I am surrounded by many people who love me. People want to help me and yet, the most important thing to me is that people don't help me. At 42 years of age, I feel like I cannot succeed at anything unless other people tell em what to do. Advice advice advice!!

I don't wish to alienate the people I love, I just want to face some challenges alone. I feel that I can do things on my own, but loved ones still want to help me decide things. I feel like my life is not my own. I feel a little demeaned as if these people feel I can't be independent. I am doubting my own abilities. They praise me for my strength but never for wisdom or intelligence. I live across the street from my parents and they watch through the window when my sons and I go out. They watch when we return. I am not in the house for more than a few minutes and my parents are calling and asking why I didn't ask them to drive me somewhere. Or they want to know where I have been with my kids.

I want to be alone. I am depressed because so many people "care" about me. This is strange.