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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

Feel guilty that this is really starting to annoy me

36 replies

FrustratedAndPuzzled · 06/01/2022 03:11

Ds comes downstairs, there's clearly something wrong. On asking him what, "his life is shit". It's shit and boring. I basically said most people's lives are quite boring, you go to work, come home, maybe go out at the weekend. "Well I want more". He wants a "hobby", to pursue his music but apparently there are NO courses in our area, none at all. I find this quite hard to believe. I suggested he ask on local fb groups for recommendations, he was barely listening.
He was clearly in a fouler.
I just find it so hard to have any sympathy, we aren't talking about a teenager here he's 25. He works part time by choice, I only ask him to contribute to rent. I dont ask for anything towards bills or food. He has a roof over his head, has nothing to worry about and the majority of his wages are his to spend as he pleases. I ask him to keep his room clean, sometimes he does his own tea. He takes the bins out once a week, and now and then i'll ask him to take a turn cleaning the bathroom.
He has the choice to go out with local friends but prefers to sit in his room on his playstation.
What exactly is so shit about that life?
I despair sometimes, I honestly dont know how he would cope if he moved out. His younger sister is completely different, and they've been brought up exactly the same.
I'm all for following your dreams and wanting something better but the reality is if you want any quality of life you have to work, you have to do things you dont want to do sometimes.
I feel terrible saying this as he does suffer with anxiety which I fully understand as I do too but how much of it is anxiety and how much is just entitlement? He will pay for travel miles away to see a friend, go out on the town...I couldn't do that, my anxiety is so severe I rarely leave the house. He spends a lot of time on twitter and i'm aware it's quite trendy to have some kind of mental health condition these days, as ridiculous as that sounds. I do wonder if he's swayed by the things he reads sometimes.
You cant have it both ways in my opinion, live here, work part time and enjoy having no responsibilities or work full time, move out and enjoy your independance.
He does have a strange way about him that we've noticed, NOTHING is ever enough. Just in general. He goes through life bored, fixated on something which is then quickly redundant.
I don't know whether he needs a reality check or really does have a problem. His sister has had exactly the same upbringing, same life and she copes just fine. Her emotions are normal, she feels sadness, loss etc but she gets over it. Not once has she ever said her life is shit or moaned about having his hand me down furniture. (We aren't well off). He's just so delicate! It's a mystery to me but then I think maybe i've just had such a tough life that i'm not seeing it..i'm doubting myself.

OP posts:
workingtheusername · 06/01/2022 03:53

Honestly I wouldn't compare his coping levels to his sisters or to yours. His experience and feelings are valid. He sounds quite low mood which is potentially linked to anxiety or possibly depression? I would try to be supportive when he is struggling show you understand life can feel hard at time, and suggestions are good, getting a hobby, exercise, seeing friends etc would all potential benefit him. But it's his choice if he wants to do these things. What about counselling? It might help him understand how he is feeling.
You sound dismissive of his feelings, this could be because you feel you have tried everything and feel frustrated? Or as his parent you feel responsible? If so know you can't fix things for him nor are you responsible to and it's not your fault he feels this way, The best you can do is be there for him.

FrustratedAndPuzzled · 06/01/2022 04:18

I'm not being dismissive, I do understand. I just don't know what to do, nothing pleases him and I can't spoil him like a little child. I wouldn't be doing him any favours if I did. He does need to learn to cope otherwise he wont ever lead an adult life. Yes, i've tried everything, and i'm always here to listen to him. It is very frustrating.

OP posts:
bonetiredwithtwins · 06/01/2022 04:46

I find it ironic that you say it's trendy to have mental health issues and are dismissive of his anxiety and yet barely leave the house because you have it too.

To be honest you sound like you've molly coddled him and therefore mostly to blame. At 25 he should be paying all his bills and having a job that facilitates that

workingtheusername · 06/01/2022 04:48

Understanding and empathising isn't spoiling him. I agree though he is an adult and is responsible for his own feelings and choices, it reads like you feel responsible to fix him. Can you try to be there and support him without putting that responsibility on your self?

bonetiredwithtwins · 06/01/2022 04:51

He does need to learn to cope otherwise he wont ever lead an adult life.

