I've suffered with depression on and off for many years. Winter is always worse. My motivation has disappeared and I'm just about ticking over if I take a lot of time for myself to read and relax.
My mum is now mid eighties and get mobility has declined recently. She's struggling to care for her pets a bit.
We don't get on - I find her infuriating with her very strong views about things. I've tried to visit twice a week, sometimes only once. I do live close by. But I'm noticing it affects my mental health, I dread going there so don't sleep well the days leading up to a visit and am biting my tongue when I'm there to not say anything that she'll disagree with. She thinks I should ring nearly every day too.
I really don't want to go. I'm not asking for permission, just interested in how other people deal with a similar situation. I'm an only child, barely any family, so I'm the only one who visits. However she has loads of friends where she lives who she sees and speaks to.. definitely more than me!