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Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Things are coming to a head with my family. My mum has always suffered Anxiety / Depression / Severe Mood Swings (?Sz/Bipolar - secretive). Now what she fears has come upon her - terminal cancer on top. Shws not coping, and also dads carer (mobility issues and dementia stage 2). Mum has passed her 2yr medical prognosis date with terminal cancer and fought hard to hold independence.

Her MI is sooooooo difficult to work with. Sooo ambivolent about everything, anxious, can't make decisions, argumentative, suspicious, shuts down, cries, abuses, withdraws... Sucks trying to help. Dads care is failing too, she resents all the in home help I've activated with him this last few years I'm seen as the enemy for doing that, even though she can't. Last week dad actually asked me to come help "looks like mums having to go into hospital"

They never ask

Then I get this tx from mum this morning. "Feel crook k#####(me) hows your flu today if you can come down what form of travel you choose and how can you look after the birds they are a concern dont feel good today at all but the day is young yet might pick up"

I have respected mums fierce need for privacy but today I rang palliative care to see what's happening for her? They got her mix d up with another 'same name' patient. Then turns out mum has never beenbreferred to Community Palliative Care (which is why they didn't know her), but had her last Admission Notes referring her to Palliative Care Dr, she's been doing those visits but talks about dad not herself. Next visit ?12th.

Mum has lost 25% body weight, is weak. After talking with her and x3 nurses today (like hours), clarifying wrong contact details and complex family matters, I feel shell shot!

Honestly thought these things were in hand.

I'm gonna have to go down, but OK his time begrudgingly. I live 12hrs away, I have a sister & 3 bothers within 5 - 1hr away. They can't handle mums MI - she has legal rights++ but don't know what she's doing now dad can't take charge.

The palliative care cimmunity nurse can't act without that referral from the hospital Dr, so shell look at that and then ring mum... All maybies of cause. My heads swimming with it all, any wonder mum just throws her hands in the air saying "they don't care, I'm too old, they just want me to die"... "And you lot are selfish and just want to put me inva nursing home and forget about me, and you all care about dad more than me..." Then she crack a joke about something totally related, say "don't wanna talk anymore..."

OMG!!! my cPTSD & cGrief trigger alerts are all firing. Feel resentful. Want to go to bed 'till it goes away.

My son even said to me this morning "mum you know people have totally cut off parents for doing far less than they have done to you!" Suggesting I abandon them. How can I do that and stand before God (and myself) in peace? This is so hard!

Help!

232 replies

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In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

I rested all day yesterday, had a lovely arvo sleep, but mum soon took my calm when I got up. Poor dad.

Please pray for me, for wisdom & love & strength. Ma has it in her head that I'm challenging her authority in HER home when I'm just helping. She wants me to go home Wed, but apart from the animals (who she forgets to feed), i fear for my dad who can't remember what day it is, can barely walk, doubles up on pills, gets left alone, a lot, even when takes an hour in the toot, is spoken down to, not assisted when needed even if it takes an hour to put his shoes on... He is neglected, especially emotionally. Mum can't keep up but apparently can't share her kitchen with me either. Some lies in her head about losing control ofvher home (I'm the daughter for goodness sakes!). My feelings aside, I fear for both of them, & mum has terminal cancer progressing (just had 2wks in hospital - why I'm here) When i asked dad what HE wants, he said "I'd prefer you stayed" But then mum punched him, hard. I dont know what to do. Do I walk away or stay for dad at least? Mum insisted on cooking for 1st time last night (sausages & tinned spagetti) but wouldn't eat with us. She refused to take her medication last night. Please pray. lvk

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

I've barricaded myself in the room. Brings back memories of being abused in this house, along with blackdog giving me bad thoughts to end it, right here, as a payback for her recent carry-on (and a lifetime). But I've come to learn that suicidal thoughts are my cue that my internal distress levels are way too high. So, here I am nightly cked in my room packing, asking people to pray via tx. I'm not wanted here. Poor mum. Poor dad. I don't know what else to do but go and regain my sense of self, somehow, soon as I get the energy, before my brain shuts down. Very sad.

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

It is very sad @Former-Member, but at least you can walk away knowing that you have done your very best, and could do no more ......

You moved away because you knew you needed distance to be able to heal from your childhood ..... in visiting now to help your family in antime of need you have honoured your values of riding past prior hurts to offer love and commitment, yet again, and are coming away re-injured .......

I understand a degree of this although comparatively far less ..... but I have come to understand that some people don't know how to change, even when they are destroying everything around them, especially relationships. For your own well-being you need to keep people like that at arm's length ..... because like an angry cat they will scratch you to pieces even though you're trying to ease their burden or save them from consequences they don't seem able to see for themselves.

Hugs n hugs Hon ....... time to say goodbye and to look after you .......

♥️

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

@Former-Member ...

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Hi @Darcy...

Thanks @Faith-and-HopeFaith-and-Hope you make sense, I feel like I failed in some ways. And aware just tellingvyou makes me look bad (what did she do to upset her mother so much at such a vulnerable time... I Just got myself brunch & sat with them a while, TV on as usual, no words exchanged really. Its not fair that dad be put in this position by her. , or me. I have arranged to spend tonight with a friend in Newcastle & tell mum I'm having a break earlier than she'd like, for me. Just having a laydown. The back is in spasm 😞 but I'm packed & transport is arranged. Thanks for understanding. You've known me a longtime now, means a lot. Hope your WH & baby dragons are hanging in there. xox

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

I am hanging in there with WH and baby dragons ..... just .....

Walking in the light and keeping both of us in prayer.

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

@Former-Member

Yes, our @Faith-and-Hope is very wise.

Please don't feel like a failure, you do not look bad at all. On the contrary you showed great courage, you knew it would not be easy yet you went in hammer and tongs. I can see how much your heart aches for your Dad.

Enjoy the time with your friend, focus on recovering, when old wounds are reopened it hurts like crazy but there is opportunity to clean out what has been festering underneath the surface.

Bless you Lapses.

Darcy

In response to: Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

You are not a failure.

We know your mother is very touchy and paranoid.

Look after you.

Distance yourself to protect YOU.

Later when the dust settles we know your mother admitted GOOD things about you which was out of character.

I feel so sad about it as

I see it as a big part of the skewed excessive pressures of family particularly motherhood, and "being a good woman" or "grown up daughter", where many families go pear shaped and people get over defensive. It is so common and such a waste of human resources.

With the MH issues you manage in your family it can be like visiting a fireworks factory sometimes. At least that image matches my experience and we do share a lot.

You did what you had to do.

Love for ALL of you in this difficult time.

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Thanks @Appleblossom, Faith-and-hope, @Former-Member 💜💜💜
I actually did it, I'm on the bus & 1/2 way there. Told them "I'll be a couple days, will they be right?" Dad said a clear "yes" Ma didnt talk to me. She will be happy now, which makes dad happy - has her house to herself again. She didn't say by to me & I didn't push it. If she dies - I've done my best. Thanks for being here. Those suicidal thoughts frightened me. Its taken me so long to be free of a them. Getting away is already feeling better but I'm teary.
🐦💜🐦

In response to: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

Re: Mum Severe Anxiety / Depression +++

No surprise that you're ready @Former-Member ..... go gently with yourself .....

♥️
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