I know that this is a strange type of
question but....
I am having many problems with my parents.
Everything is a medical nightmare. I
myself am 22 years old....Still living
with my parents and the problem is
this....For one, my father is recovering
from years of drug addiction...Was
cocaine, then went on methadone for about
10 years to get off a couple street drugs
and then got off of methadone and valium.
Since then he has been hospitalized about
4 times and is now on 3 or 4 different
medications....Benzos....He's been on them
for years, and says he can't get off. He
doesnt go out of the house, he's been
inside for close ot 4 years I believe now.
The only time he goes out is to buy
alcohol. He drinks 3-5 beers per day,
along with some vodka. He complains about
everything and starts arguments....He
refuses to go to the doctor to get better
because he says they don't care and are
all about the money. The one he is going
to now i'm sure is, and he doesn't want to
change because the doctor does just what
he wants....Gives him his medicines and
he's done. My father claims that there is
nothing that can make him better and says
he's on his last stretch of life. He is
only 53 !!!! Can I help someone who does
not want to be helped and does not think
that he can be helped ?!
So that is the problem with my
father....
My mother, while the problems are very
different, also refuses to get help for
herself. She is depressed first off about
everything going on with my
father....Always depressed, sometimes
completely angry with how he is. Now i'll
say first that my grandmother, my mother's
mother who I never met, died of colon
cancer that spread all over the body at
the age of 39. My mother is 49 now and
along with having high blood pressure, has
symptoms of what I fear could be cancer.
She smiles it off and says she's fine.
She has a large growth in her abdomen
area. At first glance, it seems just like
a belly, but it is a growth actually under
the lower part of the belly. She claims
that many women get that when they have
their children cut out that way. *sigh*
it just doesn't seem logical. She tries
to deny any problems. Also, she even made
an appointment with a gynecologist just a
month or so back due to pain in her
breast, and this was the first time ever
that she took the initiative to find what
is wrong. And, just as I thought she
would, she cancelled the appointment, and
says "nah i'm fine don't worry." two
nights ago, she lost her speech and became
very confused, along with her hands
completely weakened and pain in the front
right side of her head. She also busted a
blood vessel in her eye. Everything that
I looked up says this must be a stroke.
This has happened a few times before to
her and a couple times even to my father.
As I speak, she is getting confused and
having trouble speaking, again. Any time
I tell her that I need to call the
ambulance, or even just take her to the
hospital right near here, she says "no
don't you dare, i'll get nervous and then
something bad will happen." so I am always
afraid. I don't want to get her even more
nervous and have everything spiral out of
control even more after I dial 911 and
they rush in here late at night.
My question in all of this is : is there
anything, anything, anything at all that I
can do since both of my parents refuse to
get help, and say that they don't even
need it (only they know that they do) ???
What is there to do ? It makes me go
crazy every day. I can't take it
thank you so much in advance for your
response
|
Spirit
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 387 Location: Canada
Posted: 06-26-06 07:23am
Although i'm not an overly religious
person, your post reminds me of.....
The serenity prayer
god, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
i cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference
at first glance, it looks as if nothing
can be done, as people are quite stubborn
and set in their ways. Especially if they
have no desire to change! What would give
the desire?.........Probably something to
look forward to............For example,
many people define themselves by what job
they have.......And despite complaining,
they take great pride in what title they
have. Both your parents sound depressed
and stuck in a rut...Where everyday is the
same.....So why bother to change?
Help is out there...........But first they
got to want to go........And lastly...It's
normal to be worried about everything and
everybody at your age...........However
there's a point when you have to be
concerned for yourself and your future.
|
cherry88
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 633 Location: ,
Posted: 07-23-06 20:57pm
Beyondforever:
unfortunately some people are beyond help.
Some people do not want to get help. No
matter who offers it. It will be hard for
you to accept because they are your
parents.
You cannot help those who do not want to
be helped.
(i know this because my uncle is pretty
much the same as your dad)
you just need to be there for them, and
make sure they know it. Just some things
are out of your power. They are adults
remember. Stay positive.