[ur_ladybird]

Hi all,

Reading a post on here earlier and having just spoken to my mother gave me the idea of putting a couple of questions to all.

Little history, my mother has social anxiety disorder and depression, I do, and my son does. All three of us have been diagnosed.
In one way it is great, as we all understand what the other is going through. On the other hand it is really really difficult. For a start there is the guilt feeling of having passed it onto my son ... I know it is learned behaviour he has partly learned of me since he was a baby. Then there is all the triggers,... We set each other off very easily. Then there is the feeding of the anxiety... Every time I say to my son I understand how you feel I tell his brain that these irrational thoughts must be real as my mother agrees that she thinks similar. Does that make sense?

Have you guys any experience in this? We have moved my son to his fathers house so he could have a healthier role model, but the thought of me as a mother making my son ill by interacting with him just really really throws.

[Perna]

Hey, your mother taught you that! What are you doing for yourself so you and your son both can live a life together? It's great you have moved your son to his father's but you need to help yourself too.

[ur_ladybird]

I am pushing to see a therapist myself ... Waiting lists seem to be going on forever. My son has seen a psychologist who also helped me as a parent. But that came to an end when he moved as he had to move towns.
Oh, and I'm on medication for depression/anxiety. Sooo.... That corner is covered. I just would like to hear how other familys deal with that as it is a real head spinner for me at the moment.

[mamateama]

Originally Posted by ur_ladybird

Hi all,

Reading a post on here earlier and having just spoken to my mother gave me the idea of putting a couple of questions to all.

Little history, my mother has social anxiety disorder and depression, I do, and my son does. All three of us have been diagnosed.
In one way it is great, as we all understand what the other is going through. On the other hand it is really really difficult. For a start there is the guilt feeling of having passed it onto my son ... I know it is learned behaviour he has partly learned of me since he was a baby. Then there is all the triggers,... We set each other off very easily. Then there is the feeding of the anxiety... Every time I say to my son I understand how you feel I tell his brain that these irrational thoughts must be real as my mother agrees that she thinks similar. Does that make sense?

Have you guys any experience in this? We have moved my son to his fathers house so he could have a healthier role model, but the thought of me as a mother making my son ill by interacting with him just really really throws.

I undertsand completely and am in a similar situation. I think you are brave in doing what your doing for your son. It must be hard on you not having him with you. So give yourself some credit for doing a good thing, a brave thing! It takes alot of courage to ackowledge and own up to your faults and to do what you are doing for child. Also i think you should seek counseling for your anxiety so you can have a happier healthier life, both for yourslef and you son. Remember you deserve to have a happy life!