This breaks my heart to write this but I feel like I am a terrible daughter. My mother really struggles with her memory due to her brain tumor. Often I get flustered with her and tend to take a "tone" with her when repeating the same thing again and again.
All of my life she was a wonderful mother and I love her to pieces. It saddens me to see the disease take away so much from her. Before she got sick, she was always of the "I can't " attitude and would give up quickly on a lot. Now this attitude happens today with her physical therapy. Yet she needs to try all she can, etc.
She acts better and more accountable with strangers. But she reverts back to her melancholy self with me. So sometimes I get frustrated. But I just feel so burnt out.
How can I be better?
Since she is better with strangers, you have permission to turn her PT and OT over completely. Get her doctor to order more as needed and you go for some you time while she is working with the strangers.
Negativity is so difficult to be around all the time, do whatever you can to redirect the energy to positive. Put on uplifting music, watch funny movies, be silly, take control of the environment for all of your sakes.
I also recommend a nerf bat that you can wallop the stuffing out of a pillow with. It helps relieve the frustration, I promise.
Be kind and forgiving with yourself, you are doing a tough job great.
Hugs!