So I've been having trouble about talking with my mom. It seems that every conversation I have with her ends with calling me rude or disrespectful. Recently she's been acting really negative and hostile to everything. Almost like she only see's the worst in everyone.

Like recently, my friend was talking about how his mom had stolen an energy drink from her work. It's obviously stealing, which is wrong, but she was acting like she had stolen a diamond ring. Literally. She actually said that if a person steals something, no matter how small, then they are always willing to steal something huge. She honestly started believing that because my friend's mom stole a $1 .00 drink that she would be willing to steal a multi-thousand dollar diamond ring without any guilt. She then managed to compare that with lying. She believes that if someone is able to lie about a small thing, then they are able to lie about huge things. I don't know why she thinks this, but when I gave her my opinion saying, " I actually think it's the other way around. I really feel like a larger lie would cause a more emotional toll on them than smaller ones, and so someone with only small lies won't be able to immediately handle the cost of lying about something big". When she heard my contradicting opinion, she went on a rant saying how I have no respect for her, and how she is getting sick and tired of me being rude to her...I really have no idea what she is talking about. She even threatened to take away my permit, not that it matters because she already promised to never take me driving :/

I need your help guys. How am I supposed to figure out what is causing her to be like this if I can't even talk to her? This post started out as a rant, but now I actually do need advice, what am I to do? I can't just "give her space" because it is just me and her living together. My dad is somewhere in another state (thank god) and my sister has moved out for college. I am seriously at a loss of what to do...

It could be some past moments and experiences that led her to think that way. Everyone has a reasonable and logical explanation on how they act in general and in those temporary times.

I agree with you on the lying part. When one steals a small thing, it doesn't mean that one will steal something much more valuable and bigger. Stealing an energy drink isn't really a big deal unless you're poor or really need it for an emergency which I doubt. Plus stealing bigger valuable things do give guilt to people in general since it symbolizes its wealth and worth.

From the looks of it, I suggest 2 options for you in this case:
1- Try talking to her to see if anything is wrong with her. Communication is the key in practically anything. She could be hiding something but doesn't want to talk about it. I'm pretty sure that you don't want to keep arguing with her about every little thing. It's very important as a family to look out for each other despite of the situation.

2- You can try having a little bonding time with her on something that she would like to do. Something that would make her feel relaxed and happy. That way, you can try to talk to her about something that you both have in common or depending on how you two can bond.

Touchy situation there, and I do not envy you one bit. It's really tough handling a relationship problem with a parent.

Honestly if you have no idea why she feels that way about you and respect, then as hard as it is, I think your best option is to just ask her if you can talk to her about something. When you get to talk, ask her in the most calm and concerned voice that you have, if something is bothering her, and tell her your concerns. You need a good relationship with her, so you have a legitimate problem that you need to talk to her about. Really, I feel that openness like this is the best way to handle any relationship.

I hope this helps if you try it, man.