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Sad so sad.

Sad so sad.

Hi, this is my first post and I don't know if there's anything that can be done to help me. I have been diagnosed with depression for thirty years. I'm in my fifties and I'm forever, sad. I had a very dysfunctional family and I have been trying to cope with life, my own children, whom I love so much, my husband, who stands by me. I have no true friends. Whenever I try, they always seem to move on. Gee! I seem to be making no sense but I feel if I just keep typing, then everything will come out. I've seem a councillor a couple of times and she blames my Mum for a lot of my issues. She was mean when I was growing up. It was normal to me, though. Getting belted seemed the norm. I'm one of eight kids and I don't see five of them, haven't for nearly thirty years. I don't know when it all started but my dad was accused of abuse of my younger sisters. I knew nothing. Some people say, you were young it wasn't your fault but I feel I should have seen something. They said your mum must have known but I don't know. Anyway, I said to one sister that we will go to the police, she said no, so that made me doubt. I stopped seeing my dad for three years. Mum left him but went back, my kids kept asking where he was, so I went back. I was close to my Dad but he never abused me or showed any signs of it. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I was there for all the treatment, back and forward to the hospital for treatment and his operation, which took its toll on us. He lasted another year after the op. The cancer came back and he passed away. Two brothers and one sister came to the funeral. One hasn't talked to me since because there was no money for him. We aren't rich, so I don't know what he expected. Anyway, I see one brother occasionally and my sister who lived two hours away has just moved to NSW. We put my Mum in a nursing home because she had a heart condition. She lived with us for seven years after Dad died. I had to have a back op so I couldn't look after her. I've felt so guilty putting her in there because she isn't disabled or unable to do things, she is just dependent on people, especially me. My sister and brother don't go to see her and I bring her home for the day, once a fortnight. She loves coming out to see her dog and cat, which I inherited when she went in. I went to the nursing home one day and they said your Mum has packed and says she's going home to live with you permanently. I was shocked but thought, she lived with us before, I can do it. After a week, I broke down, couldn't cope and asked her to go back. I felt a failure. So much had changed since she was with us before. She needed so much medication that I was overwhelmed. I had to face the staff at the home and looked and felt so defeated. They told me not to worry but I felt so sad. I look at oldies down the street and cry. I wanted to be happy with my Mum. She started to call me darling, which I hated because I was never her darling. She calls the nurses darling, in the home. I told her not to call me that and she apologised. I've tried joining different clubs but once they start to ask personal questions, I well up and can't cope. I've left work because I couldn't cope and thought I'd better get out of my job before I stuff up. I left feeling sad. I'm now sitting typing, while my poor husband has to put up with my moods. He doesn't help the cause though. He's too nice. He just says if you want to or whatever suits honey. It drives me insane. When I go off, it's a one sided argument. He has been with me for forty years. Probably too scared to leave. Lol. I ask him to do something though and he puts it off. I end up doing it. Oh, I don't know what's happening, maybe I should finish now and come back tomorrow and pick up where I left off. If anyone is reading this, thank you for your time. I really wish people would listen to us face to face, not to judge but just hear us out.tears are welling up again, so, I will go and try to cheer myself up again. A daily ritual. One day, I don't think I'll be able to but until then, I'll try.

25 replies

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In response to: Sad so sad.

Re: Sad so sad.

Hi @Jeejee

I like how you say the grandies keep you sane.

I comfort eat too .. its on my list to work on ... but at the moment its better to have the comfort.

Poor dog ... ... what kind of pooch is it?

Maybe when the weather gets better you can go to the park for a sit-down .. instead of a big walk.

I had a dysfunctional upbringing too ... but not in the same way as you ... I used to feel so out of it when I saw others having coffee ... and just wished I had people to have coffee with ... 10-15 years later ... I have had quite a few coffees with people ... it slowly happened for me ... I am a bit of a loner ... but also mix with a wide range of people ... never had a bestie ... and now I am bloody old ... so it seems thats more appropriate for sweet young things ... if you get what i mean.

For a long time I was terrified about talking ... and just overcome ... almost gagging .. or stammering .. as I couldnt find an nice way to describe things that went on in my family ... I have had 30 years of therapy .. and some of it has helped.

One of the first people to be kind and break my isolation was a little old lady at church 15 years ago ... who still visits a bit and I bump into her here and there ... we are friends but we are also very different. Real friendship requires the alignment of lots of traits and the time and opportunity to do fun things together.

A lot of the time I was working, or studying or renovating or looking after siblings or kids or old folk ... friends seems like something on tele ... I avoid malls now ... I dont need to go often ... pick my shopping centres .... make do with friendly smiles if I am on the path by the river. I love my supermarket checkout chics.

