Blessings Spaw,

A good friend of mine added a foster child to her family when the neighboring Aunt became overloaded. At age 11 there was an extreme uphill battle that inclulded depression, cutting, suicide attempts and eventually running to the opposite coast to live with the father she had not seen in 12 years....
She too was very artisic. ONe summer with a lot of rangling for scholarship money she headed off for two weeks of college level art school. Cutting there was almost a norm.

Bright artistic kids (perhaps) have the ability to name and focus the pain that others withdraw from. "Seeing to much" is a blessing and a curse and controling one's response is never easy.

More than materialism we've created a culture where we believe pain is controlable. Whether it's physical or emotional we want it to be cured yesterday. And we really don't want to admit it could impact us. For teens who feel isolated and alone almost by definition ,emotional pain becomes one flashing indicator that something is wrong with them... not the basic premiss.

Spaw, there are hugs going out and yes, damaged wiring can cause all types of short circuted behavior, but keep the care flowing for the household and yourself. Keep firm and strong. Feel the love here. Give the system hell.

Tinker