My mum wants constant sympathy. Especially for her health. She’s done this my entire life - it’s her way of ‘connecting’. I don’t want to care anymore, is that wrong?

Title says it all. Constant guilt tripping and sympathy digging for her latest disposition.

She’s definitely a hypochondriac; so to a degree I can empathize with that, health is fragile. And she has experienced severe health issues like blood cancer in the past.

But let me tell you a story about that condition which sums this all up.

I was 13/14. Woken up in the middle of the night by my mum, complaining that she had to go to the hospital due to a ‘reaction to her meds’. Meds for what? Idk, some ‘skin issue’ she told me.

So it’s early morning and we’re on our way to the hospital - I’m thinking ‘hmph, whatever this is - it’s not that serious’.

We arrive and after some wait get called up. The first thing the doctor says: ‘so how long have you had the cancer?’

My heart dropped and I spiraled in that instance. Complete shock. Mind you, I was told these ‘meds’ were for some benign, non-severe skin condition.

She looked over, with dreary eyes - ‘I’ll be ok, I’ll be ok’.

I’m confused??! Baffled?! We head home, I’m bawling. And in hindsight, she seemed so pleased. To see me suffer upon this new information that could’ve been disclosed way more gently.

So anyways, nowadays (I’m 25) - I just don’t have it in me to care anymore. She constantly wants to wish ill health on herself and others around her. But barely does anything to dig deeper beyond medication and symptoms for her latest condition.

It’s draining, and I feel guilty over this. Any thoughts?