Dear Queenie,
My mother and I were very close when I was little and it was just the 2 of us. But now I’ve grown up, gone away to college, got married and have my own life away from her and things aren’t so good between us.
The problem is that she doesn’t have any good relationships with anyone else and the older I get the more I realise that it’s because she always blames them for being mean to her when the truth is she gets offended at the littlest things, but has no consideration for how others may feel.
Queenie, is there anything I can do to help her see the truth?—Grown up son
Dear Grown up son,
Your mother may have medical problems of which she may or may not be aware, and she also may be suffering from depression.
The first things she need is a complete medical check-up, especially if she has not had one recently, and you might want to inform the doctor ahead of time about her attitude and behaviour.
The doctor then might prescribe appropriate medication and, if indicated, psychological counselling, and hopefully your mother will follow through on his (or her) recommendations.
