My sister-inlaw is 19 and wets the bed every night. She likes to lie to get people to feel sorry for her and also likes to cut her self. The thing is, the cuts are never deep. They are nothing more then cat scratches on her legs. She likes to show people for attention. We have tried to be supportive of her. We have even tried taking care of her laundry for her and she still won't work on her problem. Instead of changing her sheets, she leaves them on and sleeps on them and it's a on going cycle. This is causing conflict in my marriage and in the family. My husband and I are the only ones willing to let her stay with us so that she can concentrate on school. We are both at the end of our ropes with her and thinking that maybe she should move back with her mom or on her own. She has been in a mental institution before and admitted that she was making everything up. She claims that there are voices in her head and something scratches her when she is sleeping.
These were things she has confessed about making up and now she starting to do it all over again. What can we do to help her?

She may well have seroius mental health issues and may be hearing voices. Admitting you make it up is also part of soe of the mental illness.

But she needs seroius professoinal help. Giving in to her demands and allowing her to do it without having to be responsible.

All you(or she) have to do is strip her bed in the morning and put the sheets in a 30 gallon black garbage bag and spray her room with Glade air freshener. After a couple of days of accumulated sheets, you can take her to do her laundry when you do yours.

The fact that you are directing so much anger toward her is very unhealthy for her and for you and your marriage.

Is her brother able to show her love, that is talk to her, hug her, and take her places, just the two of them?

It is impossible to control people, the only person you can control is yourself. Are you willing to work on your attitude toward her?

Don't place yourself in a mental position of being in competition with her for your husband's attention.

If you find that you are unable to lose your anger, I think the girl would be better living elsewhere.


Best wishes in 2008,

Maybe she really is heaing voices and is scared to get up and go to the bathroom at night. Maybe something really is scratching her. Maybe she said she was making it all up to keep from being sent back to a mental institution. I believe your sisiter inlaw needs to talk to a Pastor or a Chriatain Counselor. I have experienced the darkness of what she is going through, believe it or not Jesus can help her and set her free from the problems she is having. She can call me <phone number removed>. Try not to be angry with her, there is a real problem going on that goes way beyond her just needing attetion.

[QUOTE=Debbiema;3434022]Maybe she really is heaing voices and is scared to get up and go to the bathroom at night. Maybe something really is scratching her. Maybe she said she was making it all up to keep from being sent back to a mental institution. I believe your sisiter inlaw needs to talk to a Pastor or a Christian Counselor. I have experienced the darkness of what she is going through, believe it or not Jesus can help her and set her free from the problems she is having. She can call me anytime at <phone number removed> Try not to be angry with her, there is a real problem going on that goes way beyond her just needing attention. Sometimes we fail to look and see no one wants to be abnormal different maybe, but not abnormal.