Could I lose my children?

[Dosanddonts]

I’m in the throes of what I can only describe as a MH crisis/episode.
my anxiety and depression have ramped up and I feel like running for the hills. I won’t.
im asking my ex to look after our DC more than our previously arranged 50/50 agreement(no courts involved) and he’s(quite rightly) reluctant.
I just need some breathing space for some new medication to work.
mid been ok for the past 18 months, but it’s all reared up again over the past few weeks.
at what stage could my DC be taken off me for good? I also have another young DC with a different dad

Also as others have said, SS would be making it very clear to dad that the children are his responsibility, not social services responsibility!

Their Dad might be 'reluctant', but what have you actually told him about the situation. This isn't the usual 'I'm finding this tough and feel I need a break' that nearly every single parent feels at one time or another. This is more of a health crisis. If you were physically debilitated, he would have to take them. This is no different.

How have you explained this to him? Does he get that at all?

I was so unwell I was hospitalised and mine went into foster care - I did not lose custody or parental responsibility. Please look after your health, see your GP and try not to worry. You aren't a threat to your children!

What kind of dad would let his children either be with a parent who's too sick to care for them, or go to foster care? What would he do if you were hospitalised? I think he needs to step up.

She's already said he wouldn't let them go into foster care so really this whole thread is pointless. OP's question has been answered.

Social services have no desire to remove your children.

Be upfront with dad and say you're ill, he needs to have the kids for the next two weeks.

How have you expressed it to your ex OP and what are his concerns? Have you given him something concrete, like I need you to take DC for 2 months, or whatever you think is needed? I think the biggest issue here for the children is you keeping one child at home. I can't imagine how you can explain why youngest gets to stay in a way that won't hurt your older two and then you'd have to deal with the fallout from that. Is their any reason youngest couldn't stay with their dad more too? You say your older two are what you struggle with but you'll be able to rest and recover more quickly with no one to look after at all.

You said their dad wouldn't let them go into care, so is your concern about SS saying you can't have them or are you concerned your ex might not be willing to move back to 50/50 if he takes DC more/full time for a while? I think part of that would be having a clear written plan of how long and then what's going to happen at the end of that period, would it be straight back to 50/50 or gradual. This would show you both intend for the to be temporary. If you agree between you two for him to do more temporarily theres no automatic trigger for social services involvement anyway.

He did come and get them last night after I had a complete meltdown. I’m now at my mums with the youngest. She’s looking after us.
thank you for all the help on here

That sounds perfect, stay at your Mums as long as you can.

if he's such a brilliant Dad, what's his excuse for not having them until your beds are effective?

Just wanted to send you lots of love, we all go through rough stages, trust me I've had some roller coaster moments over the years. Take the time you need to get through to the other side :) A bit of a break will do you the world of good and allow you to reset 🙂

Sorry but do not put them in temporary foster care

Nobody is putting these children into foster care. There is no foster care for them to be put into.