Guest guest Posted December 13, 2008 Report Share Posted December 13, 2008 I agree that your brother sounds depressed and suicidal. He is an adult, and you can talk to him directly. Tell him you are concerned about him and encourage him to seek help. Please do not give up just because your parents are in the way. Ultimately, though, he is in control of his life, and unless he flat out says to you he is thinking of hurting himself, there's not much more you can do. If he has BPD, he may also be trying to get attention. We still have to take suicide seriously, but be on guard that he may be fishing for love. > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support and compassion! > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo brother, whom I suspect is BPD > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with others that he feels he is " losing > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- dependent father. > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, fearing that my brother is suicidal > and could take action on these thoughts. > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever we try to discuss our > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on him not having insurance " , > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, crying and saying that she does > not want to talk about it any more. > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) and I do think that part of > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and financial tightness. > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out of this intervention, and > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to do I am thinking, as my brother > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire situation seems somewhat hopeless > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my mom and brother), and a > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. Both parents are also alcoholics. > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar experiences...I want to make > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or enabling...just trying to > determine what is best for my brother! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 Hi, Mid! There's a wonderful book about exactly this kind of situation called " Leaving Home " by Celani. It explains a lot about why some people have a harder time moving away from abusive parents and starting their own lives. I'm wondering what makes you think your brother has BPD, though? Is it because he's suicidal? Or is it just because he's living at home? All during and after my divorce, my evil psycho nada pretended to be a " loving parent " long enough to hoover me into selling my house and moving back in with her along with my young son. She tortured me and kept me prisoner there for several years -- I SWEAR! I could not get out of that house!! I was a PSYCHOLOGICAL HOSTAGE, lol! I can laugh about it now, but at the time I have to say that the daily exposure to my nada and her sadistic behavior actually destroyed me. I had no self-esteem. If it weren't for my son, I know suicide would've been an option. As it was, I developed a serious drinking problem. (And I KNOW I was suffering from PTSD while living with her, I wouldn't be surprised if your brother is suffering from the same, as he's constantly being re-traumatized by abusive parents!) Anyhow, here's my story, maybe it'll help you understand things from his point of view, (or help someone else out there): Now, before my divorce, in my previous life as an adult, I had a lot of success. I had a successful career as a screenwriter in Hollywood. I owned a nice house in an exclusive town. I had been married for 18 years and had a young son, two dogs and a nice car. I had friends, money, got to hang out with celebrities,.... in short, I HAD A WHOLE FUNCTIONING ADULT LIFE. Within ONE YEAR of living with a nada, I was reduced to NOTHING. She had convinced me -- and my entire family!! -- that I was a nothing, a loser, a spoiled ungrateful selfish immature person who relied on her to support me and my son and would never amount to anything. She actually did this! And everyone believed her -- despite my previous success! And I was so broken and weak and upset about my divorce that I BELIEVED HER, too! (This was all before I knew about BPD, by the way. I was still in denial and didn't know she was actually CRAZY.) Like I said, I stayed in that hell (was trapped there!!) for several years. Very quickly, all my money was gone -- she had me fritter away a lot of it on fixing up her house and covering the expenses there (CHEAPNESS is a common BP trait, by the way), and then " forgot " and pretended she had been supporting me my entire life! It was so crazy. And my whole family believed her and sided with her..... ugghhhhh. With no self-esteem and her constant fighting and creating of dramas, and then trying to keep her away from my son, I lost the ability to write and support myself. I HAD nothing and WAS nothing. I was financially, spiritually, creatively and emotionally broke and bankrupt -- and I had this crazy vicious psycho telling me and the whole world that it was ALL MY FAULT because I was such a loser! Living with a nada destroyed me. She reduced me to NOTHING, a non-functioning, chain-smoking, all-day-tv-watching, flat-broke, self-pitying, alcoholic NOTHING. Living with her took away EVERYTHING I had -- and believe me, I had A LOT going for me when I moved in there! I can't imagine how devastating it must be to live with a BP parent and NOT have