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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

don't know what to do about my 27yo ds

60 replies

kaylasmum · 06/11/2013 13:33

First i have to explain that my ds has borderline personality disorder. He has had behavioural problems since the age of 2. When he was 16 he told me he's gay, just after he'd cut his wrists and taken an overdose of paracetamol! O have no problem at all with his sexuality and he can talk to me about anything
The self harm continued for a few years. He finally met a man and they settled down, had a civil ceremony.

My ds worked in care, but always had some kind of problem which resulted in him leaving or being sacked. His relationship suffered due to his mental health and last year my ds's dp left him. My ds was devastated, he moved back with me.

I have 2 young dcs, aged 10 and 6 and a very small 3 bedroom house. My 6 yo sleeps with my dp in our bed, my dd has her own room, my 27 yo ds is in his 6 yo db room and i'm on the couch!

My ds has had major problems with prescription drug addiction and i have tried to help him kick this addiction. He is currently waiting to be put on a support group for bpd. He was receiving help before but would often miss appointments. I feel that he's not trying to help himself enough.

My 6 yo wants his bedroom back! I was cleaning the room out a couple of weeks ago and found vomit on my 6 yo ds toys and on a pillow, which was turning mouldy.y ds had been out and come home very drunk, he had vomitted in the room and not cleaned it up, he smokes roll ups and is always leaving tobacco lying about, half filled glasses of juice and sometimes his anxiety medication.

I also suffer from a mental health illness and i'm at my wits end. I really want my ds to find his own place to live. I feel bad for him but my 6 yo ds needs his room back and i need my bed!

OP posts:
jamakatab · 06/11/2013 22:38

Oh dear , OP, you're between a rock and a hard place aren't you? At the end of the day though you have raised your older son and whatever his problems he is an adult. Your younger children deserve to have the best childhood you can give them under the circumstances and so I'm afraid you need to be telling your older son to a) move into the caravan or b) find somewhere else to live. Otherwise your younger children will be paying too high a price I think.
You truly have my sympathy.

cestlavielife · 06/11/2013 22:41

You have a spare bedroom aka caravan.get an oil filled heater and tell him he camps out there.
Full stop. It s that or leave.

Caravan is perfectly reasonable solution for a grown adults want to support.

He can spend his drink ,moneyon the bills.

Floralnomad · 06/11/2013 22:48

TBH I should imagine there are loads of 27 yr olds that would love to be able to live in a caravan at their mums house , he's very lucky that you have that option and that's what you should be telling him .

DaveBussell · 06/11/2013 23:18

What a really tough situation for you, you have shown a lot of love and loyalty to your ds. It must have been really hard for you bringing up 2 children with mh issues and you deserve credit for getting them this far.

There is always a lot of guilt attached to these things for the parent - a feeling that you could/should have done things differently or whatever and perhaps that is affecting your ability to be a bit tougher with him. You said earlier that you can't afford for your health to break down and that is crucial here - you need a proper bed to sleep in and for the rest of the family to be back to a reasonable level of normality.

It's really not being harsh to ask him to live in the caravan, this is actually a good option for him. It will allow him a degree of independence in a safe environment which is what he really needs. A chance to learn how to rely on himself without going to pieces and gain some confidence that he can change and progress like your dd.

Mollydoggerson · 07/11/2013 10:06

Can he nap in the caravan during the day? Can he use it as his room/space. If it is very cold he could then sleep on a matreee on the floor in the main house at night.

Can you make it a house rule that he showers every day, that he maintains his personal hygiene?

Kaylasmum are you enabling his behaviour to the detriment of everyone else?

kaylasmum · 07/11/2013 11:18

No i'm not enabling his behaviour! I'm not going to throw him out and i do have rules which mostly he does adhere to. I'm going to tell him he has to sleep in the caravan and to cover any extra electric.

OP posts:
Vivacia · 07/11/2013 11:25

I think that's a good start.

Matildathecat · 07/11/2013 12:51

Of course you won't throw him out. However, I'm sure both he and you would prefer for him to get his own place. Does he have a mh worker who might be able to advise? Otherwise you could call the la housing dept or local housing associations and ask for advice. It does sound as if he would find it difficult to negotiate the system alone. As I'm sure you know, his diagnosis does class him as vulnerable. Btw I'm not suggesting you do it all for him. Just assist. In the meantime the caravan must be his room.

Although you say he feels bad etc, he does still leave mess, meds and even vomit in your home. I have a son with quite similar traits and although I love him dearly, I can't live with him. He too, says sorry then does it again.

Good luck

Pinupgirl · 07/11/2013 16:51

To answer your question op-my dcs are the same ages as your younger 2 and they get along fine sharing a room. Of course they have the usual squabbles but that's kids for you.

Ideally of course we would prefer them to have a room each-especially as they become teens but its not the end of the world for them to share-I shared a room and a bed with my sister until I was 18!

kaylasmum · 07/11/2013 20:33

Matilda - he has an appt soon with his psychiatrist and is hoping to start dbt soon.

Pinup - my dd is starting to develop and is becoming aware of this so needs her privacy. If it was my ds who was the older one it would'nt be so bad.

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