Navigating Parenthood and Advocacy in the World of Behavioral Health: A Signature Story

Parenting is often described as a journey—one filled with milestones, challenges, and constant
learning. But when you are raising a child with behavioral health issues, that journey can feel less like a linear path and more like a lifelong expedition. The landscape shifts, the stakes are high, and the emotional terrain is often unpredictable. For many families, including mine, the parenting role doesn’t neatly transition when a child becomes an adult. Instead, it evolves into something more complex, more enduring, and at times, more demanding than we ever anticipated.

A Personal Path Toward Advocacy
My path toward advocacy wasn’t something I consciously planned. It emerged from lived
experience, frustration, and eventually, a sense of responsibility. Years ago, when I first sought
support for my adult child’s behavioral health challenges, I discovered the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The organization offered the kind of community I desperately
needed—except there wasn’t a chapter anywhere near me.

In that moment, I remember thinking, Someone should really be doing this. I tucked that thought
away as life temporarily settled. But behavioral health journeys come in cycles, and when the waters inevitably turned rough again, the thought resurfaced—this time with a question attached: Why isn’t anyone doing this? And more importantly, why not me?

That question changed the trajectory of my life. It shifted me from being a parent seeking help to a community advocate creating it. I eventually ran a local DBSA chapter for many years, helping
others navigate the same uncertainty, isolation, and fear I had once felt.

From Background Advocate to Public Voice
Before stepping into public advocacy, I spent two decades as what I call a background advocate. I worked at a Protection and Advocacy Agency in a fiscal role, but that never stopped me from inserting myself—sometimes loudly—into conversations about mental health rights, access, and equity. Still, I kept my personal experiences private. The workplace was not an environment where vulnerability felt safe or supported.

It wasn’t until I began running the DBSA chapter that I realized how essential transparency and
authenticity were to meaningful advocacy. Speaking openly about mental health—both my child’s and my own—is what allowed me to connect with others, build trust, and foster community. It gave me the courage to acknowledge that supporting an adult child with a behavioral health condition isn’t something that ends with age; it simply takes a different form.

Understanding Anosognosia: When the Brain Cannot See Itself

One of the most challenging aspects many families face—mine included—is a condition known as anosognosia, often referred to as lack of insight. It’s more than denial or stubbornness; it’s a
neurological condition that prevents a person from recognizing their own symptoms. When the part of the brain responsible for self-awareness is compromised, the individual truly cannot perceive their cognitive, emotional, or functional deficits.

Most of us rely on our own minds to alert us when something is wrong. But what happens when the very organ we depend on for safety can no longer perform that function? That is the heartbreaking paradox of anosognosia.

People experiencing it can’t understand why treatment is necessary. They may reject services,
medication, or support because, from their perspective, nothing is wrong. This creates profound
challenges for families, caregivers, and professionals who are trying to help. It also fuels stigma,
misunderstanding, and unnecessary conflict.

The Emotional Toll on Families

Supporting an adult child with behavioral health issues—especially one experiencing
anosognosia—can feel like walking through a maze with no map. You grieve the gaps between who your child is and who they might be if the illness were treated. You navigate systems that are difficult at best and impossible at worst. You get used to being your child’s advocate, voice, safety net, and in many ways, their lifeline.

What families need—and deserve—is compassion, resources, and understanding. Too often, they encounter judgment instead.

Why Advocacy Matters

Advocacy isn't just about speaking up—it’s about creating space for hope where it has been
overshadowed by confusion or despair. Through DBSA and other community efforts, I’ve met
countless parents, caregivers, and individuals living with mental health conditions who have
reminded me of the immense strength found in shared journeys.

Every conversation, every educational meeting, every support group session helps dismantle
stigma. It helps families feel less alone. And it reminds us that behavioral health challenges are not personal failures—they are medical realities that require compassion, visibility, and systemic support.

A Journey That Continues

Parenting a child with behavioral health issues—whether they are five or fifty—reshapes your life. It stretches your resilience and tests your boundaries. It also reveals your capacity for love, advocacy, and perseverance in ways you may never have imagined.

My journey as a parent and advocate continues to evolve. The challenges remain, but so does the commitment—to my child, to my community, and to the belief that every person living with a behavioral health condition deserves dignity, understanding, and access to care.

And for anyone walking a similar path, know this: you are not alone. Your voice matters. Your story matters. And the work you do—quietly, daily, and often unseen—makes a difference. Share your thoughts and stories with me. I need that support right now.

If you need support from a coach https://pscflcoach.com/tnc, or if you are ready to become an
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