My mother has become controlling

Q

I’m 19 years old and at college. Despite this, mum makes me call home twice a day, and if I don’t, she panics and sends me dozens of voice messages. I find this and her constant need to know where I am and who I am with exhausting. My dad gets infuriated with her, too, and tells her to stop. I can’t take it any more. What do I do? A

It sounds like your mother suffers from high levels of anxiety. The catastrophising and the fact she tries to control your life are ways of managing her stress and fears about you being away. You need to tell her exactly how you feel and ask your dad to strongly encourage her to seek help from her GP. It sounds like she needs extra support.