Published on 12, July, 2020
One of the reasons I’ve ended up alone is that I spent years juggling working and looking after elderly parents. My dad had vascular dementia for several years then within weeks of his passing my mum developed several serious health conditions including Alzheimer’s.
Throughout these years it never occurred to me that I should do anything other than look after them even though it was at huge cost to myself. I know I’d do the same again.
But my brother felt no such duty or obligation and left me to it.
And now I find myself wondering, was that my autistic self allowing my brother to take advantage of me or could it have been inflexible autistic thinking not allowing me to see or take other choices.
Sorry, this is the sort of path my mind takes when spending a day like today alone
You can't change the past but absolutely know you did the right thing. Life is hard and caring is difficult, especially when you get no relief yourself. These times of years bring up or amplify thoughts we already have. What you can do is make steps forward. Your brother might be the sort of person who takes advantage of people regardless of their brain wiring.