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AIBU?

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Friend is so bitter!

714 replies

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 09:40

We are all mid/late40s. Friends for decades and live in close proximity for years.

A year and a half ago my friends dh left her for a woman he met at work. It has blown up the lives of my dear friend and her dc ( late primary school aged) until this point she had the most lovely bohemian life possible, and was happily married and her life she says has fallen apart.

We are part of a group and she has had the most amazing support from all of us. Her parents live a few minutes away and have looked after the dc, whilst we have taken her out and organised things for her, listened to her, fed her day in, day out. She is still devastated and depressed, and I know it’s been so difficult for her to come to terms with.

My aibu is more nuanced. In the last few months she has started coming out with really unkind statements. Words to the effect that she feels so bitter that she had my life once and now it's all gone.

I took her out for a spa day and she complained about it all day, she didn’t even thank me, it was very costly and miserable day in the end. Just lately she says oh your life is so perfect, or comments unkindly about a new sweater and even said she feels sorry for my dh!

Whilst I understand this has been awful, I am struggling to know how to navigate her bitterness and anger, it’s like my life mirrors her old life (which it did to be fair) and reminding her of everything she used to have/lost. Some of our other friends have started to distance themselves because it’s become too much.

My friend refuses to have counselling, even though it would greatly assist her process the changes happening to her.

Her financial situation will not be awful when everything finalises, but obviously she won’t have anything like the life she had before.

I feel like this is really coming between us now, but I don’t want to be insensitive, this has been so hard for her I am not surprised she is angry but it feels misdirected, maybe this is normal stage, if so, when might it end?

wwyd?

Thanks

OP posts:
2024onwardsandup · 05/11/2024 10:03

She doesn’t work?

I have some but limited sympathy. She presumably choose to rely on another persons income fully so this is the consequence

which does not mean at all that SAHM can get completely shafted. But no one is entitled to not get a job

thesunisastar · 05/11/2024 10:02

How sad, what a difficult situation. Your friend's devastation is completely understandable. And of course she must find it very, very hard to be around friends whose lives are a constant reminder of what she's lost. It's a horrid conflict to have to go through, wanting to be around friends but at the same time finding it so upsetting.

Jealousy and bitterness are understandable human responses but she's clearly not doing herself any favours by "giving in" to those feelings so freely, and especially in saying them out loud. She really does need to gain awareness of what she is doing and start taking control of those feelings or she will get dragged down by them, and cause permanent damage to her friendships in the process.

Do you feel able to have an honest conversation with her about it?

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 10:01

LoveSandbanks · 05/11/2024 09:59

But why shouldn’t she get a job? The children are late primary, a job would do her good.

She has never worked, she met dh at university and they got married soon after and did some travelling. She had never had a job so it’s a big task now.

OP posts:
NotSmallButFunSize · 05/11/2024 10:01

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 09:56

I can’t imagine the fall out if I mentioned it, my other friend suggested she tries to get a job or training (as she will have to provide for herself soon) and it caused an awful row between them.

We are all nervous around her now as she is furious a lot of the time. It’s not even like she is an angry person. She is usually so calm and serene.

Edited

But what's the alternative? She continues to use you as an emotional punch bag?

It's ok to lay out a boundary - you don't have to fall out over it. She may be angry and resent you but hopefully down the line she will realise that you were trying to be helpful and maybe you could then rebuild the friendship. If not.... Well, you're not exactly getting much out of it at the moment so it may end up for the best.

Make it clear you are always there for her and care for her but you also need to step back as per the PPs suggested message and the rest is on her

CrazyCatLady008 · 05/11/2024 10:00

Be less available.

LoveSandbanks · 05/11/2024 09:59

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 09:56

I can’t imagine the fall out if I mentioned it, my other friend suggested she tries to get a job or training (as she will have to provide for herself soon) and it caused an awful row between them.

We are all nervous around her now as she is furious a lot of the time. It’s not even like she is an angry person. She is usually so calm and serene.

Edited

But why shouldn’t she get a job? The children are late primary, a job would do her good.

ViciousCurrentBun · 05/11/2024 09:59

Both SIL and one of my friends became incredibly bitter regarding relationships. SIL lost some friends because she was quite frankly vile towards people. I refused to see her for a while as a lot of her ire was directed to me who had dared to marry her beloved brother and was happy. Even her own Mother admitted how awful she was being and she loves her unconditionally. My friends period of bitterness was less intense and deep and she has been divorced three times. I had MIL crying in the phone about it all. Ultimately SIL personality changed forever she isn’t as bad as she was but it has made her someone people including men swerve more.

Stormyweatheroutthere · 05/11/2024 09:58

Just be less available....
No dramatic exit necessary
.

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 09:56

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 05/11/2024 09:46

I would back off from her, for now.

I'd probably say something like "I'm going to take a step back from our friendship for the moment as I can see that my being around is upsetting for you" and see how she responds.

You can give her specific examples if she doesn't know what you mean.

She may not realise she's doing it.

Regardless of what she has been through, you're still important too, and you don't have to be around someone who treats you like that.

I can’t imagine the fall out if I mentioned it, my other friend suggested she tries to get a job or training (as she will have to provide for herself soon) and it caused an awful row between them.

We are all nervous around her now as she is furious a lot of the time. It’s not even like she is an angry person. She is usually so calm and serene.

OP posts:
Allfur · 05/11/2024 09:54

She will hopefully eventually come to the realisation her life is better

Tink3rbell30 · 05/11/2024 09:49

Normal. She's had her whole world changed for the worse by 2 rats so the bitterness is normal.

HelplessSoul · 05/11/2024 09:49

I'd leave her to it.

Wide berth and all that.

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 05/11/2024 09:46

I would back off from her, for now.

I'd probably say something like "I'm going to take a step back from our friendship for the moment as I can see that my being around is upsetting for you" and see how she responds.

You can give her specific examples if she doesn't know what you mean.

She may not realise she's doing it.

Regardless of what she has been through, you're still important too, and you don't have to be around someone who treats you like that.

Cornishcockleshells · 05/11/2024 09:46

I want to be there for her but don’t know how to deal with this new side of her.

OP posts:
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