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Fedupandtired Asked October 2020

Burnt out and not sure what to do. Any advice?

Hi everyone I’m new here. My mother is not elderly as she is 51 years old yet she behaves in a way that is as if she is. She has a series of health issues that she refuses to get checked out and every time she has an episode she expects me to run to her rescue. She hasn’t worked in like ever so I am her support, financial and pretty much anything that she needs, none of her other family members help out and since I’m an only child all of the burden falls on me. I am not free to live my life because it is spent taking care of her, being her support system and it is very tiring. It has always been this way, she is stubborn, does not listen and I truly believe that she is milking her illness to the max. This behavior has went on for years, and between taking care of my own child I feel myself getting burnt out. Since she’s fairly young and has no money I’m not sure if she’s even eligible for an assisted living facility of some sort. She has no care for helping me with bills, she just adds to them, she is the most selfish individual and she expects me to put my life on hold to assist her and I am sick of it. Does anyone have any suggestions because I have obviously tried talking to her, reasoning with her, I even moved out at one point and her health deteriorated even worse and of course everyone blamed me for it. I don’t know what to do. At this point, she has left me crippled financially because all of her medication is paid for by me, and if I can’t come up with it she always puts me on these guilt trips. When she has an asthmatic episode, somehow I am to blame, when she gets her medicine and is feeling better, she resorts to laziness and she does not help herself. She doesn’t drive, she barely helps around the house and somehow seems to think that because she is my mother I owe her my own life. She is not in any way appreciative of what I do and she acts extremely entitled. She has no hobbies, no friends and basically no life and wants to stay in that state. If she doesn’t get her way then she won’t hesitate to run over to a family friend or neighbor and embarrass herself and myself with the way that she carries herself and of course I’m the one to blame for her because they always say that “I should be helping her, after all she is my mother”. As if I don’t do enough. She is taking prednisone and she is addicted to it and won’t admit it, no matter how much I have told her the damage that it can cause, doctors have told her the same, she still insists upon taking it because as she says “it’s what’s keeping her alive”, and yet every 3 weeks she has an episode. I’m just sick of it, every time I feel myself moving up towards advancement in my life, she pulls me right back. She has ruined relationships of mine because of her repulsive behavior.

AlvaDeer Oct 2020
You owe your mother your life?
No. That isn't how this works. How this works is that your Mother had you for her own reason, whether you were planned and wanted, or an accidental pregnancy. At the point she chose to bring a helpless babe into this world it was your mother herself who owed YOU. She owed you safety, love, and to teach and raise you toward independence and strength. Then you spread your wings and you LEAVE THE NEST.
THEN you have your OWN children, and you raise then alike with love toward strength.
That is the way this is supposed to work.
You are doing your mother no favors here. I mean no disrespect but you are co-ing your mother, creating more and more neediness as you fulfill her wishes or attempt to when in reality she is young. I am 78, and were I even at this age doing this to my daughter? Well, mine is the shame if that is the case, and hers as well if she agrees to do it.
I would suggest that you get help now that is professional in nature. You are not making good choices for yourself OR for your Mom. There are many ways to love, honor and support a parent. But acting as their unwilling, guilt-ridden slave and whipping post is not one of them.
This is something you should work through with a psychologist; way too complex for any help here. It will take time, and it will be the hardest work you ever did in your life. Much of this symbiotic relationship is keeping you safe from challenge, from building a solid and independent life for yourself. It is keeping you attached in to a Mom that should have been helping you lifelong to be ready to fly from the nest. And it is keeping your mother from growing herself in the ways she must.
I wish you luck. It won't be easy. As I said, hard hard work ahead. But do remember, you have free will, and your choices now are not the fault of your parent. They are your own choices for your own life.

Geaton777 Oct 2020
Stop listening to "everyone" and move out and stay out. She has groomed you to be her servant and because you're an only (like me) you don't have anyone else to point out that she's selfishly and knowingly taking advantage of you and that it's sick and dysfunctional and cruel and evilly manipulative. No healthy mother raises a child for herself. Nothing good will come of your life if you stay. It may help you to seek counseling to give you the emotional/mental strength to disconnect from her. You are not responsible for her health or her happiness. She's an adult woman and has had her whole life to get her s**t together, sick or not. There are many people with disabilities who are still vibrant, independent people. There are services she will need to engage through social services, like SSDI, section 8 housing and welfare. You must not pity her -- she certainly has no pity for you. You probably have a co-dependent relationship so this needs addressing. Again, whoever in your family is "blaming" you for anything that happens to her must be ignored, even shut out completely. They will all be mad as hornets when their servant wakes up but you must move forward for yourself and your child. Eventually they will respect you more for reclaiming your life. If she lives with you and you don't want to move, a counselor may be able to provide guidance on how to get her out. Otherwise you will need to be the one who moves. I wish you much strength and much success as you move towards freedom and happiness!
kimbo56kdm Oct 2020
I’m an only child who kept getting swept back in n now I’m 64 n still taking care of my mom n I have no life of my own. Get out while you can.

