Mum has mood swings

[YourMerryAquaViewer]

I've not been feeling comfortable around my mum She seems to have all these moodswings for instance when I ask mention a topic of conversation to her she mentions it is irrelevant at this moment in time when she is not doing a nothing. I understand why she would say that if she was busy doing something but she isn't. It's like she's controlling. Also, constantly criticises me for the slightest thing as well. I have had counselling to help deal with this and have been told she is a critical mother and nothing can be done to change her but I can change how I react with her. I'm finding it so difficult especially with christmas coming up.

What you were advised was correct, she's very unlikely to change. You could ask her to stop criticising you, spend less time with her, challenge her, leave, put the phone down on her etc

You need to take control of the situation and disengage with her so she doesn't effect you so much. Find a way to manage her, or not - you don't have to see her at all.

Yes and she constantly says 'you're starting to stress me out' when I question why I can't ask her stuff at a certain time when she isn't actually doing anything. Also she is aggressive with me and then has to be told by my Dad not to be aggressive. It's hard to disengage with her when I live with her for the moment unfortunately as don't know what to do.

OP I've already given you suggestions on what to do. Disengaging means to disengage emotionally so her behaviour doesn't effect you so much.

If you don't change how you react, she'll continue to upset you so it's up to you to find solutions.

Do you want solutions or do you need to share / vent / talk?

Remember Christmas is just a day or two. It's hard, but there are ways to manage the extra time with difficult relatives. Things like:

Remembering how they act is a projection of them, not a reflection of you
Taking breaks by yourself (eg a walk, nip to the shops for last minute pint of milk, phone call with a friend, Christmas day nap)
Focusing on your interactions with the people who don't make you feel bad

I do need to vent yeah. Everytime she has spoken to me this xmas is to criticise where I have put something echoing the way she would like them to be put. Also she says quickly one word answers when I ask her or say anything to her.