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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:
Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 23/07/2025 16:45

Surely some peace and quiet will give massive improvement to your mental health?

Wrapetywrap · 23/07/2025 16:45

really sorry you are struggling but you are a grown up and you are living in someone else's home. You cannot dictate who visits.

What help are you getting and what are you doing actively to get better? Is moving out into your own place an option?

Eyesopenwideawake · 23/07/2025 16:44

What help are you currently getting/have tried for your agoraphobia?

Helpmeplease2025 · 23/07/2025 16:43

They can’t not come to their DGM’s house because their adult aunt struggles. Her house, her rules, as someone else said. What’s your long-term plans?

Noise-cancelling earphones is a good suggestion for now.

DollopOfFun · 23/07/2025 16:43

I'm not sure how you can put your mental health first, when in the nicest possible way, you don't really hold any of the cards. It's your mums house, if she says no and you can't move elsewhere, that's that isn't it?

Noise cancelling headphones might help?

Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 16:42

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 16:41

I would love to move out. It just isnt possible right now with my current mental health situation.

Then you have to accept that this is her house and her choice.

Mrsttcno1 · 23/07/2025 16:42

Your mum is right, her house, her rules. If you want to dictate then you need your own home.

LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 16:41

SeanMean · 23/07/2025 16:05

Her house, her rules.

The onus is on you to move out if you don’t like the current situation.

I would love to move out. It just isnt possible right now with my current mental health situation.

OP posts:
LoserMonA · 23/07/2025 16:39

Clarinet1 · 23/07/2025 16:11

It sounds difficult; Would the children at least stick to a rule that, if you are in your room with the door shut they must not disturb you?

They do actually do that. They're generally very good kids. I think the problem is that the house isn't very big and their rooms are right next to mine so I can hear everything and DGD (10) gets sent to her room a lot when she is having a tantrum which happens very frequently and can last for hours.

OP posts:
Clarinet1 · 23/07/2025 16:11

It sounds difficult; Would the children at least stick to a rule that, if you are in your room with the door shut they must not disturb you?

WombTangClan · 23/07/2025 16:07

If you would struggle to live alone, refer yourself to adult social work for a care assessment.

SeanMean · 23/07/2025 16:05

Her house, her rules.

The onus is on you to move out if you don’t like the current situation.

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