the kind of life experience I had had previously. Anyhow: the ONLY thing that saved me was that FINALLY, after several years of this non-stop abuse and hitting rock bottom and having nowhere else to turn, I asked my dad and step-mother to co-sign a bank loan in my name. That was it: it came down to money and a plan. The loan gave me just enough money to grab my son and get out of my nada's house. With that money I've gotten myself set up with an apartment and a day job. It's been 9 months -- 9 glorious months of NC from my evil witch of a nada! -- and I'm FINALLY starting to recover my sense of self. By this time next year, I'll be quitting my day job and supporting myself again as a screenwriter and getting my life back on track! Now, IF your brother isn't a BP, I really urge you to offer him some solid, financial help ALONG WITH AN ESCAPE PLAN. That's the only thing that saved me in the end. Mostly, what he needs is nonjudgmental support -- unless he's a BP. Another thing you could do to help him -- again, IF he's not a BP -- is refer him to this message board for support from other KOs! If you truly do think he's a BP, though -- and not just a lost KO with fleas and suffering from PTSD-type symptoms (numbing, rage, avoidance).... that's another matter entirely. You should know, however, that it's VERY common for non-BP adult children to live with their BP parents and become enmeshed with them and start picking up BP-like behaviors (as survival tactics). We often see adult KOs living at home on this board. So... hope all this helps! I always enjoy the chance to tell my story, anyhow, if nothing else. Best of luck, keep posting! S Re: Generational BPD ~ Crisis To: WTOAdultChildren1 > I agree that your brother sounds depressed and suicidal. He is > an > adult, and you can talk to him directly. Tell him you are > concerned > about him and encourage him to seek help. Please do not give up > just > because your parents are in the way. Ultimately, though, he is > in > control of his life, and unless he flat out says to you he is > thinking of hurting himself, there's not much more you can do. > > If he has BPD, he may also be trying to get attention. We still > have > to take suicide seriously, but be on guard that he may be > fishing for > love. > > > > > > > > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support > and > compassion! > > > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo > brother, > whom I suspect is BPD > > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with > others > that he feels he is " losing > > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- > dependent father. > > > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, > fearing > that my brother is suicidal > > and could take action on these thoughts. > > > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever > we > try to discuss our > > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on > him > not having insurance " , > > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, > crying > and saying that she does > > not want to talk about it any more. > > > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) > and I > do think that part of > > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and > financial tightness. > > > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out > of > this intervention, and > > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to > do I > am thinking, as my brother > > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire > situation > seems somewhat hopeless > > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my > mom > and brother), and a > > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. > Both > parents are also alcoholics. > > > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar > experiences...I want to make > > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or > enabling...just trying to > > determine what is best for my brother! > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 S, What you have written is so true and so sad, when you are at a very low point- and really could use a parent-they do swoop in and go for the kill. I went to my parents several years ago to get out of an abusive marriage- it became a nightmare. My mother wanted to control my life. She went crazy on me, and when I fought her on the control she upped the ante so to speak. At that point I knew I had to get out from under her control. So I paid her back the money I had borrowed, and started firm boundaries with her. She before this would want to talk to me several times a day, we went from that intensity to not talking for days at a time. My father would call me and ask me to call nada. It was ugly- and I was trying to break away from my abusive marriage. I did come back to my husband- and at that point I thought he and I could work it out. It was also a great boundary for me with nada- because she couldn't stand him. I was too weak not to stand up to the both of them- so I picked my largest enemy- which was nada. Several years later- and my husband is still abusive- and nada wants to " HELP " out- I tell her NO- flat out, whatever I decide to do with my marriage- I will fall back on me, and she has nothing to do with my choice, or the residual of those choices. This is when I want a normal parent- someone who says- we support you and we have no hidden agenda. I am stronger now and I thank God everyday for that. So I just wanted to S- I am hearing you. Malinda In WTOAdultChildren1 , slarsen988@... wrote: > > > Hi, Mid! > > There's a wonderful