Hi Nicholeen,
I was hoping for your thoughts to get me over a hurdle that has been standing in the way of TSG for me. I was listening to your 6 steps to coping with anxiety video on YouTube after a difficult conversation with my mother yesterday. I am a mom with 7 children of my own and have been trying and failing many times over the years to implement TSG. I finally realized that my own anxiety has been standing in my way, but that my anxiety comes from how I was raised. Even now, my family of origin, is pretty much held together by guilt, duty to the idea that we are a happy family that gets along, and to get a photo that we were all together and happy. My mother will push and push to try to get me to comply and change plans, when she knows the answer is a firm no because our family has something else planned. When I finally reach the point where you can hear it in my voice that I am upset, she tells me to take a deep breath and to chill out. And that she understands and maybe she is "too understanding", meaning that's why she doesn't always get what she wants. Really they are not understanding at all. Everyone has to see things their way and do what they want and how they want it, even if it's not based on truth. Every interaction I have with them I am completely honest with them or I point out things that are true, but they just accuse me of lying or gossip about me to other siblings. Then she says things like "how could you do this I'm your mother" or point out that our time with them is running out (they are not even 70 yet and in good health). I can anticipate exactly what they would say when I put up boundaries. But honestly it is extremely emotionally draining to be with them because you never know when they will get offended by what you do or don't do or what you say or don't say. I'm always on eggshells, trying to do everything to make sure my parents, and siblings are happy when I'm around them so no one gets upset, my father doesn't yell. We live at least 4 hours away from everyone, we homeschool our children and have very busy schedules. I've learned to criticize myself in my head by what they would always say to me and the anxiety can get overwhelming when I do that to myself because I get myself to the point where I feel completely worthless. Where is the line between respecting the 4th commandment to honor your parents and setting boundaries for yourself without feeling guilty or like your disappointing your parents/family of origin?Thx