Posted by Racer on July 14, 1999, at 18:26:31
In reply to Racer and others: "What about MOM?", posted by Susan on July 14, 1999, at 16:11:04
My mother is suffering from profound unhappiness, whether or not she suffers from depression. After years of watching her closely, I can tell you what it is: mother would like to live a white picket fence sort of a life, but she isn't and hasn't. That's a disappointment for her, but what she fails to see is that she is not cut out for the white picket fence life she thinks she wants. My mother is very eccentric, just naturally. The problem is that she is made uncomfortable by eccentricities, and wants to be 'normal'.
I, on the other hand, revel in being eccentric, though I'm a lot less eccentric than she. The fact remains that a conflict between what we are and what we want to be can cause unhappiness. Poor mother, I have tried to convince her to seek help, but she doesn't believe that she can be helped. Sound familiar?
It is a good question, though!
poster:Racer
thread:8712
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/8717.html