Why Mom Says She Feels ‘Shamed’ And ‘Blamed’ For Her Mental Health Issues

After Brittany was born, I suffered post-partum psychosis. I experienced a complete disassociation of reality and time and place. It was very scary. Kimber spent over a month in the hospital. Because of her actions, they had to bring security guards in. She couldn't remember her name or anything else along that line.

In the past 16 years, I've had to be admitted to psychiatric hospitals 5 times. My mental health issues have definitely put a strain on my relationship with my daughter Brittany. Kimber has always said that if she never had me, her whole life would be better. One time when Kimber was having an episode, she was trying to get out of the house when she was half dressed, so I pinned her down in the living room before she could get outside and run around the neighborhood half-naked. It was embarrassing. A few years ago, she had a really bad episode and it almost made us get a divorce because she left for a long period of time.

I've not been able to have a normal life at all. She took away my childhood, and I can never get that back. I feel that I'm shamed and blamed for things that I don't necessarily have control over. Your diagnosis across time has been what? Is, now they're saying PTSD.

And the post-partum psychosis. Bipolar disorder also. With manic episodes. Well, I'm very sorry that you're having to deal with that, and are you on an active medical regimen for that? Yes, absolutely.

And I go and see counselors. This side of the family doesn't believe in counseling, they think only kooks go to go get help at all. Literally, though.

So, it's Not true. That is true, though. No, not true. For me it is.

Do you guys understand that she has been diagnosed with a disorder and is managing that? Yes. Yeah. We've been dealing with it the last 16 years. Ben, you look like you want to say something. I want to say that it, that mental health has fragmented my family to the point of intolerance.

I have provided a lot of those so-called brat things privileges to her. I'm told that I can't take it away, because you provided it. I can't withhold the phone from her, because you Who has said that, and that is him. The one who's sitting over there.

And if you didn't parent well enough to control it, and come out with a good daughter in the end, I can't do any more than what I'm told.