Unacceptable

For the last few weeks, we've been working with Community Mental Health, their contractors, and our outpatient psychiatrist to craft an outside of the box intervention. Our primary goal is simply to allow Braden the opportunity to build skills in critical deficit areas, to learn to manage his emotions in a positive way, and to have access to intensive behavior-based therapy. For years, we have had the same goal. 

I don't know if this effort will be different than the others. I've spent so much time and energy drawing attention to our situation. I've dug deep into my soul to find the strength to build a case against my son being fit for society-even though that's the opposite of what I believe to be true-because that is what decision makers are conditioned to see as actionable. I've talked and I've listened. I've reasoned and I've begged. I've been stone-faced and I've cried.

The one thing this team agrees on is that I've exhausted every traditional resource. Progress-the kind you can build a future on-has eluded my son. His demons are as squarely stationed between him and his independence as they've ever been. And that, as it has always been, is unacceptable.