Different From The Other Kids: A Book of Interviews for Parents of Challenging Children

Don't Give Up!

I want to talk about what no one else wants to talk about: Children who struggle with mental health

Parents of mentally ill children live in a parallel universe where overcoming obstacles needs to be second nature. Sadly, parents of these challenging children have little to no support, from either the healthcare system or a society bent on blame. Through the interview process, we hope to add dimension to the stories of children affected by mental illness. The interviews provide a one-on-one candid conversation about what parents face in raising a more challenging child than most. My daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at sixteen, but had bouts of pervasive and debilitating anxiety and depression from when she was a child.

There was little to no support from our 'system'--it is caught up in process and woefully lacking in parental resources. If you do decide to share, in the hopes of getting some emotional support, brace yourself for the stigma of a lifetime. We can end up looking like the accomplice to a badly behaved, poorly mannered, and emotionally unstable child.

This is a first-hand, from the trenches glimpse at those who care for mentally ill children. It is an informative, emotional and sometimes harrowing look at the lives of children who live with the unique pain of dealing with an illness that no one can see. Follow Angela as she delves into a world where nothing is 'normal' and where giving up is not an option.

Angela Tsounis is a graduate of York University with an honours degree in political science. She is presently in sales for a company that sells an aftermarket product to the auto industry. Angela is aiming to create a community of shared experiences, with the thought that no parent raising a child with mental illness should feel alone. Angela is the host of Different from the Other Kids, a weekly podcast for parents of challenging children, which is available on iTunes. Angela currently resides in Southern Ontario with her partner.