The Recession and being "grown up"

I have been listening to the FRONTLINE report (Oct 26) about how the recession is
affecting upper income folks. While at first glance.. it may not seem a
sympathetic story.. actually.. it is.

There was one person who I related to. Her and her husband owned a busines
yet after the recession they have had to go to her 65 year old mother
for help with cost of raising kids. She spoke over and over how her mother
had done all this stuff for her and had been successful and sent her through
college and that she herself was a graduate school graduate that had
been doing well.. and now she had to go back to her mother for help.
She said " I can't believe I am talking about my mother.. i am so mortified
and embarrassed ... I am almost 40 years old and I am relying on my mother for help"

I am 41.. and I have a graduate degree. But while I never really succeeded in making
a huge Income (I went into LIbrary Science and current work as a medical records
supervisor)... .I relate on how I never managed to do better than my mother
who was a doctor and made a lot of money!. I was an only child and had a good life
Private schools.. College and Graduate School paid for.. and I thought that I would
get to a place where I would be able to finally do some stuff for my mother..

I did manage to buy a home (responsibly).. and Hope I can keep it.. but I am feeling
the pressures of rising property taxes.. stagnant wages, higher medical insurance costs..
and now with the recession.. I don't see a way out to raise myself upwards at this
point..

My mum had to sell some property to pay off her own debts... and has lost a lot
due to the recession...

The woman continued..... " I feel like such a child.. I am almost 40.. and I am not able
to take care of myself...."

It really is stigmitizing to not be totally independent and successful. I noticed this issue
years ago.. I never was able to do much better.. sure.. I didn't become a doctor..

but I had issues regardng depression and anxiety and while I have managed to keep my
head above water.. that is all about all I have been able to do...

I have worked tirelessly on myself and helping me to become a better person.. get
through my depression. I never had to go on Disability.. I have few health problems

but I suffer immensly from anxiety and stress... and so I have been taking serious
inventory of my life and trying to get more simple.

My credit card debt has been fairly low.. but it has been going up since the recession.

I feel the biggest issue is lack of time.. and a LOT of priorities have shifted.

I never wanted to be a millionaire.. but now I really don't... and while I
struggle to continue to be this "ideal" "adult"... I realise that maybe
maybe that has been another myth perpetuated by our Capitalistic society!.