Are you tired of the ups and downs of caring for a mentally ill adult child? Are you ready to stop riding the roller coaster and take back your life?

What do you do when your mentally ill adult child’s (MIAC) situation changes with no warning?

As mothers of a mentally ill adult child (MIAC), we’re always waiting for the next shoe to drop. This low-key feeling of dread – because history has taught us that any stability is fleeting – drains the happiness out of the good times. It's only a matter of time before the peace is shattered…

When I questioned the case manager’s assessment, she informed me that it’s normal for the brain to still be healing one to two years after a serious psychotic break. While this new information helped me understand, intellectually, what was going on with my son’s apathy and inaction, I have a confession…

As a mother of a mentally ill adult child (MIAC), we all have days where we hit the proverbial wall. It’s okay to vent, to purge our innermost thoughts and fears, to ask for support and understanding from our sisters. What’s NOT okay is to fall into the trap of becoming a chronic complainer. Here's what that looks like, plus six ways to stop complaining and improve your life…

As mothers of mentally ill adult children (MIAC), we all lose it sometimes. The responsibilities of caring for an adult child living with a mental illness are demanding, frustrating, and complex. Sometimes screaming, profanity, tears, and anger come bursting forth without warning. Here’s why that happens and how to avoid it…

For many years I felt envious of other families who got to share peaceful, happy holidays. Thankfully that's in the past. With less pressure and no expectations, I’ve learned to be grateful for the time we spend together, even if it doesn’t look the way other families celebrate. Learn three ways you can have better holidays in 2023 as the mother of a mentally ill adult child (MIAC)...

It may seem easier to skip the holidays, but it IS possible for you to enjoy them. Your mentally ill adult child (MIAC) doesn’t need to be part of the festivities for you to enjoy yourself. Forcing it will only make them and yourself miserable. This year start a new holiday tradition. A tradition of acceptance and joy…

We hide our child’s truth, we act like all is okay, we refuse to share our heartache, and then we wonder why society doesn’t understand what mental illness looks like. Nothing will change until every mom who has a mentally ill adult child (MIAC) comes out of the closet of shame. Step out of the shadows, be your child’s voice, and help combat the stigmas about mental illness.

Irrational and chaotic brains of mentally ill adults have a difficult time hearing and sorting through words. Yelling just amplifies the noise in your child’s brain. If there is no chance of a rational conversation, save your breath. He won’t hear or remember what you’re saying. The goal should be healthy communication. That’s right, even if your child is mentally ill you can work towards functional dialog. Here’s how…

From the day your child was born you’ve had hopes, dreams, and expectations. None of it was more that an imaginary life that you were creating in your mind. Unfortunately, life rarely happens according to our plan. There are too many undetermined factors that play a role in every outcome. Learning to live in the moment, is the answer…

I blamed myself for all the things I had no control over. The guilt devoured me until I felt a hollow shell of my former self. In hindsight, the guilt was just another layer of grief. It’s what moms do to themselves when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, especially a severe mental illness (SMI.) We’re not taught the warning signs to look for, the right questions to ask, and doctors attribute most behaviors to teenage angst…

Sometimes it’s not the chaotic events that crush me, but the minutia of everyday life that does me in. There’s heartache in haircuts, in seeing a healthy young man, in playing with my grandkids, in going to a wedding, in attending birthdays and holidays, in making life decisions for my mentally ill adult child (MIAC). Everyday there is something that reminds me that my son is sick and will never be well. I try hard to focus on what’s still left to keep me going...

Holding onto painful emotions, traumatizing experiences, and unfulfilled expectations is something many people do. Yet, why do you insist on dragging this emotional baggage everywhere you go? It’s much easier to release the bad when you feel more balanced between light and dark. Here’s how…

Butterflies represent change, hope, and positivity. A monarch’s life from caterpillar to its migrational journey is a metaphor for our own spiritual journeys. They follow a path into the unknown, trusting the outcome. They remind us to have faith and follow our instincts as we navigate through life, especially in the face of difficult circumstances beyond our control.