Help!

So it's been an interesting 24 hours to say the least. Although from some of my previous blog posts, you might have been able to tell this was sorta coming. Looking back, I know it makes sense to me. But, of course, that's hindsight for you.

As you may have noticed, my brother has been having some issues lately and has been constantly coming to me for advice. I've been trying to help the best I can, but I'm only one small person, without any sort of degree in medicine, so I can't say I've been very good at my advice for him. I've just helped him in the way that I would handle situations.

Last night, my mom and my brother were talking. (I'm assuming she originally wanted to talk to him about staying in his job, b/c he hates it and REALLY wants to quit and she wants him to stay b/c he makes really good money there for not having a degree of any sorts.) She said that while they were talking, my brother said he needed help. That he thought he needed some kind of medication to help him cope with life.

So today, my mom called a psychiatrist that came from the reference of my old pediatrician. She scheduled an appointment for him of Friday. The psychiatrist said that if he needed help before then, that he was to go to the hospital and they would help him there.

Well, not long after, my brother comes storming in here crying his eyes out. His boyfriend broke up with him and he was devastated. He was shaking and crying so hard, I thought he was gonna throw up. My mom had gone out for a bit, so I called her and asked her if she wanted me to take my brother to the hospital. She said she'd be back in 15 minutes and that she'd do it.

She took him to the hospital and all I know is that he went in and didn't want to kill himself, which is a great sign. (You also must know, my brother has cut himself before about a year ago or less in attempt to kill himself, which is why he should have gone to the Dr. a long time ago! Even I knew that!)

My mom was talking to me earlier, and we think that a disease like bipolar disease runs in our family. We have a sneaking suspicion that my uncle could be. We also think my grandpa might have been...of course, all this is in hindsight...but both were very troubled and both drank heavily. The drinking could have been a coping mechanism. But both sides of my family have very troubled pasts.

I am feeling a mixture of emotions. The first one is sadness. Because my brother has to go through all this...and it definitely can't be easy. It was so hard sitting here, watching him ball his eyes out and not being able to console him. However, most of me is happy. Happy he's finally going to be getting the help I've been thinking he needed for a long time. He's always been so mood swingy...and he's angry all the time, it seems. I'm just hoping that all this turns out for the best for him.

I'll keep you updated.