But you don't cope? How is never leaving the house coping? You'd don't lead and adult life so I should think he thinks that's "normal" loving. You need to lead by example

AlDanvers · 06/01/2022 04:59

I think you can give him reality check and sympathise.

More along the lines of 'nothing is going to change if we don't tackle our anxiety' and point out the ways he actually has a good life. The fact that he lives rent free etc.

Support him in tackling it. The fact is, that at 25 having only ever worked part time, he will fund himself less and less employable in a full time role. Which he will need 4o actually improve his life.

For those of us with MH problems, no one else can fix them. But people can support us while we try and work our way through.

But the biggest thing you can do, is a work on your own anxiety. How can you say 'you need to fix your anxiety, get a proper full time job, start going places and act work on improving your life', when you barely leave the house?

icklekid · 06/01/2022 05:16

I think the ‘nothing is ever enough’ attitude needs to stop being seen as a problem for you to fix. As an adult he has to take the responsibility for finding what it is that would make him feel fulfilled. Does he have long term ambitions? Is his anxiety a barrier to those? If so what support could he access?

I think most people connect to others at work which provides that network at his age for there being more than just work in life. So working part time actually just gives him more time to sit on his PlayStation and dwell/ allow his anxiety to take over?

Justilou1 · 06/01/2022 05:43

I think you need to tell him to man up and stop looking to you for solutions and blaming you for things entirely outside of your scope or control. If he wants to do a course somewhere else, then he can work part time and do the course part time. He will have to pay his way and put the work in like a big boy. Of course he’s bored and depressed if he works part time and still lives with his mum at his age. He has too much time on his hands and is not accountable for what he does in that time. I would start charging him rent, asking him to contribute to bills and food, etc. I would suggest that he can work full time until he gets his head right. Wallowing in self-pity and taking it out on the person who is providing for you is a luxury you have allowed to continue. It doesn’t mean that he’s entitled to it or that you’re willing to tolerate it and allow it to continue.

CurtainTroubles · 06/01/2022 07:03

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

rrhuth · 06/01/2022 07:23

feel terrible saying this as he does suffer with anxiety which I fully understand as I do too but how much of it is anxiety and how much is just entitlement?

How much of your own anxiety is just entitlement?

GoodnightGrandma · 06/01/2022 07:29

Firstly, has he ever been assessed for SEN ?
Has he ever spoken to a GP about his anxiety ?
If he wants to pursue a hobby he needs to get off his backside and do it. If he really had a passion for something he would make the effort to do it.
It sounds to me like this is his personality, and you shouldn’t compare him to anyone else.
Did he go to Uni ?
At 25 he should be working full time and paying his way. Time to encourage his independence and look at moving out.

grapewine · 06/01/2022 07:34

So his anxiety is mostly entitlement, but yours is entirely valid?

To be fair, life is mostly shit. But living at home at 25 won't be helping. There will be no impetus to change his situation. It's too comfortable.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 06/01/2022 07:40

He's 25 you need to stop "looking after" him and asking for a greater contribution towards food and bills.
Also tell him his boredom is not your problem,. he's an adult now and its up to him to sort it out you have your own stuff to worry about.
My son went through all this years ago, I gave him short shrift.
Don't encourage him to live off you and moan about his life. It really isn't good for them and doesn't encourage maturity.
My DS moved out years aho, he is 40 and married but as soon as we stay together we fall back into our old roles. Its our job as mums to help them grow up.

thenewduchessoflapland · 06/01/2022 07:51

He sounds very immature for a 25 year old.He doesn't sound like he's learnt to be an adult and you're helping to facilitate that by not getting him to pull his weight around the house or pay his way;I bet you do his laundry and cook for him too.

Sounds like he leads the life of Riley with his part time job,no chores,no rent and unlimited gaming time.

LeifSan · 06/01/2022 08:01

Jesus you have a bleak outlook on life. We are still in a pandemic where normal life is not back to normal and that’s a lot for the younger ones to cope with, especially in teens and early twenties when normally they’d be out exploring the world more independently.

