Or my head might explode?
My elderly, widowed mother is so needy and likes to complain about everything. It’s a complicated relationship and I’ve only realised in recent years that she’s extremely emotionally immature and probably a narc too but isn’t going to change at her age. I now limit the time I spend with her but it’s exhausting when she lays on the guilt tripping. I’m not going to go NC with her.
My sibling loves a good whinge about minor things when we talk.
I have another elderly relative who I’m happy to help out with shopping /house stuff etc but they can also moan for the entire hour or so I spend with them every week.
I have a teenager who’s great but is prone to dramatics and I’m their default sounding board.
And I work full time in a very busy role.
Lately DH has joined the moaning chorus - I think he’s turning into Victor Meldrew - and I am the person he unloads to about various things that annoy him from work to how to deal with our teenager (who really is not a problem!) He has friends but he wouldn’t moan to them.
My head is full. I squeeze out an hour a week for a yoga class, maybe get to the gym if I can. I walk my dog. But my brain can’t take any more.
AIBU to tell him the listening ear has gone deaf?
In all seriousness though, how do I tell people to stop using me as an emotional dumping ground?