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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Worried about my sil

9 replies

Moulesfrites · 03/06/2011 11:54

my sil is 24. She graduated 2 years ago and had not looked for work since, and is financially dependent on my bil and pils and socially and emotionally completely dependent on bil- she does not socialise with others, and clings to bil at any family event, even texting him when in a different room in pils house asking him to come to her! She is I credibly shy to the point where I think she may have some kind of social anxiety. She also suffers from psoraisis. She had some treatment for this in the run up to her wedding and looked great, but since then it has got worse, which probably contributes to her shyness. Recently she has found out that her dad has terminal cancer, and has, understandably, been floored by this and has withdrawn even further. She has moved in with her dad to look after him, but it seems to be bil who is responsible for communicating with the hospital etc as sil is not up to this. She has upset other members of the family recently- her and bil have not congratulated or acknowledged the birth of other bil's second child 4 weeks ago, and she did not attend my ds's christening at the weekend asshe was not up to it, according to bil, who did attend.

Throughout this time I have sent her messages telling her I am thinking of her, offering to meet up when she gets respite from helping her dad (her mum and brother are around too), to pick her up and go out for lunch, or for her to come to mine, but have received nothing back, even though bil has told me he thinks it would be good for her to get out.

I am at a loss at what to do now. Should I persevere or is it too much? I don't want her to think she has been forgotten about but don't want to push it. She is really going through the mill at the minute and I really don't think she is well equipped to deal with it have said that, I have no idea how I would cope with one of my parents dying. Any advice?

OP posts:
nomedoit · 03/06/2011 12:08

I would back off a bit but not totally. I wouldn't suggest a "plan" to do something, just message her in general terms. A plan will just make her feel under pressure? It's totally unreasonable for the family to get upset with her about not congratulating other BIL or not coming to the christening, especially as her DH did come. She clearly has mental health issues, poor girl.

Likesshinythings · 03/06/2011 12:15

You sounds like a lovely SIL, she's lucky.

Maybe tell her what you've said in your post, that you want her to know that you are around for her and she hasn't been forgotten but you don't want to push her when she has so much else to think about, and then leave it with her?

monkeysmum79 · 03/06/2011 12:19

Sounds to me like she is suffering from depression and anxiety.
I went through a similar episode myself, the trouble is everyone else sees there is something wrong before you! I was encouraged to see the doctor when I eventually realised what was going on and I have been on antidepressants for just over 2 months now and I have to say I feel normal again, I have more energy and my marriage and children have benefited so much!
There are so many physical symptoms that people just don't realise associated with depression and anxiety and they are debilitating yet they are so simple to sort out. check out symptoms of depression on the net.
The pills just give you a fresh outlook and help you deal with what life throws at you. Hope this helps.

Moulesfrites · 03/06/2011 12:35

Thanks, I have though for a long time that she could be depressed, but it is not my place to suggest this is it?

OP posts:
Moulesfrites · 03/06/2011 17:23

?

OP posts:
jan2011 · 03/06/2011 18:26

hi there!
its so good of you being so concerned and wanting to help her. i was just thinking that it may be better to risk saying something and enabling her to get the help, rather than doing nothing...and letting the situation go on and on as she is clearly suffering. but if she is closer to your dh, why don't you talk to him about it and ask him to bring it up with her, im sure there are very sensitive ways to go about it, such as saying i have a friend who went through some depression and once she saw the doctor and got some help for it, she started feeling so much better etc... and he could say we have noticed you just haven't been yourself lately ... stuff like that. what do you think?

i think it may be hard for her to take in the beginning, especially if she is in denial, and especially if she is humiliated that people can see that theres something wrong, but once she gets past this, i think it will open the door for improved relationships and for her to get the help she needs.

anyway im no expert just thought id give my 2 cents. all the best with whatever you decide x

Moulesfrites · 03/06/2011 18:40

ok thank you for this advice, I will talk to my dh about it. I just worry, that , as you say, she will feel humiliated and will withdraw even further.

OP posts:
Sqee · 03/06/2011 19:24

She sounds alot like me and I suffer from social anxiety. I think you sound like an absolutely wonderful SiL! My inlaws are very pushy about family occasions and always made it out that I was rude for not going to big events and it has really effected my relationship with them to the point where I actually have not seen them since January.

I say continue what you are doing right now just keep offering support and love. She will appreciate it in the long run but right now I'm guessing all she can think about is her dad and stress like that tends to make people who suffer with social anxiety (Which she very much sounds like she does) shrink away from everyone she isn't very close too. You see it take alot of effort to coax yourself to spend time with people and I doubt she would have the mental energy for something like at ATM. Again just keep letting her know you are there for her.

I think you should teach classes to other in laws!

PercyPigPie · 03/06/2011 21:15

You sound a lovely SIL - can I swap with my SIL? Grin. I would just back off a tiny bit and not make demands on her, but let her know you are there.

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