Regina from Texas

My mother Carla has been dealing with mental illness since she was young, before she even had me. I have been helping her and taking care of her full time for the past few years but have always looked out for her even as a small child. When mommy goes into a room, locks the door and cries, I would call grandma or daddy for help. If they weren't available, I'd go next door to the neighbors or call someone on our phone list. Sometimes mom would cry, sometimes she would scream, sometimes it would last for days. She was rarely what I would consider a normal mom, she was always on the verge of a breakdown or episode and I was always scared and walking on egg shells wondering when the next bout of screaming or crying would be. Now I know that I can't control it or her and sometimes she has breakdowns and I just have to help her get through it as best I can. It does weigh heavy on a person when these things happen but we can only help the person get through the tough times and try to enjoy the good days when they come around, far and few between.