Good day,
My name is Jiang 61.
Firstly, I would like to thank you for placing your trust in us and for being willing to share your concerns in order to obtain solutions. You have inquired as to the appropriate course of action in the event that you are unable to reconcile with your mother-in-law and are reluctant to pursue a divorce as a result.
"After reviewing your comprehensive introduction and gaining insight into your circumstances, I am interested in discussing this matter further with you.
1. Introduction
1. Depression
You stated that you would first like to discuss your own issues. You have been diagnosed with severe depressive symptoms. You sought medical attention and discovered that your condition was caused by your original family. As previously mentioned, you developed depression shortly after becoming an adult. You were unaware that it could be treated and had no other means of discovering this, so you delayed treatment for approximately five or six years. You reached a point where you felt suicidal and lived in a depressed state for those five or six years. During this time, your parents continued to add negative emotions and thoughts to you. You then decided to escape the situation as soon as possible. You met someone who seemed promising and chose to marry them to escape your family.
Depression
The living conditions in the original family resulted in the development of a severe depressive state. There was a lack of understanding of what a depressive state was among the questioner and his family. Following the display of suicidal tendencies, they came to understand that the cause was depression and sought treatment.
The individual in question sought to escape the situation.
The depression the questioner is suffering from, along with the constant emotional pressure from his parents, have caused this. The questioner is seeking an escape from the living environment of his original family and has chosen to marry through an arranged marriage.
2. Relationship
The relationship between the husband and wife
You stated that initially, your in-laws were unaware of your condition. Previously, at home, your parents rarely communicated with you and kept you confined to the house. They also prohibited your younger brother from contacting you.
My friends have also distanced themselves from me. After our marriage, my in-laws only became aware of my illness after the fact. Initially, my husband struggled to accept this, but he eventually adapted. When I opened up to him about my inner thoughts, he ceased his anger when I was unable to think clearly and took me to the hospital for a check-up.
"
Prior to marriage, my husband was unaware of your severe procrastination disorder. When you were unhappy, he would occasionally become impatient. Following marriage, however, he has become more understanding as you have changed.
When you are unhappy and unable to think clearly, he will listen patiently and arrange for you to be taken to the hospital for a check-up. It is evident that you are highly satisfied with your husband.
Father-daughter relationship
You stated that your parents accepted the bride price but did not provide an exit strategy. Additionally, your in-laws are experiencing financial strain due to the house purchase. Your father tends to exert control and deliver moral lectures in front of your in-laws, attempting to gain their respect. This has led to a negative perception of your parents by your in-laws, who avoid contact with them. It is worth noting that your parents do not contact or visit you throughout the year.
Previously, my parents demonstrated a preference for their son over their daughter. This was evidenced by their frequent disregard for your presence, limited communication with you, and refusal to allow your younger brother to neglect you, which resulted in a pervasive sense of isolation.
After the marriage, your parents withheld your dowry, leaving you without financial support. Your in-laws are experiencing financial difficulties in purchasing a house, and you are unable to provide assistance, which has resulted in feelings of humiliation.
Your father is concerned about maintaining a positive public image, which has led to a tendency to blame your in-laws for the current situation. Your in-laws are unhappy, the two families do not socialize, and your parents refuse to visit you, citing a lack of communication. You feel like you have no one to care for you, which has led to feelings of loneliness.
The relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is a complex one.
You stated that after the birth of your child, you were unable to care for it adequately. Your mother-in-law provided assistance, but you lacked the requisite cooking skills, so she assumed that responsibility. Your father-in-law was frequently absent due to work commitments, and among the few individuals residing in the same household, your husband was perceived to be unhelpful in caring for the child after work and generally uninvolved. While she did not explicitly criticize you, her demeanor and communication patterns indicated a lack of positive regard. In front of her daughter or son, she was notably loquacious, but in your presence, she was reserved. You perceived her as a typical individual. However, when your father-in-law was present, she also discussed him, exhibited a lack of assistance, and demonstrated an inability to care for the child. You observed that her mood would deteriorate when she encountered individuals who were not employed.
If we are at work, she is responsible for preparing additional meals to bring to the office. She is also responsible for the children. Then there is the housework at home, and she complains about various aspects of it, stating that the housework is her responsibility without ever mentioning me. However, when I am with her, she does not make eye contact and I feel oppressed. I want to get along with her, but she is still like this. Whenever she talks about my husband or her husband, she complains that she does all the housework alone, that she is the one who takes care of the children alone, and that if she doesn't cook, there will be nothing to eat.
