Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change

Difficult offers mothers a compassionate resource for navigating the challenges of raising adult children with mental illness, substance use, or chronic unemployment, with guidance for finding social support, staying safe, engaging in self-care, and helping the adult child.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Difficult Adult Children: A Compassionate Resource for Mothers Navigating Unexpected, Burdensome, and Catastrophic Dependencies
Mothers of difficult adult children face unique challenges that can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. These challenges can arise due to mental illness, substance use, or chronic unemployment, among other factors. Difficult brings to life the conflicts that arise for these mothers, offering relatable, provocative, and shocking illustrations of the excruciating maternal dilemma: Which takes precedence—the needs of the mother or of the distressed adult child?

Through real stories of mothers and their challenging adult children, this book provides guidance for finding social support, staying safe, engaging in self-care, and helping the adult child. It is a compassionate resource for those living in a family situation that too many keep secret and allows readers to see that they are not alone.

One of the key challenges faced by mothers of difficult adult children is the emotional toll that the situation takes on them. They may feel overwhelmed, helpless, and frustrated, and may struggle to cope with the demands of their child's behavior. This can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation, and can even impact their physical health.

Mothers of difficult adult children may also face financial difficulties. They may be responsible for providing financial support for their child, which can be a significant burden, especially if the child is unable to work or is unable to manage their finances responsibly. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and even bankruptcy.

In addition to these challenges, mothers of difficult adult children may also face social stigma. They may be judged by others for their child's behavior, and may feel embarrassed or ashamed. This can make it difficult for them to seek help and support, and can even lead to social isolation.

Despite these challenges, there are many things that mothers of difficult adult children can do to help their child. One of the most important things is to seek professional help. This can include therapy, medication, and support groups. Therapy can help the mother to understand her child's behavior and to develop coping strategies. Medication can help to manage mental illness or substance use. Support groups can provide a sense of community and support for mothers of difficult adult children.

Mothers of difficult adult children can also take care of themselves. This can include getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and practicing relaxation techniques. It can also be helpful to seek out social support from friends, family, or a support group.

It is important to remember that every family situation is unique, and that what works for one family may not work for another. Mothers of difficult adult children should seek professional help and should work with their child to develop a plan for managing their behavior.

In conclusion, Difficult Adult Children: A Compassionate Resource for Mothers Navigating Unexpected, Burdensome, and Catastrophic Dependencies is a valuable resource for mothers of difficult adult children. It offers guidance for finding social support, staying safe, engaging in self-care, and helping the adult child. It is a compassionate resource for those living in a family situation that too many keep secret and allows readers to see that they are not alone. By seeking professional help and working with their child to develop a plan for managing their behavior, mothers of difficult adult children can help their child to improve their quality of life and to achieve their goals.

Weight: 467g
Dimension: 225 x 146 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538138885