Many of us, myself included, come from a dysfunctional family which adds a lot of weight to the challenges of caregiving. I have read stores on various threads on other topics and decided it would be good to have a thread just for this topic for people to share, vent and discuss.
The idea for this thread originated on the thread named "The Caregiver....How are YOU doing today?"
Ever since my mother was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, she has stopped talking to her husband and his helper. When asked why, she says that she has nothing more to say to them. However, she will talk to the nursing home staff and some with me. She's been spending more and more time asleep or just keeping her eyes closed.
Her kidney stone did not pass. Therefore, they are doing surgery on it this coming Monday am, very, very early.
My take on the above is that my mother's dementia is getting worse for she does not even remember being in the hospital which she was in for a little over a week.
Hugs, prayers and love for all.
Hang in there and GOD bless!
Prayers greatly appreciated today. I will ask the drs to explain to me why they think returning mother to an ALF, from which she fled twice in less than a week, and says she will not return to, is a good move. I don't get it! Have a good day everyone.
More and more I realise I cannot keep doing this. Her acting out is getting worse - riskier for her and more draining for me and there looks to be no end in sight.
This message I have to get across to the docs tomorrow. It is sayonara to stress time for me. nite all and blessings on your for the support you give,
I do expect your illness is/was stress related. How do we survive all the stress?
"nobody is home" - I understand. During one prolonged episode where my mother went off the deep end ranting and raving all summer about something I supposedly had done I very systematically over a period of time tried every response to her that I could imagine, from agreeing with her, to being logical, to responding to her as she was acting and so on. Nothing penetrated - I was amazed. Absolutely no difference in how she acted towards me no matter how I responded to her. She had a bee - a whole hive I would say - in her bonnet and nothing, but nothing, would dislodge it. That is distinctly abnormal.
I have found that there is really little point in explaining myself. A few years ago when the candida infection was raging systemic and I was quite sick I explained this to her and that she could not expect me to help her, and as she had people here in her city to help her she would be OK. I think it sank in on one occasion when she suggested she could handle things this way rather than that as I was not well. After that she forgot all about it and went on merrily creating crises and expecting me to fix them for her, then berating me when I didn't or even when I tried to help. I have come to the conclusion that protecting self is what I have to do first.
ABB a loving close healthy relationship with your mother as she is, is impossible IMO. She is pushing your guilt buttons. Of course you don't know how to relate to her - you are normal and she is not, and not capable of a close relationship. Let go of the guilt. You have done nothing to earn it.
I am glad for you that the anger is coming out. For me that was part of the healing. Identifying the "ism" or whatever that applies to your mother is identifying the problem and that is good, Acknowledging your feelings is also good - very good. Healing is a long journey and I doubt we ever complete it, but we do make progress. Thanks for sharing, (((((((hugs))))))
Have a good night everyone and hopefully tomorrow will bring peace to your weary minds and souls!!
This struck home with me. There is such consistency over the years for my mother to create discord because of, what I just otherwise call, "her craziness." But its been going on my whole life.
Example: I got pretty ill March-May of this year, and since my symptoms included panic attacks, I'm pretty sure it was stress related. I'm friends with my neighbor lady and over past couple of years I've been in Chicago we often talk or do yard work together. My mom is not friends with the lady, but learning that I was, took it upon herself to speak with Liza (neighbor) and among other things told Liza that I took some drugs when I was out in California and now that's why I got so sick. I'm paraphrasing there because I don't know exactly what was said... but the thing is, my mom has said exact same idea to ME, and I've told her that she is way off base and that its hurtful that she views me as some drug user who has now messed myself up for life... and, its just NOT TRUE! Hard to know whether to laugh or cry with the kind of stuff she comes up with... But the fact that my mother would take this preposterous, untrue speculation of hers to MY friend, my neighbor, and then I get to hear back about it from Liza... its just hurtful. Definitely "par for course" from my mother.
The "rigid and unhealthy pattern" comes in because once my mother has an idea in her head - a completely unfounded idea, mind you (drug use, financial abuse) - she then runs away with it and acts out on her thinking in ways that do harm to me.
And I've TRIED telling her she's "way off base." I see the look on her face when I plead my case to her. Its like "nobody home." She DOESN'T GET IT. She backpedals a little, gives me her reason why she thinks what she did is just fine, and thats the end of it. And then I am just left waiting for the next episode...
I find as I'm sitting here typing, I'm pretty angry with my mother. I'm just so sick of her being so crazy and hurtful all through my life. And she does get me with the guilt by saying she wishes we (her and I) had a closer relationship. But the woman's just nuts! I just don't know how to deal with her.
So thanks, emjo, and others, because this idea of "personality disorder" may be closest I can come to, for now, in defining what it is about my mother I find so hurtful.
