800-448-3000Choosing To Live With My Dad
Question
It took awhile for me to get myself to come on here . I'm living with my father and I told my mom I don't want to live with her for now. My reason being, she tried killing herself earlier this year. She has called the police on me to get me to answer her questioning me as to why I'm so depressed. She threw my birds out of a window. She tells me to go to church to "heal". She said that "your father put the burden on me" and is now happy because she said he will feel how it's like to be a single parent. She has told me that I'm failing. She doesn't seem like a mother to me anymore because of her mental health and her irrational thoughts. So I am choosing to live with my dad , but I'm still depressed about everything.
Counselor response
It sounds like your mother is very ill right now. It is unfortunate that she is shifting blame on you and your father instead of dealing with her own issues. Right now she is not the mother that you knew when she was emotionally healthy; right now while it is important to be supportive of her, you also need to take care of yourself.
It sounds like you are trying to make wise choices for yourself and for right now, that means living at your dad's house. During this time it is important that you are honest about your feelings with your dad. Tell him that you are struggling with feelings of depression. He can talk to you about this and help you find the support that you need.
We have some tips that we would like you to read through, we think that they will help you to manage this difficult time in your life:
Your emotional health is just as important to your mother’s health, so be sure to surround yourself with supportive people so that you get the help that you need and deserve.
Nancy, counselor