You sound so dismissive of his dreams and also weirdly competitive about your respective MH issues. Have you supported him to seek help for his anxiety? you say he does nothing but when he makes an effort to see friends and socialise you criticise him and compare that to your capabilities - and ALSO criticise him for not seeing friends in the same bloody post!

No wonder he feels down and dejected, sounds like he can’t do right and your response to his unhappiness is basically life is shit suck it up. Hmm

sassbott · 06/01/2022 08:12

You have severe anxiety and barely leave the house? How long have you suffered with this?

An ex colleague, from many years ago, quit work and also suffered from anxiety/ depression/ barely left the house. Two of her three teen children have severe anxiety/ control issues. There is a link you realise?

Is there any part of you that realises he could be more genetically disposed to anxiety/ depression? And/ or that your anxiety etc has had an impact on him?

sassbott · 06/01/2022 08:13

And when you talk about trendy. Is your anxiety trendy also? Is that why you have it?

As someone with Mh issues, you do seem to lack empathy/ understanding here.

JustFrustrated · 06/01/2022 08:32

He needs to grow up.
You need to stop facilitating him

You both need help to work on your anxiety.

Your daughter has 2nd hand stuff because you don't work and he only works part time and you financially support him? How is that fair?

TheresAStarmanWaitingInTheSky · 06/01/2022 08:37

It's been very hard for young people but he needs to move out and start taking responsibility for his own life. He works part time by choice? 🤔

Georgeskitchen · 06/01/2022 08:51

I don't think you have done him.any favours mollycoddling him. Hes a grown man
Where will he be in 10 years? 20 years? Still on part time hours sat in his bedroom?

Badbaddog · 06/01/2022 09:04

Working part time and sponging off his parents at 25 are doing him no good at all. He needs to stand on his own two feet: get a full-time job and move to a house share. I sympathise deeply with his anxiety and low mood but this half life he is living is enabling and exacerbating them.

WhatNoRaisins · 06/01/2022 09:27

It's interesting that you also mention you suffer from severe anxiety. It certainly leaves a lot of room for us responders to project our own situations with anxious parents in a way that may or may not be helpful but I think it's something to look at. How long have you been like this? How long has DS been like this?

For what it's worth projection wise growing up I've known a few people with anxious parents who (maybe without even realising it) kept their children very young as it made them less stressed. Could something like this have happened?

me4real · 06/01/2022 10:09

He does sound depressed. Most people wouldn't say their life is shit. Encourage him to go back to the doctor @FrustratedAndPuzzled and to tell them how he feels his life is shit etc.

RantyAunty · 06/01/2022 12:03

I was shocked when I read he was 25! The first paragraph sounded like a 13 year old.

He needs to find a room share and move out on his own. That will fix his problems.

You said he and his sister have been raised the same, but have they?
When has your DD gotten the new furniture and your son the hand me downs?

He sounds very coddled while your DD had to grow up.

Give him until summer to move out.

Also gobsmacked by all the infantalised adult male children who never leave home.

I know at least 2 and they have been coddled and indulged while the girls were'nt and funny they manage to get jobs and move out.

Skeumorph · 06/01/2022 12:15

@FrustratedAndPuzzled

I'm not being dismissive, I do understand. I just don't know what to do, nothing pleases him and I can't spoil him like a little child. I wouldn't be doing him any favours if I did. He does need to learn to cope otherwise he wont ever lead an adult life. Yes, i've tried everything, and i'm always here to listen to him. It is very frustrating.
But you ARE spoiling him like a little child!

And that's why - although he can't join those dots yet - he feels the way he does.

He's TWENTY FIVE.

Already half way through his fist decade as an adult but he's still living as a child. In his childhood bedroom. No change, really. Moved straight from experiencing life as a child to... experiencing it as a middle-aged adult living the life of his parents. Taking out these familiar bins and cleaning this familiar old bathroom. He only 'needs' to work part time. That in itself is just so fucking depressing - here you go, this is all the effort of wage-slaving you need to do to maintain the absolutely stultifying existence you have here, in the one house you've ever lived in, and you could carry on doing this indefinitely.

My God!!!

You don't 'learn to cope' with an adult life. You start doing it. There are no two identical ways of living and it's not about coping but just BEING. He will cope.

He needs to move out.
Get a full time job or train.
Live.