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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To put my mental health first

212 replies

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 16:04

This is long and complicated but I really need some advice and to know whether I'm being unreasonable.

I'm in my 30’s and still live at home due to severe mental health issues. I live with my mother and my younger sister and for the past year—my older sister too. I have agrophobia and I haven't left the house in a lot of years. I mostly stick to my bedroom.

For the past 9 years, my mother has been having her grandchildren every weekend. They're not her grandchildren by blood (this is the complicated bit) They’re the children of someone my mother adopted (unofficially) At first it was just the one (DGD) but now there is five of them (they're a blended family) DSGS (13) DGD (10) DSGS (10) DGD (3) and DGS (6M). She will have the two youngest from thus-monday and the oldest three Fri-Sun. The house is always very chaotic and that's something I struggle with.

Now, I adore all of the kids and I have a really good relationship with them. I call them my nephews and nieces and they call me Auntie. They love hanging out with me and I love spending time with them. However, they can be a handful, especially the two oldest. They fight constantly. DGD has explosive tantrums which include yelling, throwing things, and screaming/crying. This type of behaviour is something I really can't handle, it makes me anxious and I get overwhelmed and experience sensory overload. DGD is always in some kind of trouble. She has recently been being violent at school and sometimes shows aggression towards her siblings. As far as I know her parents are in the process of seeking help for her behaviour because its gotten to a point where they can't manage it either.

I have spoken to my mother and told her that having them here with all the chaos and the fighting and tantrums, is really affecting me mentally which in turn is taking a toll of my physical health. However, she says its her house and her choice to have them and I can't control who she has in her house. She says I'm being selfish by not wanting them here every week. She says she should be allowed to spend as much time with them as she wants. She will not budge on the matter

I honestly don't know what to. I'm at a real loss because I can't move out and even if I could, I don't think I would cope on my own. Now, I'm debating with myself on whether I am just being selfish and dramatic or if I really am entitled to some peace and quiet once in a while.

OP posts:
LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:44

IberianBlackout · 23/07/2025 18:38

You’re in a tricky position. Can you get some good noise cancelling headphones and, well, stay in your room?

Alternatively, is whatever you’re spending staying there equivalent to what you’d pay in a houseshare? Maybe you’d be better off as a lodger somewhere quiet but it’s always a gamble.

And finally, if you don’t mind a bit of conflict: say you want to readjust what you pay, why is the rent being split in half when there’s more people living there? You do pay rent so it’s reasonable to have some say.

I do have noise cancelling headphones and I use them when I really can't cope with the noise but because of my irrational anxiety, I fear that if I use them more, I will not hear if something happens.

I don't think I could do that because that would lead to her struggling a lot which would impact the children and I would feel so bad because none of this is their fault.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 18:42

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:39

I can't do much physically. I struggle heavily with everyday things. I do as much as I can but some days that is very little or nothing at all. But I do not rely on my mother to do them for me. If I can't cook a meal, I will order something. I don't ask her to do anything for me as I know she has enough on her plate. My sister will help me if its something I really need to do and can't. I don't put any pressure on my mother.

In that case then you could outsource those same tasks if you lived independently?

Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 18:41

IberianBlackout · 23/07/2025 18:35

Agoraphobia, as stated multiple times?

Which is exactly my point. If OP truly was not reliant or dependent on anyone else in that house then they could just move out.

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:39

Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 18:32

If you are all fully capable then what is the reason you cannot move out OP? You clearly do need & rely on your mum, otherwise this would be a straightforward thing- move out.

I can't do much physically. I struggle heavily with everyday things. I do as much as I can but some days that is very little or nothing at all. But I do not rely on my mother to do them for me. If I can't cook a meal, I will order something. I don't ask her to do anything for me as I know she has enough on her plate. My sister will help me if its something I really need to do and can't. I don't put any pressure on my mother.

OP posts:
IberianBlackout · 23/07/2025 18:38

You’re in a tricky position. Can you get some good noise cancelling headphones and, well, stay in your room?

