Is it all my fault?

All right, let me try to lay this out for you: thanks for reading in advance.

Before my kid was born I fell into a depression due to a few colliding circumstances, but I didn't know what it was and it went untreated. This resulted in me dropping out of college and wracking up unpaid debt.
Soon after, I married someone in the military, was introduced to online gaming by spouse and developed an addiction to it over the next couple of years.
In this timeframe we had a kid, spouse worked full time in military, I stayed home with kid during the day then went to a part time job at night. I know now that I used gaming as an escape, but our kid received love, attention, and care, spouse received love, sex and dinner on the table, dishes were done, laundry was washed...maybe it wasn't to some unknown standard, but whatever. Spouse just got closed-off about it and I was still slipping further and further down.

Kid was toddler when I started actually considering the words 'depression' and 'addiction'. I got some therapy and started seeking out self help online and in books, but was resisting medication. Spouse didn't believe me, said "I've dealt with depression my entire life and I deal with it. Get over yourself!". I am likely already being viewed as a less-than-fit parent though our child is happy and physically healthy.

Soon we realize our kid is behind in speech. Once kid is school-age it is apparent there are behavioral issues as well. I get him fully evaluated through school and results come back as Autism Spectrum Disorder, which isn't a full Autism diagnosis, but somewhere within that Autism bubble. This is all over the course of a couple of moves, a year long deployment of spouse, and a separation where I move back home for a year. Towards the beginning of this, I did end up relenting on medication, but I only ever worked mediocre jobs--meaning I've been heavily supported this entire time. Once I was interested in going back to school, I realized that my transcripts would not be released due to the debt. I have never followed up on other forms of training, still don't know 'what I want to be when I grow up' and am now truly questioning my level of maturity.

My kid, due to the evaluation, receives whatever extra speech and behavioral help is needed in school. He is funny, friendly, healthy and smart. In my opinion our kid is no more "testing" or "disrespectful" or "out of control" than the good average. Soon-to-be Ex thinks otherwise, thinks I am to blame and takes responsibility for all that came out good in this whole scenario.

TLDR
Ex's opinion of me: I'm the selfish one, the drain on the family, the reason for our kid's supposed deficiencies and the one with all the excuses. Ex is the only abiding savior to this mess. Now Ex is laying down the law like I'm an unreliable teen. And because I've spent many a year asking these and many other questions to myself, I am at a loss as to the truth.

Spouse has a point 3
For various reasons, spouse is just trying to hurt or scapegoat you 3
You know you both lay claim to the blame 2
Ex has some high standards 0
You do seem to be resisting 'growing up' 1
You did your best in the circumstances--you and your kid are fine 11
That is all in the past, don't let Ex get to you and just move on 6
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Comments ( 4 )
  • First of all, WOW sucks. If you're going to get addicted to a game, get addicted to something like Skyrim or Dark Souls. Those are the games you want to get adicted to.

    Anyway, I'm very sorry but I cannot and have never been able to sympathise with someone "suffering from depression". I realise its classified as an actual illness, but I cannot grasp how someone can let their emotional state dictate how they live their lives. Whenever I feel in a mood that's less than favourable, I remind myself of all the reasons I have to feel happy, and BAM. I'm happy.

    How anyone with a spouse and a child could become depressed, is beyond me. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not belittling you or your illness in any way, I'm simply stating that I do not understand it. To be honest, I stopped reading your post after the part about the kid having autism. If you're asking if its your fault, my answer would be no. Nobody can predict if their child will develope a behaviour disorder and you should not blame yourself for this. Despite your illness, you don't seem like a bad parent.

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    • deepthought33

      Thank you for your reply. Yea I tried a couple of other games but something switched over a few years ago and now any kind of gaming gets boring after a few days.

      And...I probably should have put the TLDR at the top lol.

      My Ex views (or at least used to) depression the same as you said. I can now deal with unfavorable moods the way you do...even if it takes me a couple days. I see the warning signs now before they get a chance to bowl me over.

      I supposed that is how I ended up back here. I've been thinking that I'm doing so much better that I was very blindsided that Ex now holds so much rage and distrust for me. It isn't enough and Ex acts like my fate is sealed.

      I know I'm in control of my own life, but having my kid essentially dangled in front of my face really freaks me out.

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  • RoseIsabella

    When you say gaming do you mean video games or gambling?

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    • deepthought33

      I played World of Warcraft.

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