Here is what the Mayo Clinic says
A personality disorder is a type of mental illness in which you have trouble perceiving and relating to situations and to people — including yourself. There are many specific types of personality disorders.
In general, having a personality disorder means you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking and behaving no matter what the situation. This leads to significant problems and limitations in relationships, social encounters, work and school.
In some cases, you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you, and you may blame others for the challenges you face.
Here is another one. Personality disorders are conditions in which an individual differs significantly from an average person, in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others. Changes in how a person feels and distorted beliefs about other people can lead to odd behaviour, which can be distressing and may upset others.
Well, the bad news and the good news--- one of the doctors called me and asked me questions and the short story is that according to their tests mother is borderline (there is that word again) as regards a closed unit and they want her to go back to her ALF!!! I asked "What about her behaviour???" I told him I was putting them on notice that I was holding them responsible for her welfare/safety in terms of the placement they make. The good news is that mother does not want to go back - in fact she won't. They asked her if she would agree to someone managing her meds and she said "No". They have given her something for her paranoia which is not working yet, of course, and I doubt she would continue taking it.. I saw her tonight and brought her an orchid. She was pleased to see me and told me the latest version of who was doing what to her. It gets more and more confused Now she said she gave her pin number to someone on the phone. I told her that I had been in contact with her bank to see what was happening. She does not know that her bank mail will now come to me etc. One step at a time. The family meeting is tomorrow at 10:30 and I will go there ahead of time and lay out my views before she joins us. I asked my cousin's son if he wanted to be there and he will try to make it. Apparently he has a situation at work right now which may get in the way. I appreciate his support in any case. I dropped my wallet in the cab on the way back from the hospital, and the cabbie, bless his soul. found it, followed me in to the hotel and returned it to me, I was on the phone to Gary and didn't notice. I should have given him a big tip for doing that, so called the cab company and said if he wants to drop by the hotel I will give him something, and to thank him very much for me. Had a nice supper with my friend other than being on the phone to the doctor most of the time. We had a long coffee after to make up for it. I called another friend and cancelled meeting with her tonight as I am fried, . As we all know, sometimes the options aren't great, but one may better than another, even though not ideal.
Keep us in your prayers for the meeting tomorrow. I hope I get some sleep tonight. Are we there yet???? No!!!!
Sorry, can't stay long. Running late for work.
Tonight I will have supper with a friend of 45+ years. She lost her oldest son, I lost my youngest. We have been through a lot together. Both her parents are gone now and her knowledge of caring for seniors is very helpful to me. God bless us in the midst of the trials. Keep on keeping on! (((((hugs)))))
Emjo, good luck today as you continue in Edmonton to sort out mother.
Thanks for the hugs, sharyn. Mother will likely need some of the furniture, but there is much that my son could have, and it is a very good place for it. I may have a few pieces of hers - or even my own - that they can have too. Too funny about your parents locking one another out - but not at the time, I am sure
abb - awesome I will pass along any tips you can give me re bed bug extermination. I am like you - critters will NOT get the best of me. I pull out any obsessive traits I have and give them full reign. I once had flour beetles in a cupboard and someone said I would never get rid of them. That is a war cry for me - never say never lol. I got them out. Bleach, Raid, hot water, steam, anything I could lay my hands on. And many years later, they have not come back. I like your comment about your parents being aliens to you. I have felt that about my mother and my sister. My father, though alcoholic, was a nurturing parent. I have had to grieve the loss of my childhood, and the many "insults" of various kinds that came my way. I have grieved the lack of a female parent that came anywhere near meeting my needs. Every child needs a healthy mother and father. Not every child gets one, but It is a basic need. I absolutely agree that you can't keep allowing your family to push your buttons as they have been. You certainly don't need your mum's "help". Oh my, I can relate to that and the letter. I have shared this before, but will again with you. Once reading a self help book about toxic relationships, I came upon a chapter which suggested writing a letter. So without further ado, I did write to mother about a lot of past stuff and how it affected me and sent it to her. Then I read the next chapter in the book which started "But don't send the letter". Oooops! LOL Too late. Her reaction was interesting. It made no difference between us. She simply explained how each dysfunctional interaction and action was done to help me. I laugh about it now. Yes, you have enough on your hands with your father and making your plan. I think you did the right thing. We are behind you! You are standing up for yourself and that is good. it gets more comfortable with time and practice. How she reacts to it is her problem, not yours. vent and dump away - it is how we survive! Big ((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))
book, I have every intention of going with the doc unless they want to release her back to her ALF, which I think unlikely. I would not allow her into my house. Think that is not going to happen now as long as she doesn't escape the hospital. In any case I think she is mad at me which may be a good thing. ;)
Time to get moving and get a few more thing done. Have a great day everyone!!! Love and hugs and prayers Joan