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Daughterof1930 Oct 2020
The “everyone” you speak of that’s blaming you or placing guilt on you about your mother are all doing that because they know she’s toxic and they don’t want to be responsible or involved in her mess. No mother that’s loving and caring would ever want her adult child to spend their life catering to a parent. We raise children to go off and fly on their own. Yet your mother is a user, she’s using medical conditions, and you, to avoid being responsible for her life. She’s not your responsibility financially, or in any other way. Prednisone is known as the “mean, hungry drug” as it often makes people both, but that’s still not an excuse to treat you as she does. Please leave this situation. Though your mother can’t see it, ultimately you’ll be doing both of you a favor. Don’t feel any need at all to justify or defend yourself, you’re an adult and don’t owe explanations for what you do. Don’t take calls if they involve attempts to manipulate or get you back in. Spend your money on your goals, your needs, your child. I’m truly sorry your mother is a user and not the mother you deserve. You’ll teach your child an important lesson by being the mother your child needs and showing that child that it’s wrong to be used.

NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
I have to say that I am exhausted after reading your post.

Please change your journey in life. We care. We can tell our story and give advice but you’re the only one that has the power to make a positive change.

You aren’t happy. You are beyond being overwhelmed. I am afraid that your mom may never be content in life.

Speak to a professional therapist to help sort out your emotions. It was one of my best decisions. Hearing an objective viewpoint is invaluable. It will be a gift to yourself that you will treasure.

Best wishes to you.

ZippyZee Oct 2020
Move and get on with your life. She will have to support herself.

Grandma1954 Oct 2020
Unless you have been surgically attached to her you can move out, you can have your own life.
Ignore the calls for help. She calls because she has "trained" you to respond in the way she wants you to.
She is an adult.
If she refuses medical help then at some point it will become serious enough that she will go to the ER and she will be seen, possibly admitted. At that point if they say she can not go unless some one will care for her you say..I am sorry I can not care for her, I am not equipped to care for her. The Social Workers will sort it out and she will probably be admitted to a Care Facility.
If it is determined that she can not make decisions for herself then a Guardian will be appointed. It can be a family member or it can be a Court Appointed Guardian.

**side note if her doctors are telling her to discontinue a medication how is she getting more? She is obviously seeing a doctor somewhere.

Chriscat83 Oct 2020
I’m so sorry to read that your whole life has been blighted by your mother’s terrible behaviour. I totally agree with all the advice given here so far. What really stands out for me is the need for you to get away from this situation. Until you do that, it will be impossible for you to see and think clearly about what needs to be done in the long term - you are still young and should not be caregiving like this. You mentioned you’ve moved out before, so if this is still an option, do it again. This time, get some proper space for yourself and your family. If your mother acts up, she really is not your responsibility and SHE, not you, will need to find other ways for her needs to be met. Ignore the toxic neighbours, they are doing you no favours and are another reason for you to move out and away from these unsupportive people. This story is very familiar and topical for me, as I am about to ask my own selfish mother to move out of our home and into a residential care home. This will probably not go well. I hope that in the best case scenario she will come to terms with this, and after moving out we will be able to continue our relationship on a more even level without me doing all the caring. However, it is just as likely that she will scream, shout, accuse, and rage, regardless of the effect this will have on me. I am resigned to the fact that if this happens there may need to be a cooling off period where there is limited if any contact between us, until she is able to be civil and reasonably behaved towards me. It is devastating to think that things might come to this, but I keep reminding myself of the first words a counsellor ever said to me, that I am not responsible for other people’s behaviour and do not have to accept abuse from anyone. I hope you will remember these words when your mother is having one of her abusive episodes and that this will help you to stay firm about taking care of your own needs above hers. Be strong and allow yourself to have a life.

BarbBrooklyn Oct 2020
You need to turn around, head back to where you were having a normal happy life and ignore the folks who tell you that mentally ill mom is your responsibility.

You mom has responsibility for HER life.

Sunnydayze Oct 2020
I can feel your upset and burn-out. This is so difficult. She is so young and so are you to be dealing with this. She has manipulated so long that it is difficult to get out of her web. I feel like you definitely need a strong support system to help you move forward. You and your child have many years ahead of you...and your mom probably does, too. I am sure there are more details and issues than you have space to post. My only suggestion is that you and your child set enormous boundaries...even if it means moving your home. It sounds like she could benefit from some social services as well. This probably sounds harsh, but I would make contact with Adult Protective Services and make it clear to them she is affecting your mental health and the mental health of your child. She is playing a 'learned behavior" game with you. Stop playing!

JoAnn29 Oct 2020
If she has these health problems she maybe able to get Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplimental Income (SSI). If she qualifies for SSD she will get Medicare and Medicaid. If she qualifies for SSI she will get Medicaid. You need to go to your County Social Service Office and speak to a caseworker.

Assisted Livings cost 5k a month, at least. These are private pay. What Mom may qualify for is a HUDD subsidized apt. They charge rent based on her income. There are HUDD vouchers. There is low income housing.
Fedupandtired Oct 2020
This is extremely helpful information. Thank you very much
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