Went to counselor today, had a really good session with this new counselor for the first time. Come home, Mom wants to know how the session went. Then Mom proceeded to say how the counselor doesn’t know anything. Mom somehow thinks she’s the expert and has all the answers on how to fix my life. Then later on I’m in another room of the house and I can hear her and my Dad bad-mouthing me. I’m glad they let me live here during this divorce process, but they FUCKING DRIVE ME CRAZY !!! Can anyone relate to this?
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I’m sorry that your parents are not more supportive and that they bad mouth any progress you feel you have made, but just remember that what they say is not true. If you feel this current therapist is helping you and you feel you have a good connection with them, keep with it. Tell them how you’re parents are making you feel. They might be able to offer solutions.
Also if regards to having to listen to your parents, is there a place you can go to where you can get away from them for awhile? Or music you like to listen to that can drown them out?
Anyway, hope things get better for you!
I can relate to some of it. My mom is a lot like yours. She thinks she has the answers on how to “fix” me. She believes that it’s all a matter of thinking the way she wants me to think. Doesn’t believe in emotions you can’t control or change. In other words, she doesn’t have any clue about what I’m going through.
But, she means well. She wants to see me better, and she can’t understand or accept the fact that it’s not gonna happen. She believes in wishful thinking.
I don’t live with them yet. For the time being, I still have my house. But for how long I don’t know. I visit them most days for dinner, and stay for a couple of hours. Any longer than that and I will be risking having a breakdown in front of them. And that will make things worse.
All I can say is that just because they are your parents, it doesn’t mean they know better. Just try to ignore their opinions if possible.
The title of your story, shows you have the ability to see past the surface and you understand your parent’s intentions. It’s very difficult to do that and quite an accomplishment, good stuff!
Your parents love you and want to help but they may not always know how to care for you or be mindful of your needs in that particular moment.
It will help you a tremendous amount to understand their intent given their knowledge about your experiences may be limited.
Keep that in mind when you listen or hear them speak about your life and/or your choices to help yourself.
Parents for the most part, always seem to act and/or think they know best. I think it comes with the job. You will always be better at knowing what you need no matter what anyone says.
You can always listen respectfully but chose not to apply any of it especially when it’s not right for you. No one needs to know that part and better for your recovery if you keep it to yourself.
Last thing you need is to try to explain to your parents, that they don’t know better then you do when it comes to your life. But you already know that.
If your mother was going through a divorce and you were able to provide her a place to stay while she was dealing with everything, would you feel she owes you? Would you expect for her to do what you say or agree with everything you think just because you are helping her out?
My guess will be that you wouldn’t expect anything, that you would be more then happy to help and would want anything in return. Feeling like you owe them because they are helping you, is your choice. You could also choose to let your parents make their choices and be responsible for them as well. They chose to help by letting you stay there. They didn’t have to, but they did. It’s great that you appreciate it but…(and this is another guess)…you don’t need to feel guilty about it or feel your payment to them shouldn’t be anything, let alone to agree with everything they say.
You understand them, you understand yourself. That'[s all you need to know what is best for you. The part that is driving you crazy, is your guilt about needing their help and/or having to stay with them and feeling insecure about it. Everyone at any age need help in life. It’s not possible to live life without it. People help each other and that is the way it is because it works.
Your parents need to help you, so that they feel needed. You need their help now because you need that love around you for support. You are both providing for each other as it should be.
You aren’t doing or asking for something that is inappropriate. You are not inadequate for needing help, you have a lot to be proud of and it takes a great deal of strength to allow others to help you especially when you are an adult seeking out help from your parents.
Family and friends help each other because when you help others, when you provide for others, you are providing for yourself a purpose. We all need that. Allowing your parents to help gives them purpose and taking the help provides you with support.
Ain’t nothing wrong with that! In fact, everything about it, is right.
You have what it takes to heal, you know what is best for you and you love your parents and they love you. The things you hear, be them good or bad, doesn’t matter when you know whats what. And you do.
Now keep your focus on healing and moving forward so you can get the hell out of there because they must be driving you nuts! And when you are ready, you can invite them over to your new fabulous place to show off just how great your life is. They will be proud of how amazing you are at knowing what is best for you 😉
You should be proud of your strength, insight and compassionate loving hear.
All the best
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses. I really appreciate them and they mean a lot to me…JRS