notesfromabroad
Senior Streaker
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 325
My son, Zack, spent 9 years in the Navy in the intelligence division. He speaks several languages and is a wonderful person, quite remarkable. However, he left the military on a medical leave. Basically, he suffered a breakdown due to his experiences, and after two years of treatment, and a lot of depression, he has vanished.
Three weeks ago he left our home, I thought he was going to work, with just his clothes, guitar in the trunk and his car. We did not hear from him for a day or so and I thought he had gone to see a friend, which he had said he might do, but when I did not hear from him for three days, I started calling around. He wasn't at the VA hospital, as he had gone to before. He was not at the home he has in Austin. Then he wrote to his sister, an email, and said he needed some time away. I called his office, they said he no longer worked there, and then I really got scared.
I sent him an email, which he answered the next day. I had said that I was giving him a couple of days to get in touch with me or I was going to call the police and report him missing. His note to me said that if I tried to have him put in a hospital, or if I sent the police looking for him, he would disappear and I'd never hear from him again.
Now, after a few emails (he threw away his cell phone and will not call me), he says he is in Arizona and plans to live in the wild, on an Indian reservation or in the mountains for a while.
What do you do about a grown man who will not come home? Nothing. I have contacted therapists, the VA, an attorney, talked to a police officer, and unless he hurts himself or someone else, I can't have him committed for observation.
I learned that he tried to give away everything in his home, beds, electronics, everything, but his neighbor, who is a good friend to him, made him stop. That was after he left my home in Houston, headed to Austin for a day, and then apparently kept driving toward California until his car broke down in Flagstaff. Now, he wants to forget all of us, he says, until God leads him to his "true path."
Everyone tells me that I have to let him do what he wants to do, but all I can think about is him sleeping in homeless shelters or outside, or meeting the wrong kind of person who will harm him.
Actually, he's a black belt and he's got some money each month, so I know he MIGHT be alright, but hey, I'm his mother and I just worry. He left here with nothing, and says that is what he wants...no ties to anyone.
Your prayers would be most appreciated. I, myself, am praying that he realizes he needs to get back on his medication and comes back home. I'm also praying for God to help me relax, mostly because I have heart and lung issues and the stress could land me in the hospital. I'm pretty strong willed, but his sudden departure has me baffled and confused and worried.
Thank you for letting me share and thank you for praying for him.
Three weeks ago he left our home, I thought he was going to work, with just his clothes, guitar in the trunk and his car. We did not hear from him for a day or so and I thought he had gone to see a friend, which he had said he might do, but when I did not hear from him for three days, I started calling around. He wasn't at the VA hospital, as he had gone to before. He was not at the home he has in Austin. Then he wrote to his sister, an email, and said he needed some time away. I called his office, they said he no longer worked there, and then I really got scared.
I sent him an email, which he answered the next day. I had said that I was giving him a couple of days to get in touch with me or I was going to call the police and report him missing. His note to me said that if I tried to have him put in a hospital, or if I sent the police looking for him, he would disappear and I'd never hear from him again.
Now, after a few emails (he threw away his cell phone and will not call me), he says he is in Arizona and plans to live in the wild, on an Indian reservation or in the mountains for a while.
What do you do about a grown man who will not come home? Nothing. I have contacted therapists, the VA, an attorney, talked to a police officer, and unless he hurts himself or someone else, I can't have him committed for observation.
I learned that he tried to give away everything in his home, beds, electronics, everything, but his neighbor, who is a good friend to him, made him stop. That was after he left my home in Houston, headed to Austin for a day, and then apparently kept driving toward California until his car broke down in Flagstaff. Now, he wants to forget all of us, he says, until God leads him to his "true path."
Everyone tells me that I have to let him do what he wants to do, but all I can think about is him sleeping in homeless shelters or outside, or meeting the wrong kind of person who will harm him.
Actually, he's a black belt and he's got some money each month, so I know he MIGHT be alright, but hey, I'm his mother and I just worry. He left here with nothing, and says that is what he wants...no ties to anyone.
Your prayers would be most appreciated. I, myself, am praying that he realizes he needs to get back on his medication and comes back home. I'm also praying for God to help me relax, mostly because I have heart and lung issues and the stress could land me in the hospital. I'm pretty strong willed, but his sudden departure has me baffled and confused and worried.
Thank you for letting me share and thank you for praying for him.
