Hi all
Firstly I feel awful for even posting as my mum is going through a hard time at the moment but I feel like I don’t have anyone to vent to / that no one else would understand.
Growing up my mum has always gone through periods where she felt “down” and this often resulted in mood swings and the rest of the family walking on egg shells. She is pretty negative and complains / obsesses over minor things (that usually don’t concern her). She doesn’t have much confidence and has gained weight and constantly puts herself down which makes me sad. On the flip side she is also very bitchy and constantly puts others down (behind their back) for their appearance.
I find spending time with her very draining as it’s so doom and gloom. She also spends 80% of her day on Facebook (I often see her arguing with strangers on local fb groups over minor things) and I think this only makes her more of a miserable person.
She is getting help via anti depressants and therapy which is great but I don’t know how much this will help in the long run as she doesn’t have much going on in her life and spends most of her day on her phone. She is married to my dad but he also finds her hard work so distances himself.
I moved cities a year ago to live with my partner and feel happier now I don’t have to be around her moods 24/7 but really feel for my siblings and dad who still do. She also makes me feel bad for living an hour away from her as she misses me but I am happy where I am.
Has anyone experienced similar? I’d love to have a fun and close relationship with her but she makes this hard and I don’t think she realises how difficult she can be to be around (if I’ve ever mentioned her negativity in the past she doesn’t want to hear it and throws a strop, usually cries and then I feel bad) so it’s not worth the argument.
I struggle with my own mental health at times and always feel so drained and sad after visiting her that things aren’t different.