Cults & vaccines & MLMs
Hi all! Just looking for advice or perspective from those with similar experiences. I love my Mom, but thanks to the pandemic she’s become a member of a cult, gotten into 2-3 MLMs and today (Mother’s Day) I have been informed by she herself that she is now an anti-vaxxer. This ….has been going on for quite a while and at first it was small things. I’ve tried to supply her with credible information and debunking the false info she gets; but it’s reached a point where she cherry-picks her info (and only info that agrees with her) and has now taken to fighting family members who don’t agree with her. She has also been diagnosed with anxiety & depression in the past but refuses treatment. I’ve reached the point where I do not know what to do anymore. I’ve read about these crazy people on the internet and the news - but now I’m related to one, h a h. Thanks, Universe. I don’t know anymore if I should focus on trying to save my sanity - but as a consequence I might drift away from her - or try to save her from everything. ESPECIALLY the cult. The cult has been trying to drain her of her money and also influencing her to be anti-vaxx and having her join their MLM scams.
It sounds like that it is really tearing you apart that she has become a member of this MLM cult. You would like her to listen to you and to be emotionally available to you and for her to see things in a clearer way. You are feeling confused, frustrated and discouraged as to how to deal with this situation. You don't want to see her go through painful experiences. You sometimes feel the need to save her, but that becomes emotionally exhausting for you. It's frustrating to you because she doesn't have an open mind to other perspectives other than her own. It's embarrassing for you that she is fighting other family members that don't agree. These circumstances contribute more to your anxiety and depression. You are having difficulty as to whether you should continue to try to help her or to distance yourself from her. It's really hard for people to break out of these spells.
Thanks for understanding 🙏 I’m trying to not let it affect me - and have been successful most of the time (avoiding fights with her when she tries to bait me into engaging in a fight) but sometimes I just wonder if I need to do more.
I can understand your concern but I can also understand how she feels might feel too. I guess it's all about perspective. Especially when it comes to the vaccine. The more anyone pushes her for it the more she'll resist. I myself won't get the shot either. I've done my research as well and listened to numerous doctors advise against it as well as ones advising to get it. We all have to do what we feel is right for us and we should try to respect each other's choices.
Thank you for your reply. I respect your choice - and my Mother’s. My father has made the same choice for himself actually. I’ve stopped trying to change her mind since last year and I don’t ever bring up the topic with her anymore. But my Mother has just taken ….an aggressive stance about it. Whenever we’re just trying to have some family time she brings it up with me and fights me about it. I just try to tell her that “it’s ok if you won’t be vaccinated” but she still gets mad at me 🥲 My father has even tried talking to her about not being aggressive towards family members that have chosen to take the vaccine - but she fought with him too 😔
