Intervention - Suggestions?

[BloomInWinter]

I think getting social services involved is the safest course of action here. That, and alerting the children's school about your worries. They see the kids every day and they can be watching for signs of abuse. Also, calling the children's doctors and alerting them as to what is going on is very important. The doctor and teachers cannot act on anything you say, but they can help watch over the children for any signs of abuse or neglect.

Protecting her children should be top priority here.

She likely won't like any action taken, but it's not about keeping her from feeling the effects of her actions. Truly, if she is that voliatile, she doesn't need more unsolicited advice from non-professionals, she needs professionals.

Protecting her from feeling the negative effects of her own behavior by excusing or ignoring it only enables her to continue on the path she's going....and next time, there might be far more severe consequences that permanently mess up her life and that of her children's.

We like to think we can "intervene" or "talk" people out of mental illness, but we cannot. We can't talk people out of being violent any more than we can talk a cancer patient out of not having cancer.

She needs to be held accountable by making her behavior visible to those around her and the kids...or the kids could be her next target. Holding her accountable now may prevent tragedy down the road. We cannot heal others by talking to them or appealing to reason. Someone who acts out violently isn't operating on reason and simply cannot turn that off with a switch.

I hope you'll let the professionals know and take over, regardless of her feelings on it. You may be the last chance at prevention of harm to those children they'll ever get.

 

[Notsowild]

She sees a counsellor. It is with my oldest granddaughter who was cutting. She sees her separately too. She says she tells her about her violent episodes. I told her today I wanted to come into a session with her. She agreed but her counsellor is on holidays till October 3rd. Then I asked if she was willing to see my psychiatrist with me. She was very hesitant and worried what I might have told her about our situation. She said she'd think about it.

Meanwhile I'm walking in eggshells here. Trying not to say too much that will start anything. I also took a sick day from work to keep an eye on the girls. My son will take over tomorrow when I have to work.