcome his addiction. I will always be in his corner.
If I say nothing, continue to walk on eggshells when he visits...making myself sick with the stress of all that - what if, God forbid, he accidentally or purposely overdoses and dies?
Can I live with myself...knowing I KNEW of his addiction and said nothing to him? Never offering my understanding, help, support and unconditional love?
He is not living with me, he is not asking me for money, he is not a threat to me or to others (only himself)...yes, he does hurt me by not showing up for me. But, again, that's the drugs.
I would regret forever and be barely alive if I never reached out to discuss this issue with him and he died. And he surely could die from all that he is doing and taking, he's killing himself.