Guest pot by Jane Schuchardt, Executive Director (ret.), Extension Committee on Organization and Policy
What do you do when your handsome, talented, and accomplished son in his early 20s, one you thought you had a close relationship with, suddenly pulls away, acts in ways that seem out of the ordinary, causes you immense concern? Seek help — someone who will listen without judgment, skillfully take you down a path of discovering insights and ways of coping, and walk beside you to celebrate accomplishments and grieve losses.
For more than a decade, I dutifully engaged in psychodynamic therapy, the firm foundation that kept me standing as our son struggled with bipolar disorder. Writing about this journey seemed important for me to savor what I had learned and, on occasion, look back on it as a reminder of my worth. I had no intention of sharing it, though later, as the stigma associated with mental illness seemed to moderate a bit, getting this first-person account published, in hopes it encouraged others to reach out for help, seemed appropriate.
The article in part first appeared in the Nebraska Quarterly, published by the Nebraska Alumni Association, Lincoln, NE in the Spring 2022 issue with reference to the complete article here https://www.huskeralum.org/s/1620/magazine/interior.aspx?sid=1620&gid=1&pgid=2699. The editor-in-chief of this publication has granted permission to include the article in this blog post.
Please know that each person’s experience with psychotherapy is different. My story is grueling in duration and complexity with a positive result that allows me to live my life, though far from perfect, with confidence and peace. I am thankful.
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