Nmom extinction burst before I move out

I have been living at home w/ my Nmom and brother for about a year now after graduating college. My brother and I are very close and have bonded through years of enduring our mom's emotional abuse and neglect our whole lives. She's a master at making her big emotions our problem to fix and is so enmeshed with us I feel insane sometimes. She is on the verge of tears when I am out of the house for work, etc and worries about me getting home safe but it feels gross because I know her concern is for all the wrong reasons. She never asks me questions or asks how I'm doing or cuts me off to talk about herself when I try to open up and sees nothing wrong with it. She has openly admitted to being jealous of my friends and boyfriend since I hang out with them more than her. My dad left when I was 9 so any time I try to have an open conversation about how her actions make me feel so we can repair our relationship, she calls me cold, sensitive, ungrateful, or a bitch depending on the day since she's the "parent who stayed". She doesn't know how to do anything herself and insists we help her or we must hate her. She asks us to come with her on errands as a "second brain" but frames it as quality time to hide the fact that its to borderline objectify my brother and I as human pacifier accessories to her. It feels so gross to be around her that I completely clam up. It feels horrible that I feel more safe and comfortable to be myself around coworkers than I do her. I truly feel like the worst version of myself when I'm around her.

Anyway, flash forward to now. I am working a full time job in my field at a prestigious organization, just interviewed for a promotion, with plans to move in with my boyfriend in 4-5ish months. I have been laser focused on creating stability for myself to leave (the guilt of leaving my brother with her is a whole different story) and have been emotionally pulling away as well. I am not prioritizing the repair of our relationship like I used to. I got my heart broken way too many times trying that with her so I know better than to keep trying. I don't want to spend time with her since it drains the little energy I have left from the day. And she's noticing. Her grip on me is loosening and she realizes how bad it looks for me to need her less than she needs me. And the "I'm so worried for you" act is souring into anger towards me. Now she is blaming my job for taking time away from her, belittling me and my career, slamming doors, stomping, pouting, and looks for a fight any chance she gets. I know why she's doing all this but I just don't know what to do about it while I wait these next few months to save up and get out. Am I really evil and cold for not wanting to be around her? How can I protect my peace while still living with her and her scrutiny? Thanks for reading my rant this far and if you have any words of advice please let me know!

Posted Mar 30, 2026, 6:09 AM UTC

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