Its great the way you write a bit and then come back and write a bit more ... whatever works for you is the way to go.

regards Apple

In response to: Re: Sad so sad.

Re: Sad so sad.

Thank you all for your kind replies. I thought once I got all this off my chest I'd rise from the ashes. Not so. Felt good for a week and feeling low once again. I hate Facebook, reading about others makes me sad. My sister moved interstate and I thought, okay, get out, organise to fly up and see her but just read that she can't wait to catch up with our sister in law, whom I haven't seen for 28 years. Family squabble all those years ago made them move and stop communicating with anyone. Now I feel alone yet again. Yes, I feel sorry for myself, yes, I know I shouldn't let it get to me but it hurts.

i was there when my sister had her marriage crisis, her kids, her life, her problems, I stood by her, they were no where to be seen, now she's starting a new life in NSW, she said she can't wait to catch up with them, while I'm here left to look after Mum in the nursing home.

what have I done? Maybe if I wasn't here, they'd have to take on responsibility for Mum. Probably not. She'd be the old dear in the home that no one visits. What a stuff up things are. I know my Mum is a strange woman but she's all I'm left with from our dysfunctional family.

I have my family but my daughter is the closest. One son who lives 3 hours away, is busy with his kids, he hardly keeps in touch. I usually do, otherwise he would be too busy. It was one of my grand daughters birthday so I posted a card with a voucher, somehow it wasn't stamped at the post office and my daughter in law sent an sms to another, saying, how dare we hand deliver a card without calling in. Oh, I give up. Why are people so mean? I sms'd my son, saying Dad posted the card and did she get it. He wrote back Yes, and thanks. I said his wife thought we hand delivered it but he didn't answer back.

I'm just so tired of everything, I try so hard to walk on eggshells, not to upset anyone, so we can have a normal family. It's so hard keeping the peace.

its my grandsons first birthday( my daughters son) but my son and family can't make it. They said they have something on that weekend. They've known for a long time that it was on. They never made it to my other daughter in laws 40th because they were busy. I stood by them and said things happen and you can't get to everything but it happens a lot. That's just an on going thing with us all though. My other son says don't worry, they won't be there and he's right.

anyway, I again feel a bit lighter getting it off my chest. Thanks for listening. I know I'll prop up again.

.

In response to: Re: Sad so sad.

Re: Sad so sad.

Hello @Jeejee Sorry things are still difficult.

1) I have never signed up to face book as it seemed to be about competitiveness and insincerity. My son never did either. He took me to see the movie and we both felt confirmed in ignoring the whole thing as it was started up by very immature people out to make a quick buck. We come from an IT family and a lot of people in IT actually dont bother with it cos they know its rubbish.

I know its difficult as most of the world is on it ... you have to do whats right for you.

2) You sister may still want to see you and not realise she upset you by also wanting to reconnect with the others. F/B encourages people to be boastful and not consider all the consequences ...

3) You have touched on an important point in your posts

The difference between abreaction and catharsis. Look them up if you want.

It does help to get things off our chest ... but really it is the processing of the issue in a supportive environment and the figuring out of a way to respond to the life situation that is the important thing.

Take care ... make contact with sister directly ... get a break from caring for your mother and visit if possible ... take in some other non-family scenery on the way ... ignore the other family til they are ready to treat you with respect.

In response to: Re: Sad so sad.

Re: Sad so sad.

I went to my doctor today, only to get my prescription. He asked how I was and I broke down.

He said he feels I like living in my situation and that he has tried all he can to help. I have to do it, he said. I'm a grown woman, he said. He shook his head and said he would boost my medication.

I told him I just wanted another script and was told. That's not the answer.

He has given me another referral to see a psychiatrist and wants to see me in a month. Told me I always seem to have an excuse for what's wrong, I left feeling down but at the moment I'm too tired to do much today. It hurt to hear I'm not trying. If I do try, something always hits and I'm back where I was before. It's like trying to climb out a hole. You get nearly all the way up and the wall gives way or the rope breaks and you fall back down again. Sure it's okay to say get off your backside and live but when you feel dejected, it's tough.

In response to: Sad so sad.

Re: Sad so sad.

Wow @Jeejee. That was harsh what your doctor said. & it must hurt. Sometimes we can get caught up in the cycle of negative self talk. That is why we do need to keep trying therapy. Maybe you just haven't found the right psychologist for you yet.
See what this psychiatrist has to say about your diagnosis, medication and treatment.
You just keep fighting. Don't let negative doctors put you off getting help and getting better.
All the best
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