My mother's boyfriend has had a mental breakdown. We had to kick him out because he refused psychological treatment. He has family here in town and according to him, they wanted nothing to do with him. We found out that it was the opposite. His family had reported him missing a looong time ago and were worried about him.

He was never dangerous, but was like a toddler. He threw away things, paced around. I saw him by the Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless and he looked right at me but didn't recognize me. He started break dancing in the middle of the road like he did before when he and my mother were both on the streets.

He was in the navy and we (his family and my mom and I) think that something had happened to him. According to him, he worked on a nuclear submarine and all, and he is very intelligent.

He asked security to our building if he could get his Veterans ID from me and I gave the guard his ID. The guard called us back later and told us that he(my mom's boo) decided that he didn't want the ID so security is holding it for their files and will be returning it to us soon. I will then give it to his uncle who basically welcomed my mother and I into the family.

My mom is grieving and I am too--I am just not letting her see my pain. Her boyfriend, whose name I am not mentioning due privacy matters, was like an older brother to me.

Mental illness is one of the many causes of homelessness. There is no cure unless you choose to live. It is against the law for a hospital or doctor force you to take the needed meds and many families don't want to deal with the drama of you insisting you are fine and going crazy as a result of you not taking your meds.

We love him and it's cold out there, but if he wanted, he could have gone to a hospital. He refuses treatment and unless he becomes suicidal or a threat to society, then there is nothing we can do but watch him destroy himself.

i think what hurts the most is seeing the one u love destroying himself or herself helplessly. but sometimes it's not our fault for they don't want any help or changes.
» renaye on 2008-12-14 01:15:00

How terrible! I have known many mentally ill people who refuse to take their medicine. We cannot be inside these peoples' minds so we can never know why they do what they do. It is a terrible position to be in. I'm sorry for you and your mother.
» Zanzibar on 2008-12-16 07:48:35

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