Please help my mother is crazy?

I really need some advice on how to handle the situation with my mom:

I am 16 and my brother is ten. He is severely autistic and she takes care of him most of the time. He isn't an easy kid and I know it's hard for her, but her behavior has gotten crazier and crazier over the past month. She has been on medication for depression for years. She is a really good mom, but I just think the situation is out of hand at this point. She was always a bit of a germaphob, but now she has become obsessed with bedbugs. She is scared to death that we're going to get them. Her fear is completely irrational and extreme. She makes everyone take their clothes off before we walk into the apartment because she's scared that we will bring bedbugs in. Also, I got back a few weeks ago from a month in China. Any other mother would be super excited to see their kid after that amount of time away. But the first thing my mom does (she wasn't the one picking me up from the airport) is yell at me on the phone to wash all my clothing at my grandparent's apartment, even the clothes i didn't wear because she was terrified that i would bring back bedbugs from china.



She is also really like emotionally fragile. Today she came home holding a few slices of pizza so I was like can i have one? and she said no they're for your brother. So i asked why she didn't call and ask if i wanted one. And then she just lost it entirely. She went off yelling about how i'm so selfish and mean to her and i expect way too much for her that she shouldn't have to bring me home food and that i should have already eaten lunch. When i told her that i didn't eat yet because there was no food she screamed and ran into the kitchen to prove me wrong (i was right there was no food). then she just got angry that i was right.



She has really bad mood swings one minute she's happy and smiling and the next she's yelling and crying. Everything sets her off and i really don't know what to do about it. Whenever i talk to my dad about it he's like yeah i know your mother's crazy. And I'm like so why don't we do something about it. But I think he's just as clueless as i am here.



I can put up with her its not exactly easy to live in the same house as her but I can tolerate it. For my brother though, i dont' think she's a good influence when she looses it. He needs stability and love and her mood swings and temper problems don't exactly fufill that need.



Any advice is really appreciated. I don't really know how to handle her anymore.Please help my mother is crazy?
This sounds like an awful, and difficult situation, but just so you know, it is very impressive that you are trying to fix it, not just run away from the problem. I would say the answer here is that you need to find a trusted adult, (aunt, uncle, grandparent, teacher, etc.) that you can talk to about this. If you believe she is becoming a danger to you, your brother, or herself, the proper steps should be taken, and child services duly notified. I would reccomend taking a little mini vacation, take your brother and go to your grandparents house for a few days if possible. You also need to impress the fact upon your father, that you are really very worried, and that what is happening here is not a good environment for you, and needs to change.

Good luck, and God bless!

-KatePlease help my mother is crazy?
First of all I think you are being really mature for your age. You understand your mom has gone (and goes) through a lot everyday (given your brother's condition) and that she has battled depression for years. I'd just talk to her to see if she realizes she is doing things wrong. Do you help her around the house? maybe she feels overwhelmed with all that work on her shoulders. I guess she could also use someone to remind her that there are somethings that need to be bought from the grocery store, and she definitely needs to change her medication. She sounds more OCD to me. Do you have a father in your life? is there anyone else (a close adult) who could also talk to her about her behaviour?