I didn't see a family section so I will go with the affection area.

Basically I am concerned about my mother's health, and her relationship with my father. They've been married over 20 years, wonderfully so, and definately amazingly so.

But my mom for the past two years or so, has had some odd almost wakefup sleep walking. When she gets tired, its like her brain shuts off on the cognition. She will respond, answer phones, walk around, cook, but its all OFF. She slurrs, uses a particular vocabulary- "totally," "freakin," come up a lot- she talks about work and degenerates to the mental level of a 3 year old. She teeters when she walks, drops things repeatedly, and refuses to listen while she is in that state. I have watched her fall asleep with skittles in her mouth for several hours, and then wake up and start chewing like nothing was wrong. I have also seen her go into a waxy coma like state- she had broken her ankle, and fallen asleep holding the crutches out perpindicular from her body. I have seen her fall asleep in the middle of taking out her contacts, with one balancing on her finger tip bent over the sink.

Its bad. And it is frustrating to deal with. She wont listen, or go to sleep. She wants to continue doing chores or just refuses to be told what to do. I can reason it out with her when I am home. But my dad is loosing patience. He yells and makes fun of her trying to tease her into doing what she needs to, and relieve some of his pressure. He deals with it almost every two or three nights. He doesn't deserve this. I know he said in sickness and in health but... this was not in the contract I am sure.

I dont know what it is. There are too many bills to take her to the doctor again right now, and my dad just switched jobs and is making about 15 grand less a year. Money is tight. And I don't know what else to do for them. I also don't feel like I can pressure them to do something because they are my folks.. but I hate seeing the stress on my father like it is now, and mom doesnt seem to realize what she is doing to him.

Is she on any kind of medication? Does she have any history of mental illness? These are probably the most important factors you left out of your story.

No medications, and no history of mental illness- not her nor in the 3 generations of her family above her.

This started out of the blue a few years ago.. though I can't pinpoint a date. It is similar to how she acted when she had a concussion though. But it can't be that because after she has had at lest six or seven hours of sleep she is back to normal. She teaches at a technical college during the day. Its only when she is overworked that this happens.

Just because its only when she doesnt get enough sleep doesn't mean it doesn't have anything to do with the concussion that could be part of the problem maybe something is wrong in her head because that doesnt exactly sound like a good thing going on.

As far as what you said about the "in sickness and in health... but i dont think this was in the contract" Obviously it is this would be sickness. When you marry someone just because they get sick doesn't mean you can give up or what ever if you love someone especially twenty years you can't just give up because your unable to handle it your supposed to be there beside them. So yea we don't expect to have to be there during sickness as bad as this but anyone that doesnt stick around when the going gets tough is an asshole peice of shit. Not saying anything about anyone just about what you said.

I understand, and thats why I pointed it out- the vows. But it is getting to the point where if he decided he couldnt take it any more, I couldnt even be angry with him. It is difficult to see, difficult to watch, and I only see that maybe two or three times a year since I am only home at most 6 weeks of the entire thing.

My dad, I have come to realize, although a demanding and controlling bastard at times, really does love her, and is amazing. I dont think I can express that enough. He is amazing, and he takes care of us. But I want him to be happy too. And right now it is hard on him, much more than he deserves.

Well if your dad does leave he doesn't really love her I mean because then its just going to be so much worse for her because she wont have anyone to help her. I mean if I get married I plan to be by my wifes side no matter what happens because I live up to my values and one of those values happens to be selfless service to put the welfare of others before my own. And although on occasion i do put myself first a tiny bit I do live up to what I say i belive in. So yea it may be hard for your dad but if he loves her he wont just abandon her.

Talk to a social worker, a teacher, even your own doctor about this. They will give you resources to help your mom, such as places that will check up on your mother for free, medicaid, organizations that will help your family pay for doctor's expenses, etc. There are people out there with government money waiting to help others, but no one knows how to find them.

I'm fairly sure those are symptoms of M.S. I might be mistaken though. Google? Really, you need to drag her to the doctor. ASAP.

It's irresponsible for her not to go to a doctor. Your mothers health is what's important here, not money. It sounds like she's narcoleptic to me...

Videotape her in that state, then show it to her when she's "normal".

I'm no doctor and nor is anyone else here I think.

However it sounds like it could be any one of a number of illnesses that affect the brain...from MS to a brain tumour.

You gotta get her to a doc. Ain't no way round that.

And yes, family stuff does belong here under affection.

Give her some weed are cocaine that'll fix her right up.Are put a leash on her.

Looks like the drugs didn't like her.