book about exactly this kind of situation called " Leaving Home " by Celani. It explains a lot about why some people have a harder time moving away from abusive parents and starting their own lives. > > I'm wondering what makes you think your brother has BPD, though? Is it because he's suicidal? Or is it just because he's living at home? > > All during and after my divorce, my evil psycho nada pretended to be a " loving parent " long enough to hoover me into selling my house and moving back in with her along with my young son. She tortured me and kept me prisoner there for several years -- I SWEAR! I could not get out of that house!! I was a PSYCHOLOGICAL HOSTAGE, lol! > > I can laugh about it now, but at the time I have to say that the daily exposure to my nada and her sadistic behavior actually destroyed me. I had no self-esteem. If it weren't for my son, I know suicide would've been an option. As it was, I developed a serious drinking problem. > > (And I KNOW I was suffering from PTSD while living with her, I wouldn't be surprised if your brother is suffering from the same, as he's constantly being re-traumatized by abusive parents!) > > Anyhow, here's my story, maybe it'll help you understand things from his point of view, (or help someone else out there): > > Now, before my divorce, in my previous life as an adult, I had a lot of success. I had a successful career as a screenwriter in Hollywood. I owned a nice house in an exclusive town. I had been married for 18 years and had a young son, two dogs and a nice car. I had friends, money, got to hang out with celebrities,.... in short, I HAD A WHOLE FUNCTIONING ADULT LIFE. > > Within ONE YEAR of living with a nada, I was reduced to NOTHING. She had convinced me -- and my entire family!! -- that I was a nothing, a loser, a spoiled ungrateful selfish immature person who relied on her to support me and my son and would never amount to anything. > > She actually did this! And everyone believed her -- despite my previous success! And I was so broken and weak and upset about my divorce that I BELIEVED HER, too! (This was all before I knew about BPD, by the way. I was still in denial and didn't know she was actually CRAZY.) > > Like I said, I stayed in that hell (was trapped there!!) for several years. Very quickly, all my money was gone -- she had me fritter away a lot of it on fixing up her house and covering the expenses there (CHEAPNESS is a common BP trait, by the way), and then " forgot " and pretended she had been supporting me my entire life! It was so crazy. And my whole family believed her and sided with her..... ugghhhhh. > > With no self-esteem and her constant fighting and creating of dramas, and then trying to keep her away from my son, I lost the ability to write and support myself. I HAD nothing and WAS nothing. I was financially, spiritually, creatively and emotionally broke and bankrupt -- and I had this crazy vicious psycho telling me and the whole world that it was ALL MY FAULT because I was such a loser! > > Living with a nada destroyed me. She reduced me to NOTHING, a non- functioning, chain-smoking, all-day-tv-watching, flat-broke, self- pitying, alcoholic NOTHING. Living with her took away EVERYTHING I had -- and believe me, I had A LOT going for me when I moved in there! I can't imagine how devastating it must be to live with a BP parent and NOT have the kind of life experience I had had previously. > > Anyhow: the ONLY thing that saved me was that FINALLY, after several years of this non-stop abuse and hitting rock bottom and having nowhere else to turn, I asked my dad and step-mother to co- sign a bank loan in my name. > > That was it: it came down to money and a plan. > > The loan gave me just enough money to grab my son and get out of my nada's house. With that money I've gotten myself set up with an apartment and a day job. > > It's been 9 months -- 9 glorious months of NC from my evil witch of a nada! -- and I'm FINALLY starting to recover my sense of self. By this time next year, I'll be quitting my day job and supporting myself again as a screenwriter and getting my life back on track! > > Now, IF your brother isn't a BP, I really urge you to offer him some solid, financial help ALONG WITH AN ESCAPE PLAN. That's the only thing that saved me in the end. Mostly, what he needs is nonjudgmental support -- unless he's a BP. > > Another thing you could do to help him -- again, IF he's not a BP -- is refer him to this message board for support from other KOs! > > If you truly do think he's a BP, though -- and not just a lost KO with fleas and suffering from PTSD-type symptoms (numbing, rage, avoidance).... that's another matter entirely. > > You should know, however, that it's VERY common for non-BP adult children to live with their BP parents and become enmeshed with them and start picking up BP-like behaviors (as survival tactics). We often see adult KOs living at home on this board. > > So... hope all this helps! I always enjoy the chance to tell my story, anyhow, if nothing else. > > Best of luck, keep posting! > > S > > > > > > > > Re: Generational BPD ~ Crisis > To: WTOAdultChildren1 > > > I agree that your brother sounds depressed and suicidal. He is > > an > > adult, and you can talk to him directly. Tell him you are > > concerned > > about him and encourage him to seek help. Please do not give up > > just > > because your parents are in the way. Ultimately, though, he is > > in > > control of his life, and unless he flat out says to you he is > > thinking of hurting himself, there's not much more you can do. > > > > If he has BPD, he may also be trying to get attention. We still > > have > > to take suicide seriously, but be on guard that he may be > > fishing for > > love. