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Mental health

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What kind of counselling would help?

2 replies

PurpleKate · 30/04/2026 20:42

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.

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 30/04/2026 22:03

You need practical help as much as 'tools'. Her GP or other professional service provider (sorry, don't know the right term) needs to tell her, clearly and unambiguously, that she needs to go back to the care home.

You can tell her that you are unable to provide the level of care that she's become used to, but that you can help her to either find another home or a full time carer to look after her. Make it clear that no other option is available. Look up the broken record technique.

PurpleKate · 30/04/2026 22:11

Thank you, but I am after help for my mental health. I don’t know what kind of counselling would be suitable for me.

OP posts:
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