[Lostinside]

Evening forums,

For the past 4 months my home life has been slowly crashing down around me. My father is an alcoholic who refuses to help himself from his problems, and my mother is finally breaking down after 25+ years in a terrible marriage. Both are equally incredibly depressed, and I simply do not know how much longer they can both survive.

I've tried talking to both of them about this and how it affects my siblings and myself. My mother constantly tells me she's going through with the divorce, getting rid of him and being happy again, but she's been saying this for several months now. She hardly eats, sleeps all day, and has mood swings constantly. My father is an alcoholic, can't stand to get off the couch to do anything for or with the family outside of work, and refuses help from everyone, even his mother.

I'm leaving in 3 months, and won't worry a thing about it anymore after that. I just can't help wonder what I can do to help these two people

[Rohag]

Lostinside, what you describe is so sad. I fear you have little power to "rescue" your parents from themselves. Perhaps the best you can do is gently urge them to seek help for themselves, and that is something they must do for themselves.

Try to be kind and calm. As best you can, do not allow them to drag you down with them. To be of any possible help to them, you must be secure in yourself first.

May you find friends and allies.

[SophiaG]

Your mother, could you convince her to get on anti depressants?