Hey guys! Sorry for taking so long to reply, I have been dealing with Real Life Issues(TM), much along the same lines as before. My mother is on a NEW psychiatric drug prescribed by her therapist, which means more stress on my part. Having her change medications is always a trial.
AFC ROYAL: Not a dumb question, actually. My father just doesn't care. He believes that my mom will just 'snap out of it' someday and decide not to be mentally ill. He has interesting views on this sort of thing.
He is rarely in the house to begin with. In fact, there's many a night where he'll just go over to his brothers(my uncles)or stay out late until like 4:00AM, and then come back and go directly to sleep. When he wakes up, he leaves immediately for work. This happens every day. Even the weekend.
I have considered taking online classes, and have in fact been occupying myself with finding out a good place. It's difficult for us to get welfare, because we make just enough money to get above the poverty line. Thing is, most of the money my father earns goes directly to his job in the form of tools, material, parts, and paying his workers.
FEMME85:
She has been on this heavy medication for approximately four years. I was 13 when she had her first major panic attack. That was when I started having to stay in the house frequently. She would have fits if I left, and generally had problems coping on her own. Her life consisted of lying on the couch, staring at the wall, and watching TV instead of sleeping.
She proceeded to have two more major panic attacks, the last one resulting in her hospitalization. Then she was referred to a psychiatrist, who immediately started her on a regime of Paxil, Xanax, and Remeron to help her sleep.
Rather than helping, the drugs more or less began to sap her of her energy and vitality. She gained weight, she sank deeper into depression, and refused to leave the house unless I went with her. I kid you not, she said that when I'm out of the house all she wants to do is stay under the covers and never leave.
I was 16 then. I live nearby a gym, so I can go there very quickly - an hour is the longest I stay there - and then return. If I'm longer out than that, she calls me excessively, asks me what I'm doing, where I'm at, and when I'm returning. I'm now 20, and she hasn't improved a bit. If anything, it's gotten worse. She's begun falling down around the place, passing out from the drugs and being unable to move from where she's sitting or lying, and as I said, she instantly throws a tantrum, with crying fits, if I suggest that I'll be over at anyone else's house, or if I say I'm going to a party.
My father sees that she's losing her mind slowly, but it's a joke to him. He mocks her for not remembering things, calls her a psycho, etc. It's all fun and games from his point of view.
She joined a self-help group, but left it, saying that she hates people and wants nothing to do with them. This was after they suggested that she go outside occasionally. I've considered going to one myself, but I can only imagine how much more shit I'd have to take from my parents if I did so.
Minsok:
I've been told that by two of my friends who joined the armed forces. I've been seriously considering it, especially since everyone talks about how the AF is like Military College. The guys were talking about how they were chilling on base with their laptops and MP3 players and whatnot after taking classes.
DesertSun:
I'm more afraid that I might indirectly cause her death. She keeps dropping hints about committing suicide...talking about buying a bunch of pills and eating them, hanging herself, and all kinds of other disturbing things. Needless to say, I'm not a fool or a baby, so I already know the message she's sending.
Plus, she has a weak heart(unsurprising, because she hates exercise). So, I'm not so much worried about losing her respect as I am about losing her, period. Mind you, I'm a big boy, I used to get along fine without her when she was immobile on a couch. I cooked my own food, went shopping for groceries, and interacted with her. But I know for a fact that my father will hold it against me forever if that happens. He's a great, kind man like that.
But you are most absolutely right in saying that this can't continue. Even her psychiatrist tells her that she has to let go of me. She hates him for that, unfortunately...
Mystrix:
Thanks for the support. Yes, I know sarging isn't everything. Yet I still feel slightly pathetic for not being able to go out and run game on some chicks. I feel like -that guy-...you know, the guy who stays at his parents' house and doesn't do anything. The thing is, I want to do stuff, but I basically am prevented from doing so, and have been for a while.
My father is adamant about not moving. If I try to talk to him about something he doesn't want to do, he just leaves the house. There's no point in trying to argue with him if he's not even listening.