Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be (slightly) unconvinced about DSis' MH issues

97 replies

milkandpancakes · 01/12/2018 14:32

My sister has been signed off work with depression for about three years now and lives with her fiancé who financially supports them both and seems happy to do that (I think she gets an allowance as well). When she was first signed off she did a lot of CBT and seemed to be really positive for a while, started studying and appeared to have plans to work in the future or start a business. But all this time later she seems to have just come to a standstill, she says she won't be doing anything towards her OU degree until after the wedding which is in July and which seems to be the only thing filling her time as far as I can see.

I've genuinely tried to be supportive and I don't doubt that she has issues, but it just seems like she's given up. Recently I said to her that she needs to start with something small and build her confidence from there but she replied that her depression is a fundamental part of her and she can't handle everyday normal life, it overwhelms her and it always has done. Her fiancé is the "only one who has ever truly listened...not tried to belittle or normalise it".

So basically my AIBU is, am I completely out of order suggesting/ thinking that she needs more in her life than just being at home and this can't be helping her anxiety and depression in the long term? Either way I can't get her to see that but just wanted to get other perspectives. Mental health stuff is really hard and I've suffered with it myself, I definitely relate to feeling overwhelmed but it feels like she believes the way she feels is almost uniquely bad? Or am I just not being understanding enough that this is just the way she is permanently? It's her life I know but I just feel sad for her, she's not even 30 and doesn't seem to want to do anything.

OP posts:
MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow · 01/12/2018 14:35

YABU

ItsInTheSpoon · 01/12/2018 14:36

Yabvu

PurpleDaisies · 01/12/2018 14:37

What exactly are you “unconvinced” about?

milkandpancakes · 01/12/2018 14:39

I guess I'm not convinced that she actually wants to get better.

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 01/12/2018 14:41

I think there are a subset of mentally ill people who do want to be helped. I've definitely met people like that.

Cranky17 · 01/12/2018 14:42

It’s not unreasonable to suggest she needs more in her, she herself probably wants more in her life, however her illness stops her getting better and achieving for more. Don’t add to her illness by judging her for not doing what you would do

Cranky17 · 01/12/2018 14:43

All that said it’s noy unreasonable to be frustrated with the situation

MaggieMeldrum · 01/12/2018 14:43

Depression makes you feel unfixable, broken. It’s not a case of not wanting to get better but rather feeling that it’s not possible.

Dotty1970 · 01/12/2018 14:43

Your horrible and totally don't understand, I doubt you have suffered MH issues if your looking at this in this way.
Someone with mental health issues can't even 'see getting better' sometimes

Bombardier25966 · 01/12/2018 14:44

For many people depression isn't something you get better from, at best you learn to live with it and at worst it kills you. If her living with it is staying home, enjoying time with her partner and studying on a very part time basis then good for her.

If you carry on as you are I'd encourage your sister to cut you off.

Santasushi · 01/12/2018 14:44

Yabu. Maybe she feels that she doesn’t want or deserve to be helped or to be well.
It’s so different for each individual.

manicinsomniac · 01/12/2018 14:44

It's hard to know from what you've said. If she's never given you any reason not to trust her then I would tend to believe her though.

I guess the thing to remember is that not all (not even most) depression is debilitating. Many people live with depression which is constantly there and, yes, probably does seem like 'a fundamental part of them'. They go about normal everyday life, possibly even able to do something as big as planning a wedding - but they do still have depression.

FissionChips · 01/12/2018 14:46

There are different levels of depression, some people find it just puts a dark cloud over things, others become so depressed they literally cannot move.

Just because you’ve had isssues don’t think they are the same.

VaselineHero · 01/12/2018 14:47

Unfortunately one of the side effects of some MH issues is a feeling of being stuck. It's a horrible place to be and leaves a person feeling helpless and incapable. Which makes the stuck feeling even worse.

ohplop · 01/12/2018 14:49

Apart from dictating to her from the ivory tower of 'I don't sufferer mental illness so those who do must be exaggerating and need to try harder', can you tell us what you're doing to help your sister with regards to her illness?

PurpleDaisies · 01/12/2018 14:51

I guess I'm not convinced that she actually wants to get better.

That’s part of the illness.

milkandpancakes · 01/12/2018 14:52

Guess the consensus is that IABU. I just think she's in a bit of a vicious circle and is actually quite comfortable with that in a way. I would be depressed if I sat at home doing nothing and had no friends. She says this is how she will always be now but doesn't that just become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

OP posts:
ChodeofChodeHall · 01/12/2018 14:54

YABVU. Have a bit of a word with yourself and stop telling your sister what she 'needs' to do.

milkandpancakes · 01/12/2018 14:55

Actually @ohplop I have suffered and do suffer from MH issues and I know that taking small steps has helped me so it's sad and frustrating to watch her appearing to choose to 'sit out' her life instead. There's nothing I can do to help as she won't let me. I'd love to help, believe me.

OP posts:
WarCat · 01/12/2018 14:55

She doesn't sound ill enough to be off work to be honest. Three years! Yet getting engaged and married etc?

PurpleDaisies · 01/12/2018 14:56

She doesn't sound ill enough to be off work to be honest. Three years! Yet getting engaged and married etc?

How could you possibly know that? What a totally ignorant comment.

ChodeofChodeHall · 01/12/2018 14:58

What an ignorant assertion. People with depression can fall in love and get married. Try harder.

CrabbyPatty · 01/12/2018 14:58

As someone struggling with depression and anxiety and currently signed off from work I don't think its fair to call you horrible. I've often been frustrated at my mum's MH to the point of becoming angry but deep down I know it's not her fault. Getting better is about take literally tiny baby steps and you can support by bring proud with what she does rather than focusing on what she doesn't do. It might be tiny things like jobs around the house or taking pride in her appearance. Xxx

Bestseller · 01/12/2018 14:59

Hmm, what is her fiance like? Is he genuinely supportive or does it suit him to have her dependant on him?

I have a friend who suffered depression for more than a decade. During that time she relied very heavily on another friend "the only person who really gets it". This friend appeared to be a godsend but what was actually happening was the "friend" was keeping her down because she liked to be needed. It was only after they had a big falling out and my friend was forced to do more for herself and to seek support from a more varied group, that her health started to improve. She's amazing now and hasn't taken any medication for years.

BumsexAtTheBingo · 01/12/2018 15:01

Well if her fiancé is happy to support her then it’s up to her if and when she feels ready to make baby steps to do things outside her comfort zone. You’re right to be concerned that being at home may not help her in the long run but it may be all she can manage right now.
Maybe they are planning to start a family and the fiancé is happy to support her to stay at home and raise their children?
It might not be the kind of life you’d want but she’s not you.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread