[lucyjoy]

Got a call from my very depressed 20 year old. He has bi-polar and does not take meds. He says the meds make him feel like a zombie. He's been unable to hold a job for more then a month or two and has a long history with mostly the traffic court but a couple misdemeaner shoplifting charges.

He is drinking again and he tells me today he thinks he is an alcoholic. This is not news to me as we had him in alcohol treatment at 14.

He says life is hard everyday and it's always a struggle-it is, mostly cause he makes poor choices.

I talked to him a bit about change and about life and about doing something different. I asked him what he wanted life to look like.

He said he wished he could turn the clock back to age 16 and not move out.

We talked a bit about how life would be if he lived here. I reminded him that my helping him change would feel like control to him(he agreed) and that he couldn't stay here and not change what he's doing.

I'm not sure how to help him but I am concerned that he is becoming more and more suicidal on the depressive bouts of his bi-polar. He's attempted once previously. He currently has no insurance, no job, and 3 outstanding court issues that I'm aware of.

He's bright and smart and sweet and doesn't have an ounce of common sense when he's not on his meds. I hate seeing him like this and I have no idea how to help him get out of this cycle of craziness he's created for himself.

Any ideas?