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dehahaSenior Contributor
My adult children have no idea how unwell I am. They have lost 3 people to suicide in the last 10 years including their dad. I will not add to their fear and anxiety by making them have to worry about me too.
I worry constantly about this decision as I don't want them to be angry with me. They are my world and I will do anything to try to protect them.
In response to: Mums worry
SoothSenior Contributor
Hi, I hear you mum. In the same boat I'm a Dad. I see them struggling to hold it together, carrying unfair burdens.
I'm glad you are talking to us, me. We can do this, we can share. They think we are old and settled, got a handle on things. Little do they know!!
Changes, perplexity, questions and an urgency.
Keep talking.
In response to: Mums worry
FFS-forrealCasual Contributor
It's a worry and I understand you don't want to worry your kids. You say you love them and want to protect them. I Have lost three children who went to sleep and never woke up and three family members to suicide. I chose to hang around and fake that I'm okay to protect my last surviving child into losing all hope. I can't tell you what to do, but I do understand the choice you might make. Life is hard and not always fun - it cans suck
In response to: Mums worry
MJG017Senior Contributor
Hi @dehaha. I don;t really have much to suggest, other than we are here to list and support you. I can see both sides here and it's extremely difficult to balance. It's understandable you wanting to not want to add more worry and stress to their own and I can also see that keeping it to yourself may not be helping anyone. I'm sure you've though about all the reasons for and against a million times, so adding my own probably wouldn't help. I don't think anyone can tell you what to do here.
I really don't know what i would do. I would probably be having the exact same dilemma as you are having. Until recently I always hid my feelings from everyone. So my current instinct is that it usually doesn't help anyone in the long run to hide things from those closest to us. There's obviously a lot here for each of you all to deal with. I just wonder if load would be decreased if it was shared between you all.
In response to: Mums worry
MermaidHairSenior Contributor
I hear you @dehaha. As parents with struggles it is certainly another struggle in its own trying to hold it all together for our children, always trying to protect them from the weight of the world 🙏 You are a good mum.
I understand it's a tough decision. Before I lost my dad he withheld and hid a lot of what he was going through because he didn't want to burden his kids, I just wish he knew that we wanted to be there for him.
They're not going to be angry with you 💜
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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