How to prove father unfit overdoses on meds for anx/depression disorder?
I am a mother of an eight year old daughter whose biological father was diagnosed years ago with anxiety depression disorder. He has not gotten better as a result of therapy but chooses instead to overdose on his medication and drink on top of it. His therapist (who has since passed away from cancer) of course had no idea the entire time treating him. Unfortunately the problem with therapists especially the ones who treat their patients as friends instead of patients do not know nor are they paying attention to what is really happening when that person is at home alone. I found all this out when I ended up moving back in with him after a 6 year separation my child now 6 years old at the time, giving the father a "second chance" (mind you he had only seen the child once as a baby I was trying to do good for the child father relationship) Believing him thinking he had really made strides and after being all moved in discovered he was on medication. Something he neglected to tell me. I went to one visit to the therapist with him explaining the fathers’ slurred and defensive behavior and the therapist said to him "you're overdosing" and also asked the father if he could also not have a drink for 30 days. The biological fathers response was "not one?". I left in less than one year of being there. It has been just about 2 years and the biological father now wants visitation rights. He's lonely and desperate and knows my daughter is his last chance for any type of attention adoration. He cannot take care of himself or his surroundings properly. He is not on the birth certificate and we were never married. He wants to establish paternity, lives in another state and my fear is that he will have time alone unsupervised with my daughter which is not in her best interest. He cannot be trusted not to abuse and is mentally unfit. I do not want my happy child to go through any type of court situation or disturbance as she is very happy. It is emotionally wrong and unnecessary to do. The child is living with me and my fiancée in a very stable environment, nice home, neighborhood, school etc.. I would hope this would help our side of the situation. I would not disagree with visitation if his parents and I were present. This is not a case of vengeance against the father from the mother just anger and infuriation that he just can't make the choice and/or clearly does not know how to make the choice to stop. It is not my daughters’ problem nor should it be her problem that he can't function properly. His parents cater to him only to keep him at bay for themselves with their money. My entire family is contemplating asking the parents for a "come to Jesus" so to speak.. meeting to put a halt to his desperate behavior and their admittance that they are responsible for feeding the behavior and the only ones who can stop it. After all he is 50 years old now! I do not want the traditional family court appointed strange supervisor with my child in some strange atmosphere with her messed up father as a memory. My entire family is willing to stand up to him in this situation for the best interest of the child. How do you protect your child against a "silent abuser" that no one else can see? How can I prove him unfit? I am having panic attacks at the thought of this going the wrong way.. it sickens me for my daughter. After all there is plenty of evidence of choices gone wrong in family court and that's an understatement. Responses and opinions PLEASE!! Any hints on a truly great PA attorney in this area of law would be very helpful also. Thanks for your Help.
