I really feel for you and the situation you're up against. I have helped my husband raise three drug babies he adopted through foster care. I have a son and daughter with bipolar. From my experience, before you can start coaxing and gently "pushing" them in the right direction, the medicine has to be right. There is a big difference between people with mental health issues that don't take medication or do take it now and then AND those who take it regularly as well as see their psychiatrist on a regular basis. That is the key place you need to start, in my opinion. If I were you, I would insist on accompanying your son to the doctor and he has to follow the doctor's recommendations, if he is going to live in your house. Their moods change so much, you have to catch him in a good mood and let him know he is not alone, but you are there and will go through it with him. Get a prescription (they have to start out slow and conservative on the medications) and be sure he takes it. See the dr in 2 weeks to report how he is doing. You may have to go every 2 weeks for several months before he is stable. Once that is in place, getting him to do the productive, mature things in life will almost come naturally. He will then be much more open to your "politely persistent" suggestions. With my kids, nothing gets accomplished when I yell. In fact, you may find that he listens more if you speak to him in almost a whisper. That keeps my children from blowing up at me. I would suggest the book, "Understanding the Mind of your Bipolar Child," by Gregory T. Lombardo, MD PHD. I have learned so much from that book. Tell me how it goes. Hang in there. You're not by yourself : )View Thread