My son has just left home at 32 after living with us since University. He has poor mental health and was unemployed for many years . It has been a terrible decade really, just unremitting worry and stress. In the the past two years his relationship with me has become very difficult. He’s been seeing a therapist who he says has helped him greatly, but instead of helping him relate better to his family, he’s more or less turned against us. He blames me for not being emotionally supportive enough when in fact I am totally burnt out and hurt with some of his behaviour. I’m worn out from year and years of cooking, cleaning and bearing with the situation.
He has finally got to a place where he can just about afford the rent on a flat and has a job. It’s not well paid, but it’s a job . After years of looking he has a flat.
His parting words to me were that all his family have let him down and make his mental health worse. It hurts so much. I’m relieved he’s gone in part but also terribly sad. I wish it hadn’t ended this way. I feel like a failure. I am worried it won’t work out but know he had to make this step for all our sakes. I am worn out.
I love him dearly but feel our relationship will never recover, and it’s the end of an era. I feel desperately sad and lonely but also great relief.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I feel so alone.