I have realised that I need some form of counselling to help me process my feelings around caring for my mother.
Three months ago she went into a care home, first for respite care, then stayed because she loved it.
This turned out to be amazing, her health has improved massively. My stress levels plummeted as I was no longer permanently ‘on call‘. I started to feel I was getting my life back after 4 years.
Then a week ago, she suddenly decided she was miserable at the care home and wanted to go home.
She's back home now, and I am completely overwhelmed with fear that I’m back ‘on call’. I’m having massive panic attacks.
I need someone to give me some tools to manage these feelings, I don’t want to be the person who handles everything anymore, I want my life back. I can’t block her phone calls, she’s my mum, and that’s would be cruel, but I can’t go on like this.