"I have purchased her clothing, mobile phones, and other items for her to enjoy during holiday periods. However, she has indicated that she does not wish to receive anything when we dine out or socialize."
Dear Grandma,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to provide you with an update on the situation with your daughter-in-law.
It seems that your daughter-in-law is experiencing some difficulties in the role of mother and wife. She is struggling to cope with the demands of childcare and household responsibilities.
I understand that your daughter-in-law is a capable person who likes to take on responsibility. However, it seems that she is overwhelmed by the current situation.
I suggest that we discuss this matter further at the earliest convenience.
Best regards,
[Your name]
From your introduction, I understand that your mother-in-law is a highly capable individual with a penchant for expressing her dissatisfaction. It appears that you are unable to fulfill the responsibilities of childcare and cooking, which have fallen upon your mother-in-law.
Furthermore, she is responsible for all household chores. Consequently, as long as your husband and father-in-law are present, she tends to voice her concerns about being the sole individual tasked with all responsibilities.
There is a lack of assistance.
The relationship between the daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law
You believe that your mother-in-law neglects you. When you are alone with her, she stares at you expressionlessly, and when you talk to her, she ignores you. In contrast, your father-in-law and husband are very talkative and appear to enjoy each other's company.
As a result, you are experiencing significant distress due to your living situation and are motivated to enhance your relationship with her.
3. Confused
You stated, "I am experiencing a significant decline in my mental health. This has been an ongoing issue for an extended period, and it is becoming increasingly severe. When I informed my husband, he asserted that my concerns were unfounded. I am not in a good state of mind due to the excessive amount of time I spend ruminating on issues that are not conducive to my well-being. I am seeking a resolution that will allow me to move on from this situation. My relationship with my husband remains stable, and I intend to separate from him in a few years. I am not willing to resort to divorce due to my mother-in-law's actions. I am uncertain about the best course of action."
You feel embarrassed.
You feel constrained when you interact with your mother-in-law, and in the long run, it seems that you have returned to the isolated state of living in your original family. You feel uneasy and embarrassed.
There was a lack of understanding on the part of the husband.
You informed your husband of your feelings, but he did not comprehend your situation and even accused you of being paranoid. You are not willing to continue living in this environment.
I empathize with your situation. Please accept my support and encouragement.
I am unclear on the situation.
You have indicated that you have the option to relocate in a few years, that you value your marriage, and that you do not want your relationship with your mother-in-law to negatively impact your marriage and potentially result in a divorce. You are seeking guidance on the best course of action.
2. The cause of confusion
1. Mother-in-law's Attitude
Depression
Depression, also known as depressive disorder, is a prevalent mental health condition with a high rate of clinical recovery, yet a low rate of treatment acceptance and high recurrence rate. Its primary symptom is a pervasive and persistent depressed mood. Some patients may engage in self-harm or suicidal behavior, and may also present with psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
In your description, you mentioned that your mother-in-law sees that you have no expression, that you laugh and chat with her family, and that you complain without restraint. Based on this information, I believe that your mother-in-law is apprehensive when speaking to you, afraid that she might say something inappropriate or hurtful.
It is reasonable to conclude that she lacks common sense and knowledge about your depression, so she will be careful around you. However, with her family present, she will feel free to release her grievances, as they know each other so well that no matter what she says, her family won't hold it against her.
This may have resulted in a misunderstanding on your part.
2. Personality influences
The questioner is inclined to suppress their emotions when they are emotional, enabling them to compromise and make concessions. This is associated with the questioner's upbringing and also with their personality. I suspect that the questioner is a pleasing type of melancholic personality.
Individuals with a pleasing personality
A pleasing personality is one that prioritizes the satisfaction of others over one's own needs. This can be an unhealthy state of mind, as it may lead to a lack of self-care and an overemphasis on the feelings of others. It's important to maintain a healthy balance between being a team player and taking care of one's own needs.
As a result, you are inclined to give greater heed to the opinions of your mother-in-law and to prioritize her concerns. You may also exhibit a tendency to be submissive and to refrain from openly expressing your true feelings.
Individuals with a melancholic personality
Individuals with a melancholic personality tend to exhibit the following characteristics:
Individuals with this personality type are thoughtful, highly sensitive, idealistic, and driven to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty.
Strengths: perceptive, loyal, reliable, talented, insightful
The disadvantages of this personality type are as follows: obsessive, indecisive, self-centered, pessimistic, and passive.
The questioner is perceptive and introspective, which can lead to a tendency to overthink situations. This can make it challenging for them to find solutions independently when challenges arise, which can also impact their relationships with family members.
