My mom is 58 y/o and lately has been argumentative, suspicious, aggressive, emotional, controlling, cursing etc. It has been hell for me. She was really sick in the past and we all live together ( mom,dad, brother and me ). She has RA and is on prednisone for about 5 years. It's a small dosage ( 5mg) and leave her pretty agitated, but on 4 mg she get pretty stiff. Looking on the past, she always had those symptoms, even before the RA, but lately they are getting worse. She's always trying to get in an argument, cause she wants to win, kind of a childish behavior, one time I stand up to her, she got physical on me. Now I have to keep calm and just leave the room, to not let things get worse. Aside of the physical and cursing part, she kind of always was like that, but things are getting out of control. I've trying to get help from my dad and brother, but they don't fully understand the situation, and sometimes loose temper. Rheumatologist Dr. is trying to lower prednisone dosage, to see if it is a side effect or early dementia. She will not be back to her neurologist, cause on last appt she notice that dr. was suspecting of mental illness and she left the office. Those more aggressive and non sense behavior started about 5 months ago. I am getting crazy, cause I have no idea what to do. We ve always been close, I dedicated my life to being close to her, but now I think I was induced to that, cause I can see her manipulative behavior. I always thought we were best friends, and my brother acted the same way. We were pretty close and now I notice that destroyed my life. I'm trying not to be hopeless, and thinking about seeking help for me, to be able to deal with that. We came from another country, we got no family here.To make things worse, we all work together, and it's being impossible work with her. I got a younger brother back home, who is more capable of understand what I'm going through, but the geography doesn't help at all. I really don't know how to deal with that, i got a fertility issue ( seeing a dr. )and she's throwing my fertility issue on my face every time that she gets upset, and that has been happening pretty constantly. She goes all the way to hurt me. I'm hurt, but I know she's not like that by option, but I still don't know how to deal with that. Should I get psychological help for me? I don't have anyone close to talk, and I want to keep my mind health, I'm afraid of not being able to deal with that, and have mental issues myself.Has anyone have / had similar problems? If it's early dementia, should I think Alzheimers? Any inputs would be appreciated. Sorry for any misspelling, English is not my first language. Thank you.
I looked up RA and dementia and found they are studying the correlation between them =
"The presence of joint disorders, especially RA, at midlife seems to be associated with a worse cognitive status later in life. Given the chronic inflammatory component of RA, this study suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may have an important role in increasing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia/AD."
As far as you- yes, it always helps to speak to someone who can give you the tools to heal from a difficult childhood.
I recently witnessed a friend (70 yrs old) very mentally with it and she was taking prednisone for 2 weeks and she became a wreck -- not sleeping, manic, making crazy decisions -- so yes; I think prednisone does affect some people negatively.
Is there anyway you can move out into an apt by yourself or with a roomate? Possibly with your brother? Could you afford a place on your own? Sounds like you are in an unhealthy environment living and working with family all the time. That is stressful on anyone so if you can make a move somewhere else that would be best.
If not, set some boundaries and go to a coffee shop, McD, Starbucks or other to get some space from mom and family. If she is most awful in mornings or evenings, make those the times where you go to library, YMCA, coffee shop or a friends house to hang out and get some peace and "alone-time". Make sure you surround yourself by good friends. Don't let mom suck the life out of you.
I quit taking them.
They are the devils drug! LOL
You also say you have fertility issues - the stress you are under most likely can be a direct cause & removal to another home will help - I assume you are married & husband lives with family too otherwise where is the issue? - so even more reason to get your own place & maybe a different jobs too
That drug is built up in her system to point she is being affected mentally - you are the other female in home so she is turning on you not dad or brother - once you leave she'll turn on one of them unless she gets off of it
Good luck