Mya Symons
Mya Symons
- Messages
- 1,029
- Location
- Washington
My mother died 10 years ago, before I became really ill. I have two sisters. My sisters and my father deal with my illness by ignoring me when I talk about it. For example, if I talk to them on the phone and happen to mention something about it, I get the response "I have to go now." If I contact them via e-mail or a social network and mention anything, it just gets ignored. My father is a recovering alcoholic who attends AA. I quit drinking about 10 years ago, but do not attend AA. The only time my father brings up the subject of my illness is to mention that I should not take any medication, especially any pain killers (I take tramadol). I rarely talked about CFS/FMS in the first place. Now, I have gotten to the point where I will not mention it to them at all. Their contact with me has become less and less. My uncle passed away a few months ago. My father called me after not talking to me for 6 months and I felt like he wanted me to listen and "feel sorry for him." I did not have it in me. I could not be a shoulder to lean on to someone who is not supportive of me. My father has also talked alot about my Aunt, who has rheumatoid arthritis and how bad he feels for her that she could not work, yet expects me to work full time. (I currently work 22 hours a week). I have tried to send them articles about CFS and FMS, but they ignore them.
I am lucky in the sense that my husband is very supportive and I have a good friend (my sister-in-law) who is also very supporive. (My husband and my sister-in-law also have CFS/FMS). My 19 year old daughter is also very supportive.
I am feeling as if I need to cut my father and sisters out of my life because I end up feeling bad every time I talk to them. I was hoping that others could share their stories about their dealings with relatives and how they deal with it.
I am lucky in the sense that my husband is very supportive and I have a good friend (my sister-in-law) who is also very supporive. (My husband and my sister-in-law also have CFS/FMS). My 19 year old daughter is also very supportive.
I am feeling as if I need to cut my father and sisters out of my life because I end up feeling bad every time I talk to them. I was hoping that others could share their stories about their dealings with relatives and how they deal with it.