Often, people with these illnesses don’t believe that they need the medication. So my father simply refused to take it

M

y brothers would talk about how my father became unpredictable. When he would walk through the door, they couldn’t be sure which kind of father was coming through: the loving father or the moody father. When he was in that mode, he was totally unpredictable. For example, he made contests and promised them huge prizes, but when they achieved the goal, he would change his mind or claim they didn’t deserve it.

Sometimes he would begin ranting about a small thing and seem almost unable to stop. Once, Mommy forgot to bring the camera when they went on vacation, and for the full four days of the trip, he was upset at her for forgetting it.

No one in my family was very forthcoming with information. But once in a moment of candid conversation Mommy explained to me that my father had a mental illness. He went to a psychiatrist and got medications. But often, people with these illnesses don’t believe that they need the medication. So my father simply refused to take it.

Life was totally unpredictable. It was scary, and the children were scared as well.