3. Recommendations
1. Establishing Intimate Relationships
The term "intimacy" is used to describe a close, personal relationship between two or more individuals.
Intimacy is a type of interpersonal relationship that refers to the emotional or physical closeness experienced by a subject. In the modern individualistic society, emotional honesty and communication are emphasized, and mutual understanding is the core of modern intimacy. This reflects the contradictory human needs for freedom and security.
In essence, the term "intimate relationships" encompasses a broad range of relationships, including family, marriage, love, and sex.
The objective is to establish close relationships.
The foundation of building intimate relationships is based on the honest expression and communication of emotions, as well as a deep understanding of each other. It encompasses aspects such as trust, understanding, reliance, and support between people, and involves the ability to share and accept each other's various emotional, psychological, and physical needs.
It is evident that intimate relationships exist between romantic partners and family members, as well as between various types of relationships, such as the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the large family of the questioner, the husband and wife and parents and children, and friends. The questioner is already living in a large family, and establishing harmonious family intimacy can help us improve feelings of loneliness, enhance mutual understanding and emotional connections, and gain a sense of well-being.
2. Be open and honest in your communication.
?? Be candid.
Being honest means not misrepresenting the truth and being candid with others, oneself, and society. Honesty reflects a person's character and reveals their thoughts, meaning that they express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions sincerely in professional interactions.
Express your thoughts and opinions in an honest and sincere manner.
Building a close relationship requires mutual trust, and trust is built on mutual understanding and honesty. Therefore, we can change the way we interact with our mothers-in-law in the past by expressing our thoughts honestly, so that the other party can clearly understand your true thoughts and trust you.
This approach will not only prevent the deterioration of the relationship but will also foster its growth and strengthening.
3⃣️, identify expectations
It is important to recognize and address underlying expectations.
The questioner heard the mother-in-law express her frustration at the lack of assistance from her father-in-law and husband with housework. However, it became evident that her underlying expectation was for everyone to contribute to this task.
There are two key benefits to this approach. Firstly, it will reduce the mother-in-law's workload. Secondly, it will enhance her overall satisfaction by involving her family in a shared responsibility.
It is important to participate in household chores.
As a new member of the family, it is important to integrate yourself into the existing structure. This can be achieved by encouraging your husband to participate in household chores, taking the initiative to assist with these tasks, and communicating with your husband to ensure a mutual understanding of your mother-in-law's needs.
4⃣️, Mr. Coordination
Dear Mr. Coordinator,
I am contacting you today regarding the matter of our relationship with our mothers-in-law.
I would like to request your assistance in improving this relationship.
I believe that we can achieve this by taking the initiative to communicate
In addition to our own contributions, we can also request the assistance of our husbands in facilitating a more constructive relationship with our mothers-in-law. One potential approach is for husbands to communicate with their mothers-in-law on our behalf, thereby reducing the likelihood of any misunderstandings or negative interactions.
It is important to establish a harmonious relationship with your mother-in-law.
It is recommended that you take the initiative.
It is also possible to take the initiative to communicate with our mother-in-law. We can open up to her, tell her about our difficulties and happy things, and draw closer to her. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is the same as any other interpersonal relationship: if we treat her with respect, she will return the same.
This will facilitate the growth of a closer relationship.
The damage caused by our original family will have a significant impact on us, but it is not absolute. If we are prepared to take the initiative to move on, let go of the past, and are willing to establish an intimate relationship with my husband's family, we still have the opportunity to achieve a happy life.
It is essential to take the initiative and take the first step in order to achieve success.
I would like to extend my best wishes to the original poster for a happy life.
Comments
I can relate to how overwhelming and suffocating your situation feels. It sounds like you've been through a lot, and it's understandable that you're feeling this way. Seeking help from a professional therapist might give you the support you need to navigate these complex family dynamics.
Your story is heartwrenching. It seems like you've faced immense challenges from a young age. Building a supportive network outside of your immediate family, such as trusted friends or community groups, might offer you some relief and perspective during this tough time.
It's important to recognize the strength it takes to share your struggles. Your husband's lack of understanding about your depression can be disheartening. Perhaps suggesting couple's counseling could help both of you communicate more effectively and find a path forward together.
You've carried such heavy burdens for so long. It sounds like expressing yourself has been difficult within your family. Journaling or engaging in creative outlets might provide you with a personal space to process your feelings and gain clarity on what steps you want to take next.
Hearing about your journey is deeply moving. It's clear you've been trying hard to improve your situation. Sometimes setting boundaries, even if they're small at first, can make a significant difference. Maybe starting with openhearted conversations about your needs could pave the way for healthier relationships and less emotional strain.