My parents split up and divorced about 15 years ago - when I was about 10 - and my dad left the area and I havn't seen him since. That is not a problem as I had no relationship with him and he has since died. However, as soon as my dad left my mum started drinking heavily and smoking cannabis, taking harder drugs (in between periods of working and some normality) and had a couple of boyfriends who lived with us (I have one brother) and they used to fight when they were both drunk (it was a 2 sided thing - not violence against just one person). The police were called to our house on over 100 occasions and eventually my brother and I were taken into care but luckily were sent to live with my nan and uncle. That was fantastic as my nan is wonderful and although my uncle isnt perfect, and never wanted any kids of his own, he took us on and has been fantastic with us - I really cant complain. However, my mum maid hundreds of abusive phone calls to my nans hous, visiting on several occasions and physically fighting with my uncle, screaming and shouting at everyone and has been arrested on numerous occasions. I have always had a decent relationship with my mum (but not really a mother-daughter relationship) and eventually I agreed that I would try to go back and live with her. That only lasted a couple of months - I would get home from school to find that she was down the pub and she would come home drunk at 9 or 10pm - and call me all the names under the sun and go nuts because I hadn't done the washing up. Anyway, surprise, surprise, I went back to live with my nan.

I finished school and graduated from university and I am now married (she didnt turn up to my wedding) and have my own house. However, my mum was evicted from her council house around 2 years ago and has had a flat but is now living in a homeless hostel. I did have her to live with us on the agreement that she didnt drink any alcohol but she got extremely drunk / stoned and I cannot repeat the things she called my husband - from out on the street as we wouldnt let her back in the house as I know that she would have attacked one of us. She has been in the hostel for 6 months now and has made no effort to find a new flat. She also had ALL of her belonging stolen when she had a flat share for a short time.

The rest of my family (including my brother and my nan - her mum) no longer have any patience with her. She has told so many lies, upset so may people, threatened suicide, emotionally blackmailed people and told everyone that she hates them so many times. I also know that my husband also cannot stand her. I am the only person that until now, has stood by her and I continue to help her the best that I can. But her not coming to my wedding, after we had gone shopping together a couple of days before, really convinced me that she does not care for me as a mother should.

I can't explain here everything that she has done but this has carried on for the past 15 years and I am at the end of my teather now. She says she loves me with all her heart but I dont think that she knows the meaning of the word. I dont know what to say or think anymore, she is at rock bottom and I dont know how or if I can help her. I also dont know if there is any point. I often think that given her lifestyle, she will be dead soon - and that is the only time I will have any peace.

Amy advice on this would be hugely appreciated. (Sorry I have rambled for so long!)