ktmcnealey's Journal

We have family therapy this afternoon, we go every Tuesday.  It's been helpful, somewhat.  We've learned that when stepson has his "episodes" we should give him breathing space.  A little bit of background about stepson.  His mom died when he was 11 months old in a car accident.  He was raised by his maternal grandparents.  My husband had partial custody and was there for stepson while he was growing up.  Well....once stepson got old enough....he said he wanted to live with his dad.  About 2 years ago, my husband's mother was granted temporary custody.  My husband is military and had just gotten a year long assignment in DC so.....stepson was going to stay with grandmother til my husband got back.  Well.......me and my husband were not married at the time decided to get married and permanently relocate to DC.  Four months before we got married, my husband was granted full custody.  So......essentialy, the day we moved up here was the first day for our new family.  I'd only spent a few hours with stepson before this because he has NEVER liked me.  I babysat him one time and he flew into a rage!  If I'd had any sense that would've been my cue to hit the road.  Anyway.....we got married in September 06 and within a month.....my stepson cussed me out and flew into another rage.  At that point....I told my husband that stepson needed professional help.  From his behavior and my internet sleuthing, I thought he was bipolar.  Eventually, we got him into therapy and he was put on an anti-psychotic med to control his temper/anger.  We also started family thereapy at that point. Well..... about a month after this....my stepson and husband got into it because stepson was late coming home from school.  Stepson got mad when my husband grounded him, said that he wished he was dead and locked himself in his bathroom.  My husband got into the bathroom, stepson tried to run away, my husband restrained him and I called the police.  Stepson said that he was going to kill himself and tell the police that my husband banged his head into the wall(a lie).  Long story short....stepson was admitted to a behavioral hospital and my husband was arrested.  Stepson spent 2 weeks in the hospital and luckily.....the charges against my husband were dropped.  Stepson was diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (from death of mom) and his grandfather physically abused him.  So now, stepson is in a partial hospitalization program(php).  He goes M-F, from 8-4.  We have family therapy every Tues and their is a parent support group on mondays, that my husband goes to(another story).   It seems to be helping my stepson.  He's been put on Zoloft for his depression and he's learning coping measures for his anger.  But I have some conflicting emotions.  I am trying to like stepson but......it's hard.  He is so angry and confrontational all of the time.  Oh and I forgot to mention that he told the psychiatrist during one of our sessions that "he would hurt me".  WHAT!!  We were told to hide all the sharp knives and sharp objects in the house.  So....add also my fear that he will harm me to everything else.  I wish every day that I would never have married and stayed in Alabama.  I dread having to spend any time around stepson because I don't trust him. I just don't know what to do.... I am trying to hang in there but it's hard.  Anyway...enough for now.  I gotta get ready to go to therapy.