I wasn’t too sure where to post this so I apologies if it’s the wrong group! I’m a hairstylist, 22, living at home and everything has been driving me nuts recently. I’ve been working at the same place for 5 years, my boss drives me crazy and the salon itself is falling apart. I’ve suggested what to change/how I can help etc and it’s never taken any further. I’m not happy here. I was signed off work just before Christmas from being stressed about work and home life. I’m earning minimum wage and having to work my days off to get some extra cash.

My mum suffers from chronic pain, I’ve known her to be like this all my life but it’s been getting worse as time goes on. I know it’s not her fault but I feel like I’ve lost my mum. When I’m waking up in the morning, she’s asleep or just settling down (up all hours) and then once I come home from work it’s the same thing. I feel like she’s not really there but I don’t want to upset her by letting her know how much it affects me that she isn’t well. I have a brother and sister, my sister helps a lot with things around the house but my brother doesn’t do anything to help at all, much like my dad. Me and my sister share a room (she’s 16 so there’s a 6yr gap between us) which is really getting me down aswell. Everyone apart from me has somewhere they can go to relax away from the rest of the chaos, I don’t even have a bedroom I can retreat to when I feel like I need a bit of alone time because my sister puts up a fight whenever I dare ask her to let me have some time alone in our room.

I’m an adult, I need my own space, I’m working my ass off and can’t afford to move out in the area I’m currently at. My boyfriend is in Scotland and I’m down south. We have been thinking of moving midway together as it’s far more affordable for us. I’d like a fresh start, but I’m also a bit nervous to move away and leave everything I know behind, as much as I hate it all currently. I’m basically just looking for a bit of advice or reassurance that I’m not being ridiculous and selfish? My life is so draining at the moment and I don’t know how much more of it I can really cope with, it’s affecting my work and mental health.