My dad is 65 - my mom died 15 years ago. While my siblings and I all have our moments, my dad is clearly depressed. He's always had depression, severe insecurity, but losing my mom just put him over the top.
He complains about everything, backbites about my sisters in-laws (all good people). He can sometimes get quite angry and emotionally abusive, articulating that he's the best father in the world, despite having a history of emotional and physical abuse when we were kids. He has his good moments (10% of the time) where he can be funny and nice, but is mostly growing into a bitter old man, pushing people away from him, with no friends, and family that cannot stand to be around him.
I've suggested therapy (numerous times) but my dad will say "a therapist should go to me, because I can help *them*. The way I see it, putting other people down makes him feel better about himself - a self he feels unhappy about.
He's alone, and I wish I could help him - but don't know what to do.
2006-07-01
04:00:51
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11 answers
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asked by
rt
3