I still live at home and my mum’s pushiness is making me miserable

DEAR DEIDRE: MY mum drives me mad with her pushiness.

She wants to know every detail of every single issue.

I still live at home but she makes my existence a misery.

Recently there was an incident with the washing machine and it stopped working well.

I don’t remember exactly what happened but she won’t accept that – she goes on and on at me until I get upset.

Every time we argue she does this. She keeps pushing for information which makes me angry and nervous.

It’s like she thinks I’m lying to her and she needs to cross-examine me as if we are in a courtroom.

I’m a 28-year-old female. My mum’s 57. I want to move out to get away from the constant interrogation.

She sounds overbearing and controlling. It must be maddening for you.

DEIDRE SAYS: Sadly you cannot change her, only how you react.

When she gets too much, calmly walk away. She’ll stop when she realises she’s arguing in an empty room.

My support pack Standing Up For Yourself explains how to talk to her without it causing a row.