How do you guys cope with things? I’m 22 with an 8month old of my own and somehow I’ve become the “caretaker” of my bipolar mother since I turned 21. She’s been hospitalized for having manic episodes 7 times in the last 2 months & it doesn’t help that she’s also an alcoholic. I’m always the one who has to take her in. The hospitals in Chicago are crappy and all they do is feed her medication and send her back into the streets within a few days, even if she’s not stabilized.

No one in my family will take her in and now she’s homeless. For some reason I just feel the need to step in and help all the time and it’s really wearing me down. Part of me feels like I can’t leave her on the streets (it’s beyond dangerous in Chicago), but the other part of me is worried about bringing her in my home with my baby and fiancé.

Not to mention that emotionally I just can’t handle it all. I get annoyed with my partner when he talks about her in my house because I’m so stressed. I try to take my mind off of her, but the second I feel relaxed here comes another issue.

How do you help a bipolar, alcoholic that doesn’t even want help?? How do you look out for a loved one who constantly puts themselves and your family in danger? What the hell am I supposed to do!!???