Please help! My mentally ill father is making ME mentally ill!?

Very long story short... My father is a manic-depressive. My mother and him divorced 3 years ago after 35 years. My father is so "off" that he has no one. He can't keep a job. My brother won't speak to him becasuse my father was abusive to him when he was young.

Now, my father is trying to make ME his life. He is so needy, but he is also very difficult and narcissitic. He wants to see me and my child everyday... he calls me crying about everything from seeing a dead bird to watching a sad t.v. show. I feel sorry for him, but he is devouring emotionally.

I have no idea how to handle him. He begs to come over and if I say no, he gets nasty. I have him come over once a week, and its not enough. I'm trying to have boundaries but he steps over them.

When is enough, enough? A part of me feels selfish for wanting to break from him, he is pathetic really. But I am sacrificing my own mental health to just make him happy? I only see him out of guilt. What should do?

I'd love to never see him again. He was so terrible to my mother and brother, but not to me. I know that doesn't make his actions right... but I hold so much resentment for what he did to them.

I only have a "relationship" with him because I worry he'd kill himself. I'm not being dramatic. He is that depressive.

Seeing him is so hard when I have so much anger. Talking to him wouldn't do much good, he isn't entirely in reality. I'm stuck.

Either I put up with it, or I walk away. Walking away would mean war, and guilt.

Please help? Anyone else go thought this?

You are not only sacrificing your health but the welfare of your child as well. You have said a relationship of 35 yrs.has ended, where is it written you have to continue where your Mom left off? End this now for the sake of your child, this is not fair to her. Tell your father, you will not see him until he seeks professional help, and mean it. You must use tough love on him and maybe this is what he needs. He is a very sick man and you are not qualified in dealing with all this. I hope you find the strength to stay away. My heart goes out to you, good luck sweetheart

well, if he's hard to talk to, then maybe you should make him see a physician or something. or maybe you should move. but that might be complicated. maybe you could get your mother or brother to give you advice on the situation