What is the root cause of Vivi's unhappiness in the novel, Little Altars Everywhere?

Vivi Walker's unhappiness has deep roots. Her own mother was self-absorbed, delusional and possibly mentally ill. Vivi has always been fun-loving and flamboyant. As a teen she was arrested with the other Ya-Yas at Spring Creek, for an undisclosed indiscretion. After college, Vivi lived in New York for a short time and did some modeling. Unable to succeed, she returned home to Louisiana where she quickly gained a reputation as a former New York actress.