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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 DS

9 replies

Nomorewine77 · 06/02/2020 10:06

Hi, I apologise if this is long and rambly. DS is 22 and for years we have had no end of issues with him, feel like I'm at the end of my tether and don't know what to do for the best. He hasn't worked for years and when he has had a job he loses it usually within weeks for non attendence, late attendence and being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or both. He lost his driving license after being caught for driving uninsured ( we didn't know any of this and only found out when bailiffs came to the door for unpaid fines )
Since the age of 17 he has lied, taken alcohol from us, taken my bank card and used it, taken both of our cars whilst being unlicensed. This has resulted in both DH and I locking both keys and wallets away. He has taken mobile phones, tablets and games consoles/ games basically anything he can get to sell. He was in trouble with police a couple of years ago after stealing his friends phone.
We have confronted him SO many times both calmly and not so calmly, I have booked appointments with the GP and subsequently a counsellor to which he hasn't attended, I have offered to pay for training so he can do something he really wants to etc.
He SO angry and resentful and blames me for everything he can't do in his life, he has suffered panic attacks in the past ( I believe this was a lot to do with drinking and drug abuse or at least this hasn't helped )
Yesterday morning he arrived home, drunk and lurching all over the kitchen after telling me he had been to hospital and they suspected he had heart disease etc. I obviously tried to talk to him but he could barely string a sentence together and left him to sleep it off. When he woke later in the day he asked me what he had said to me this morning, so I answered and he started to back track saying he didn't have heart disease and had I messaged his GF ( who he was with at the time ). I said no, he was incredibly paranoid about the whole thing which caused me to think that he'd made the whole thing up.
Last night he went out and came back in with a large bottle of gin which I preceded to tip half of away, in an attempt to stop him drinking so much. He went absolutely mental, verbally very abusive, threatening and angry I asked him to leave. He did and then returned at some point later that night.
I'm at my wits end, I feel I can't tell him to go permanently he would literally be homeless as no friends or family would help out as they know how he behaves.
I don't really know what I'm asking, if there are others out there who have experienced something similar, what did you do?

OP posts:
RatherBeRiding · 06/02/2020 10:15

Did something happen at the age of 17 - how was he during his school years? How old was he when he started using cannabis - there is a lot of evidence pointing to the damage that can be done by heavy cannabis use in young people.

I think it is worth exploring the cause of this behaviour if you can see anything obvious in his past to trigger it.

Ultimately however you have to deal with the effects of his behaviour in the present and, reluctant as you are to tell him to leave, it could be time for some tough love. If he ends up homeless, with no parents to provide bed, board, meals, housekeeping, pocket money etc, it could be a wake up call. It could also mean a slide into criminality.

If you do take the line of telling him his behaviour is unacceptable then make it clear your door is always open IF he can respect your house rules.

Nomorewine77 · 06/02/2020 10:23

I can't exactly pinpoint anything that happened at 17 except him leaving school and his first serious relationship, I suspect it was around this time he started using cannabis and also drinking more heavily. Any relationship he has had has ended badly due to his alcohol abuse but he can't seem to see the link between substance abuse and his continued feelings of anxiety, paranoia, fear etc. As I have said I've tried to get him help, bought books encouraged him to join online communites to talk about his feelings etc but he just won't engage at all.

OP posts:
LatentPhase · 06/02/2020 10:33

Agree he sounds like he is not yet ready to be helped. Heart breaking. I would ask him to leave and decide for himself what next. He is an adult and has to find his way. I would be finding out the number of various homeless shelters and drug and alcohol support services and advise its time for him to leave. Sadly for him things will need to get worse before they get better. I’m so sorry. Flowers

Nomorewine77 · 06/02/2020 10:41

I think I know deep down that asking him to leave would be for the best, but I'm terrified for him. He has expressed suicidal thoughts usually in anger in response to talking to him, confronting him with regards to the latest lie or money stolen etc.
DH has said ( not to him ) that he needs to go or properly sort himself out. We are just in limbo right now as doing nothing feels like enabling him.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/02/2020 10:45

Sometimes you've got to hit rock bottom to start sorting yourself out.

So as hard as it is, I think you need to boot him out. He can stay with his GF or friends if need be. The next time he steals from you, call the police. It's tough love and it's going to be hard but I don't see that you have any other options left. He has to sort himself out. You cannot do this for him.

Dunin · 06/02/2020 10:52

Is there a crisis support team in your local area through social services? Worth giving them a call? I don’t know what to suggest but it seems like he needs structure. Has he ever tried anything like the TA? It seems like he needs direction. What about sending him to boxing classes. Get out all the anger. I really wish there was a national month long residential programme for young adults. Put them somewhere rural with no access to drink and drugs and strict routine with activities like climbing/abseiling/boxing/mud runs run by ex Para types who are inspirational figures. Give them a chance to see what they could achieve and what they are good at.

Nomorewine77 · 06/02/2020 11:07

Unfortunately he hasn't many, if any friends as he seems to have alienated them all and GF is very recent. She has two young children so I don't think that would be an option at all. I will look into crisis, social services etc as I haven't really looked into that and as an adult trying to get him to do something is next to impossible. He simply doesn't entertain any suggestions of reasonable help. He says his life is shit and he can't do anything about it. I do worry as he doesn't seem to show any remorse for the lies, stealing etc almost like he feels justified in doing it and can't understand our feelings of hurt
and anger as a result of it.
I feel like he thinks the world owes him something and if he doesn't get it, then it's everyone else's fault, sorry not sure if that bit makes any sense at all!

OP posts:
ColumbaPalumbus · 06/02/2020 11:53

I'd make attending family therapy sessions and an alcohol treatment facility of whatever type the conditions of him staying. Be prepared for him to go. But they are healthy requests and boundaries.

loveyoutothemoon · 06/02/2020 13:34

Tough love time! He needs to start taking responsibility for his actions. Can a family member put him up for a while? Next time phone the police.

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