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support > > and > > compassion! > > > > > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo > > brother, > > whom I suspect is BPD > > > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with > > others > > that he feels he is " losing > > > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > > > > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- > > dependent father. > > > > > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, > > fearing > > that my brother is suicidal > > > and could take action on these thoughts. > > > > > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever > > we > > try to discuss our > > > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on > > him > > not having insurance " , > > > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, > > crying > > and saying that she does > > > not want to talk about it any more. > > > > > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) > > and I > > do think that part of > > > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and > > financial tightness. > > > > > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out > > of > > this intervention, and > > > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to > > do I > > am thinking, as my brother > > > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > > > > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire > > situation > > seems somewhat hopeless > > > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my > > mom > > and brother), and a > > > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. > > Both > > parents are also alcoholics. > > > > > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar > > experiences...I want to make > > > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or > > enabling...just trying to > > > determine what is best for my brother! > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 Mid, Your brother needs to get out of there. I can't imagine living with my nada. I am sure he is depressed and suicidal. The residual effects must be awful for him. Maybe buy him the book- S, recommended for him. I just feel he is being emotionally imprisoned, and it must hurt for you to seem him go through this. Take care, Malinda In WTOAdultChildren1 , " midof9 " wrote: > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support and compassion! > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo brother, whom I suspect is BPD > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with others that he feels he is " losing > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- dependent father. > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, fearing that my brother is suicidal > and could take action on these thoughts. > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever we try to discuss our > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on him not having insurance " , > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, crying and saying that she does > not want to talk about it any more. > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) and I do think that part of > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and financial tightness. > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out of this intervention, and > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to do I am thinking, as my brother > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire situation seems somewhat hopeless > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my mom and brother), and a > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. Both parents are also alcoholics. > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar experiences...I want to make > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or enabling...just trying to > determine what is best for my brother! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 when my parents got divorced, my mom moved us in with HER mom, which never made any sense to me since my mom actively avoided her mom most of the time and would tell me how horrible their relationship had been when she was younger and how she didn't like her mom, etc. i was of the mind that her mom would be the LAST place she would look to take refuge (i was 10). anyway, we moved in and stayed for maybe a year and a half. i don't really remember because it was so bizarre. she was so ready to get her feelings hurt, it was unbelievable. anything, and i mean ANYTHING that my grandmother said would end up with me getting screamed at. plus, during that time, mom made relationships with these bizarre women. there was this anorexic woman from her work. mom thought she was really cool and became anxorexic, too. the woman's husband was rich, and i have to think that had something to do with it because she is a real snob. then she hung out with a lot of other divorced women and they just bitched about their ex-husbands. so that was a fun year and a half. living with two bpds. very strange. bink > > > > > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support > > and > > compassion! > > > > > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo > > brother, > > whom I suspect is BPD > > > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with > > others > > that he feels he is " losing > > > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > > > > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- > > dependent father. > > > > > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, > > fearing > > that my brother is suicidal > > > and could take action on these thoughts. > > > > > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever > > we > > try to discuss our > > > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on > > him > > not having insurance " , > > > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, > > crying > > and saying that she does > > > not want to talk about it any more. > > > > > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) > > and I > > do think that part of > > > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and > > financial tightness. > > > > > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out > > of > > this intervention, and > > > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to > > do I > > am thinking, as my brother > > > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > > > > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire > > situation > > seems somewhat hopeless > > > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my > > mom > > and brother), and a > > > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. > > Both > > parents are also alcoholics. > > > > > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar > > experiences...I want to make > > > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or > > enabling...just trying to > > > determine what is best for my brother! > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 oh my god, and i forgot the worst part of it all. my mom, her mom, and her mom's sister would sit in the living room and try to SHAME me. it was so freaking weird. i was a tomboy. now i guess i'm a tom-guy...what do tomboys become when they grow up? definitely not a tomman. anyway, they would give me a hard time for the way i dressed, they would buy me clothes they knew i wouldn't wear, then i would get in trouble for not wearing them. one time i got a d on a 6-wks grade report in 7th grade. i figured, well, i got a 90 the first six wks, i'll get an a the third, and i'll get an a on the final. add em all up, divide by 4, and i'd have a mid to upper b. no big deal, right? mom did not see it like this. even though she didn't pay attention to ANYTHING i was doing in school, treating me like it was the worst thing i could possibly do to her if i asked to buy a book or supplies for class, she felt like it was her job to sit me down in the living room and tell these two other women how poorly i got on my report card and how disappointing it was and how i was baaaaaad. now this was unbelievable for several reasons, first being that half of her family isn't even sure if she actually GRADUATED high school. (to be fair, she moved out when she was 16 because her mom was crazy and kept going). she did, in fact, graduate, but would tell me stories about how she just made patterns on her sat. it was so insane. is school important or is it not? anyway, she was shaming me and i was like, " mom, this is the last time you will ever see my report card. " i knew she would be too lazy to go up to the school to get it. it's like she never took into account anyone but my baby sister and herself would be affected by her divorce. that was so stupid. bink > > > > > > > > Ok....Wanting some input from this terrific group of support > > > and > > > compassion! > > > > > > > > Here is the situation - I have a younger 30-something yo > > > brother, > > > whom I suspect is BPD > > > > - living at home, jobless for 2 years and now sharing with > > > others > > > that he feels he is " losing > > > > his mind " and feels life is not worth living anymore. > > > > > > > > He lives at home with our mother, who is BPD and our very co- > > > dependent father. > > > > > > > > A few of us siblings are trying to intervene at this point, > > > fearing > > > that my brother is suicidal > > > > and could take action on these thoughts. > > > > > > > > My mother is basically wanting to " dump " the problem, whenever > > > we > > > try to discuss our > > > > brother with her - her first statements are always focused on > > > him > > > not having insurance " , > > > > and then after this statement, she typically breaks down, > > > crying > > > and saying that she does > > > > not want to talk about it any more. > > > > > > > > My mother is very tight with her money (very well off though) > > > and I > > > do think that part of > > > > her wanting to dump the problem is driven by her own BPD, and > > > financial tightness. > > > > > > > > My thoughts are that we should just leave her and my Dad out > > > of > > > this intervention, and > > > > focus solely on my brother and his issues. (abit difficult to > > > do I > > > am thinking, as my brother > > > > lives @ home with my mom/dad!) > > > > > > > > The problem is that since he lives at home, the entire > > > situation > > > seems somewhat hopeless > > > > to me......at least two BPD's enmeshed and living together (my > > > mom > > > and brother), and a > > > > father who basically does not want to deal with it either. > > > Both > > > parents are also alcoholics. > > > > > > > > Am looking for thoughts, suggestions and sharing of similar > > > experiences...I want to make > > > > sure I stay balanced through this, and not become enmeshed or > > > enabling...just trying to > > > > determine what is best for my brother! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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