Mother feels imprisoned by mentally ill adult son

DEAR ABBY: My 38-year-old son is mentally ill and refuses medication, counseling or any type of help. I’m 63, and he physically and mentally abuses me. I had him committed, but he refused to cooperate, so they released him after two weeks. Life after that became worse.

I have no time to myself except when I sleep or take a nap. Family and friends are not allowed in the house because they make him uncomfortable. I can’t even open the blinds to let the sun in because “people are watching him.”

I know he needs help desperately, but I don’t know where else to turn. My family tells me to have him committed and not let him back home. I feel guilty about sending him out of my home because I’m afraid of what he might do or what could happen to him.

I go for counseling once a month, and I have discussed this with my therapist, who says the same thing as my family: “Commit him and throw away the key!” I am so torn! I suffer from depression and this lifestyle does not help.

I’m planning to move to another state where I have family, and I don’t know what to do with him. I feel like I’m trading one cell for another. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

LOYAL READER IN NEW YORK

DEAR LOYAL READER: Listen to your therapist. If your son is institutionalized, he will be in a safe environment. The alternative could be that he would become one of the multitude of mentally ill individuals who are living on the street.

If your son is medicated, he might be able to live in a group home where he could be sheltered and taken care of. With medication he might be able to have more of a life than you have provided.

You may feel guilty, but you are not responsible for your son’s mental illness. It is very important that you are successfully treated for your depression before making the decision to move. Your depression may have been caused because you have become the prisoner of your son’s hallucinations.

※ 다음에 나오는 문제들은 본 기사에 나오는 중요한 어휘들로 구성된 토익, 토플, 텝스 기출 및 예상 문제입니다.

※ Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the highlighted part or fill in the blank with a suitable one.

1. The U.S. Supreme Court

upheld

an Oregon law that allows doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients.

① challenged ② supported ③ deliberated ④ denied

2. I would rather kill myself than ________________ such a crime.

① commit ② improve ③ bartered ④ peddled

3. The corporate gymnasium provides employees with a healthy

outlet for

tension and stress.

① discussion on ② approach to ③ schedule for ④ release from

4. I'm sure the man is

innocent

of the crime.

① convicted ② informed ③ not guilty ④ accused

5. Do you think that there are

alternatives

to prison?

① options ② orientations ③ discounts ④ services

[번역 및 정답]

1. [번역] 미연방대법원은 의사가 불치병을 앓고 있는 환자에게 치사량의 약물을 처방하도록 한 오리건 주의 법을

지지(인정)했다

.

[정답] ②

2. [번역] 나는 그러한 범죄를

저지르려니

차라리 자살할 것이다.

[정답] ①

3. [번역] 그 회사의 체육관은 근로자들에게 긴장과 스트레스를 푸는 건전한

배출구

를 제공해 준다.

[정답] ④

4. [번역] 나는 그 사람이 그 범죄에 대해

유죄가 아니라고

확신한다.

[정답] ③

5. [번역] 감옥에 대한

대안

이 있다고 생각하십니까?