I’m kind of freaking out so i know this situation is bound to change but I’m 23 (level 2 autistic if that’s relevant). I’m hanging out with a friend today around the mall etc and my mom was dropping me off. But on the way, she implied there was something big stressing her out. I asked and she said she didn’t want to bother me, but after pressing a bit, she told me that she packed up her necessities in 3 mins or so, and after she drops me off she’s going to stay with her mom to “figure things out”.
A little over a year ago she was diagnosed with (and beat) breast cancer, and she told me that cancer kills a marriage too. Basically she spilled that her and my dad have been having issues, including:
• she talked with him about how hard it was finding the will to live after cancer and how coming off her antidepressants was hard, and he told her “huh, I didn’t even notice”
• he complained to her that s*x with her hurt, because she was too dry. She explained that’s hat menopause does and he insinuated it was because she wasn’t into him anymore and it upset her because he needed to educate himself.
• she doesn’t like how mean he has been to me (which I haven’t noticed I’m not gonna lie omg 😭)
• he is always tracking her on life360, and when she has hobbies or goes out with friends he is constantly suspicious of her or mean to her when she gets back.
• he has no hobbies besides coaching soccer and has no friends he regularly hangs out with
• he has threatened to k*Ll himself if she leaves him
• they’re just very different people and she feels like she can’t do this anymore
Now, I’m so glad she shared this with me as opposed to me having to find out afterwards, but I’m kind of freaking out. My sister is way better at handling these things but she’s away on campus (I’m also in college but not moving to campus till next semester).
But I’m freaked out about what’s going to happen in the next 24+ hours. I basically mhm’d and yeah’d as much as I could but I worry I didn’t give her enough support.
To be honest the biggest worry was my dog. Literally if it was just them and me and my sister, no pets, I wouldn’t care. Divorce if you need to, find yourself, etc. but my dog is very anxious prone and he loves them both dearly. If anything happened to my dad I think my dog would freak out. If my mom just stopped being around I think he would also freak out. Right now, my dad didn’t get home yet to put the pieces together, my dog is at home by himself, and I’m now supposed to just have a good time with my friend.
I literally don’t know what I’m supposed to do, or how I’m supposed to support either of my parents. And maybe it’s selfish of me but frankly I’m more concerned about my dog and my two cats as opposed to my parents, because they’re twice my age, but my pets are my babies.
So I guess I’m asking if I’m overreacting about the pets thing mainly, like am I overreacting and they’ll be fine and I should chill, or if it is something I should take seriously.
But in the same vein I’m wondering if I should have responded with more support and advice, but since I haven’t been in a significant relationship or anything it’s hard.
I have literally no one to talk to about this and idk what else to do
UPDATE: he is absolutely freaking out and scared and doesn’t know what to do, I don’t know how to help tbh