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Step child moods?

9 replies

razzke · 27/04/2024 14:22

Hello everyone just want abut of advice from people who have children this age, my step son who is 12 in august, I'm worried about him, I've had him since he was 5 with his dad we have full custody , he's a very good child but with a lot of issues regarding mental health due to his other parent just leaving him, won't go into detail but he gets counciling and me and his dad are very supportive in that sense as I have been through what he has as a child I can very much relate. Hence why I'm worried about his behavior lately, so he's been very moody which I know this age they can be but.. he's always been the one for the Xbox and playing out with his friends and going to football. For the past week he's been in bed all day won't play on his Xbox won't play out. He's always known he can talk to us and has a lot of times if he feels very down about his mum etc. he keeps telling us nothing is wrong but his friends said he isn't speaking to them either , I don't know what else I'm supposed to do but I have anxiety and I get super worried about his stuff due to my brother being so quiet and committing suicide at a young age so I always feel on point to watch for mood changes etc with my children, he might be my step child but I don't class him as that I brought him up so he's my child regardless and I'm worried sick! Any advice? Is this age related ??

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Irishmama100 · 27/04/2024 17:31

Oh God
I would be worried too. If you had said he didn’t want to play out and just play in on the X box that would be a different story. But to stay in bed, that’s bad. Poor wee man🥲
Could you entice him with a fun activity with one good friend. If not I would seek medical help. You are doing all the right things and sound like a wonderful step mother who he is lucky to have looking out for him.

Irishmama100 · 27/04/2024 17:33

Ps my son is 13, moods - yes, not wanting to go out -yes. But not staying in bed and off x box - no.
so I don’t think it is age related

NewNameNigel · 27/04/2024 18:56

This is definitely not normal. It sounds like severe depression. If he's already receiving counseling I assume he's known to NHS mental health services. Is there anyone you can call then?

razzke · 27/04/2024 19:01

Update- spoken to him on his own as he likes to speak to dad but when it's something about feelings he gets quite embarrassed so he does tend to speak to me about deeper things , he's told me hits just getting boring with the Xbox all his friends go out now which he is also allowed to do but can't be bothered most times which I'm putting this down to low moods, spoken to his best friends mum and her son is also behaving like this recently, I've reassured him I'm always here and would love if he got anything he felt out even if it's over text and I'll help as much as I can! , I'm also going to speak to his school councilor to maybe have a little in depth chat on Monday, he's very athletic and does a lot of hobbies through the week he's not stopped them which is great so I know he's ok there but I'm going to most definitely keep a close eye , I've just gone to the shop and got some little munchies putting the 2 younger ones to bed and going to have a movie night with him and his dad but of 1-1 time with him x

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razzke · 27/04/2024 19:02

@Irishmama100 I agree. He was very much Xbox head to the point we had to make him have breaks for his own health which he was fine with , definitely taking it further to help him

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razzke · 27/04/2024 19:04

@NewNameNigel yes most definitely going to call his councilor to maybe have a chat with him because I know my son and as much as he says he's fine I know he's not he doesn't know but I have had depression and anxiety since I was 11 due to my family member passing who I was close with I can tell when something's wrong and normally it's about his birth mum so I try be there as much as I can for when he's like this as I know the signs

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Buyingahouse2024 · 29/04/2024 08:23

poor thing. You sound like an amazing step mum and your husband and step son are lucky to have you! I would be very worried too. I know it doesn't fix the problem as such and hopefully his counsellor can get to the bottom of it. However, if that was my step son when we were both off I'd try and make the effort to get him to do things that I know he loves. For example my step son (who is the same age as yours) loves mini golf so I'd be looking to do things like that just so it gets him out the house sometimes. I hope he is okay x

razzke · 29/04/2024 08:28

@Buyingahouse2024 yes I agree! We went to the fair just me and him yesterday he enjoyed it to a extent but I've already spoke to his school councilor today so she's going to have a chat with him, he's already on the NHS mind mate for mental health , I told them he doesn't want to look after himself e.g he hates taking a bath hates keeping clean brushing his teeth etc and I knew that he was going to say " that's ever teenager" I said ok well I know mine and I know he's going through something

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razzke · 29/04/2024 22:13

Update- I found out the reason why he's been acting like he has :/ he's met the wrong people at school and come home smelling of cigarettes which is not like him at all. I'm very shocked and upset as we really take pride in how we bring up our kids I really wouldn't expect this from him😔

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