Alternatively, is whatever you’re spending staying there equivalent to what you’d pay in a houseshare? Maybe you’d be better off as a lodger somewhere quiet but it’s always a gamble.

And finally, if you don’t mind a bit of conflict: say you want to readjust what you pay, why is the rent being split in half when there’s more people living there? You do pay rent so it’s reasonable to have some say.

IberianBlackout · 23/07/2025 18:35

Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 18:32

If you are all fully capable then what is the reason you cannot move out OP? You clearly do need & rely on your mum, otherwise this would be a straightforward thing- move out.

Agoraphobia, as stated multiple times?

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:33

Takenoprisoner · 23/07/2025 18:25

Your mum is unreasonable in making decisions unilaterally that affect you all in the house especially as she relies on you and your sisters financially to run her household. You are also indirectly paying towards the children being there so much of the time, because their parents don't cover their costs.

Do these children go to school so you get some respite?

You really need to try and get all the help you can to get better and eventually to move out. It's not fair on you that your mother persuaded you to move in because she needed the financial contribution and now she's making decisions unilaterally that affect you also.

There is clearly a lot to unpack here, including dysfunctional family dynamics. I imagine these dynamics play a part in your agoraphobia and mental health issues.

Yes the three oldest go to school but we don't have then on school days, only from Friday-sunday except for school holidays where we have them more. We have the youngest two Thurs morning- Monday night.

There is way more to this situation that I didn't want to go into as it could be identifying and would cause so much trouble. I really just wanted some advice.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 18:32

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:24

We don't all rely on her. Me and my two sisters help her out just as much as she helps us. We help her financially, with childcare and with everyday tasks. My sisters help way more than I do physically but I do my best financially because I can't do much of the physical stuff.

If you are all fully capable then what is the reason you cannot move out OP? You clearly do need & rely on your mum, otherwise this would be a straightforward thing- move out.

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:28

Oneeyedonkey · 23/07/2025 18:23

I feel sorry for the mother in all of this, will you all be happy when she drops dead???

No of course not. That's such a horrible thing to say. I would never want that. I’m thinking about her health just as much as my mental health. She is in her 60s and has health problems and I have spoken to her about it being too much for her health too. I worry about her health constantly and much more than a normal person as I have health anxiety. I want her to slow down but she doesn't want that.

OP posts:
Takenoprisoner · 23/07/2025 18:25

Your mum is unreasonable in making decisions unilaterally that affect you all in the house especially as she relies on you and your sisters financially to run her household. You are also indirectly paying towards the children being there so much of the time, because their parents don't cover their costs.

Do these children go to school so you get some respite?

You really need to try and get all the help you can to get better and eventually to move out. It's not fair on you that your mother persuaded you to move in because she needed the financial contribution and now she's making decisions unilaterally that affect you also.

There is clearly a lot to unpack here, including dysfunctional family dynamics. I imagine these dynamics play a part in your agoraphobia and mental health issues.

ninjahamster · 23/07/2025 18:24

Cinaferna · 23/07/2025 17:25

You say you like them, in general. Why not take one of them out on their own with you each week for some one-to-one attention. They won't play up nearly as much if they are getting attention and there is no one to fight with. Take them to the park with a ball or frisbee and a little picnic, or to read some stories at the library, or just for a bus ride with a simple game of spotting things like a purple car and a man wearing a hat etc. Bring them home when they are tired out and ready to watch TV.

Or go out on your own for the day when they come over. Make plans to see a friend or run some errands or go for a long walk or swim or to read or journal in peace in the library or a cafe. Make sure what you plan to do is very soothing and easy so when you come home, even if they are a bit wild, you have had some restorative time alone.

Do you understand what agoraphobia is?

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:24

DreamingofTimbuktuagain · 23/07/2025 18:16

That’s the parents of the children. There are 5 adults who need to rely on OP mum for one reason or another.

We don't all rely on her. Me and my two sisters help her out just as much as she helps us. We help her financially, with childcare and with everyday tasks. My sisters help way more than I do physically but I do my best financially because I can't do much of the physical stuff.

