10/24/2024
Important Announcement! PSA!
Today myself and my co-authors are launching our Amazon Best Sellers Campaign and Online Book Launch!!!! Help us become #1 Amazon Best Sellers by clicking the link below and purchasing the digital copy for $2.99! Limited time only! In my chapter I share my experience parenting a child with severe behavioral problems and my journey to healing generational cycles of abandonment, neglect, addiction and sexual trauma. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK4BRSZP...
Parenting a child with severe emotional and behavioral challenges was never something I imagined when I was expecting my first child. Like any parent, I envisioned a life full of joy, milestones, and moments to cherish. But what started as a journey filled with love and excitement soon became a living nightmare during my child's teenage years.
The teenage years brought an onslaught of emotional instability, unpredictable moods, and difficult behaviors that turned our home into a place of constant tension. I experienced the heartbreak of watching my child spiral out of control, knowing I couldn't fix it. What was once joy slowly dissolved into a haze of fear, anxiety, and helplessness. There were countless days when I called the police—sometimes to help locate her after she ran away, other times to put her out of my home because her behavior had become unmanageable. The calls became so frequent that they started to blur together. Each time I dialed, my heart broke a little more, knowing that the child I loved was still there, buried beneath layers of pain, mental illness, and behavioral issues.
But God.
In those darkest moments, when I felt like all hope was gone, I found strength in my faith. I found that even when I couldn’t control the chaos, I could still love her fiercely. I could still pray. And today, I use my voice, my pain, and my journey to support, educate, and advocate for other families facing similar battles.
You are not alone.
If you’re reading this and you’re in the trenches with a child struggling with severe emotional or behavioral problems, know that there is hope. Don't give up. I’ve been there—feeling lost, helpless, and unsure of what tomorrow will bring. But through faith, education, and connecting with the right resources, you can find a way through this storm.
The road isn’t easy, but with the right support, you don’t have to walk it alone. Below are national and Richmond, VA resources that can help guide you and your family through these tough times:
National Resources:
1. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Website: nami.org
Offers free support groups, resources, and advocacy for families dealing with mental illness.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Website: samhsa.gov
Provides mental health and substance use treatment resources, including a national helpline: 1-800-662-HELP.
3. The Trevor Project
Website: thetrevorproject.org
Focused on LGBTQ youth, offering crisis intervention and su***de prevention services.
4. Child Mind Institute
Website: childmind.org
Provides resources and articles on parenting children with behavioral and emotional challenges.
Richmond, VA Local Resources:
1. Virginia Family Network (VFN)
Website: namivirginia.org
A network supporting families who are raising children with mental health challenges.
2. United Methodist Family Services (UMFS)
Website: umfs.org
Provides support services for children and families, including residential programs and foster care.
3. Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA)
Website: rbha.org
Offers a wide range of mental health and substance use services for individuals and families in the Richmond area.
4. Families Anonymous Richmond
Website: familiesanonymous.org
A 12-step program providing support for families of loved ones facing addiction and behavioral issues.
I want to remind you that asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it’s an act of courage and love. These resources are here for you. Together, we can navigate these challenges and build a future of hope and healing for our children.