OP posts:
Hedgedone · 23/07/2025 18:23

OP, yanbu to want some peace.
It sounds relentless.
You need to focus on moving out. Perhaps a room in a house share.
I think it is unfair for your mother to believe that while you pay half of her costs, you are not entitled to some peace and quiet.

Move out asap.

Oneeyedonkey · 23/07/2025 18:23

I feel sorry for the mother in all of this, will you all be happy when she drops dead???

Oneeyedonkey · 23/07/2025 18:21

Any of you working?

Come on OP you're on your 30's still living at home due to mental health issues, what are you actually doing to tackles these issues, or do you plan to stay in your bedroom for the rest of your life?
Yes I know I'm being harsh.

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:19

ThejoyofNC · 23/07/2025 18:15

You said they can't look after their kids " to their own mental health and DGD’s (10) behaviour. "

I read it as you meant my sisters who live with me and my mother. The children’a parents don't live with us. Their parents aren't related to us by blood. One of their parents was my close friend growing up and my mother unofficially adopted her when we were teenagers. They have a mother/daughter relationship but I don't really have a relationship with her anymore as I don't agree with a lot of her lifestyle choices.

OP posts:
FastForward2 · 23/07/2025 18:17

Have you tried noise camcelling headphones?

DreamingofTimbuktuagain · 23/07/2025 18:16

ThejoyofNC · 23/07/2025 18:15

You said they can't look after their kids " to their own mental health and DGD’s (10) behaviour. "

That’s the parents of the children. There are 5 adults who need to rely on OP mum for one reason or another.

ThejoyofNC · 23/07/2025 18:15

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:10

They do pay towards housekeeping. I don't know why it's like that. I just pay what I'm supposed to what they pay is between them and my mother.

We don't all have mental health, just me. My younger sister has always lived at home and it still saving for her own place. My older sister had some financial difficulties so she came back home last year but is also looking for her own place.

Edited

You said they can't look after their kids " to their own mental health and DGD’s (10) behaviour. "

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:14

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 23/07/2025 18:06

Why does your mum pay for things for them? The parents should be paying for wipes, shoes etc surely?

She has never asked for a penny and they have never offered as far as I know.

OP posts:
LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:10

ThejoyofNC · 23/07/2025 18:08

So there's 4 adults living there, you pay 50% of the rent and the two with full time jobs don't pay anything?

And your poor mum is running herself ragged because you've all got "mental health"? What will you all do when she lands up in hospital?

They do pay towards housekeeping. I don't know why it's like that. I just pay what I'm supposed to what they pay is between them and my mother.

We don't all have mental health, just me. My younger sister has always lived at home and it still saving for her own place. My older sister had some financial difficulties so she came back home last year but is also looking for her own place.

OP posts:
LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 18:08

T1Dmom · 23/07/2025 17:53

Her house, her rules. You need to move out if cant manage. If you can help with what your mum needs & the kids etc then you can live independently your choosing not to.

I really am not choosing not to. I help as much as I can but I also have my sisters who help as well so the responsibility is split between 4 adults (when they are off work) I also don't feel as though I have a choice in whether I help out or not. But I promise, I struggle very much with daily tasks and just general daily living.

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 23/07/2025 18:08

So there's 4 adults living there, you pay 50% of the rent and the two with full time jobs don't pay anything?

And your poor mum is running herself ragged because you've all got "mental health"? What will you all do when she lands up in hospital?

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 23/07/2025 18:06

Why does your mum pay for things for them? The parents should be paying for wipes, shoes etc surely?

HelpNeededBeforeIHaveABreakdown · 23/07/2025 18:02

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 17:50

I pay half of the rent. Like its split down the middle and I also pay housekeeping (£150pm) I pay for streaming services aswell that the whole house uses and I help towards anything else she might need financial help with. We have a generally have a good relationship. This is the only difficulty we have.

Why do you pay half the rent if your two sisters also live there and are employed?

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