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Why is life so unfair

413 replies

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 14:31

Does anyone think about this? I just think sometimes that I never had a chance.

I was born into a bad family. My father was cruel when I knew him, then he abandoned us and refused to pay maintenance. So I grew up in poverty. My mother brought us up but was abusive to me. My mother's parents were dead. My fathers parents had nothing to do with ne. My aunts and uncles were all horrible to me.

I had not one person. I remember crying and crying as a child. I'm quite spiritual and I used to meditate as a child. I remember during meditation hearing a voice saying "even if no one else loves you, if you love yourself you'll be ok".

But I haven't been ok. My life has been nothing but struggle. Worse, is the terrible feeling of being alone. I don't have one person.

I look around and I see people going for dinner with aunts , having a great relationship with grandparents. It upsets me.

I'm 42 now and I feel sad that all my young life is gone. I never enjoyed my teens or twenties as it was a struggle just to survive.

I look at some teenagerss i know now and they are so well supported by parents, grandparents . Their families pay for holidays.

I'll never experience the joy of being an 18 year old teenager going on holiday with my friends. At 18 I had huge burdens and responsibilities.

It's just all so unfair. And the unfairness of it is driving me mad. Why couldnt I have had one person that cared about me. Why did I have to have such a tough life. Why do other people have easy lives and other people have tough lives.

I look at children in the news who are similar to me. They only usually make the news when they are murdered. Preston Davey. There are countless other children who being neglected and unloved. Why is life so unfair. Why does it have to be such a struggle.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Barbarella73 · 07/07/2026 20:35

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 19:58

Thank you. Yes you're right. It's like that clip in the film where Robin Williams talks to Matt damon. Good will Hunting is the film

Matt Damon had been an abused child and Robin Williams was his therapist. Robin Williams keep saying to him "it wasn't your fault" Until he finally gets through to him

Abused children usually blame them selves.

Abused children do blame themselves, absolutely. Because they see adults as being more knowing, and somehow superior. But when you are an abused child, you grow into an adult who then has choices - you can internalise what your abuser made you feel (worthless, usually) or you can ‘think’ your way out of it, rather than feel. This is a great thing!

You mention Good Will Hunting - and the brilliant scene where Robin Williams’ character keeps repeating to Matt Damon’s character that it’s not his fault. It’s a powerful scene. But I think may be more powerful to question our feelings, rather than waiting for someone else to tell us what is or isn’t true. I mean, if the Robin Williams character wasn’t such a nice guy, and told Matt Damon that it WAS his fault, it would have been a very different movie, right? Poor old Matt mightn’t ever have left for a bright future with Minnie Driver!

But imagine if the Matt Damon character had been able to really look objectively at himself and say ‘Hey, I was a child. I didn’t have control over anything in my life. I had no say in what adults did to me. It wasn’t my fault - I was a child and had no way out’. Then he wouldn’t have needed anyone else to tell him it wasn’t his fault.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s important not to depend solely on other people for our sense of self. Tune into your thoughts. Challenge your inner voice (if you really listen, you will find that the voice is actually someone else’s!). Check to see if there is any ‘evidence’ that supports what you are feeling. Ask your inner voice ‘who says?’ whenever it says anything negative.

Find your own voice OP. She is in there.

Iamthemoom · 07/07/2026 20:30

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 14:38

Thank you. I've been to therapy and it hasn't worked for me.

I'm more wondering, those of you who had very little support in life, how did you get through life?

By deciding to change my attitude to life.

I experienced severe childhood neglect and abuse, rape as a teenager, domestic violence in my 20s, debt and infertility in my 30s but then at 33 I made a decision to change my life and change my luck. And it took a lot of hard work but by 35 it had all changed.

I used positive thinking, visualisation and manifestation practices to change my fortune, my career, my relationships and my financial situation.

I have my dream job, live in a lovely home, have a wonderful DH and DD. I’m happy and don’t dwell on my terrible childhood or the things I never had. And I owe all of it to myself.

It might not be a popular view but I think it’s a choice - not as a child of course but as an adult. You can choose to be happy, to be positive, to be a force for good in the world, to focus on the tiny things you have to be grateful for (and soon you’ll have big things to be grateful for). Or you can stay in a spiral of self pity and sadness and keep attracting more bad things into your life.

Take back control, stop focusing on what you don’t have, start with gratitude for what you do have. Your life, your health, a chance - all things poor Preston Davey had stolen from him.

Violinorbanjo · 07/07/2026 20:28

notysm · 07/07/2026 20:17

Some unusual threads on Mumsnet today.

Just the opposite, this website is filled with suffering humans. Do you have problem with people who suffer?

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:28

Nervousb2b · 07/07/2026 20:25

Hey, sorry you feel this way - it sucks and I've been there momentarily throughout life.

I really recommend watching or listening to Eckhart Tolle (or similar). Your current mindset isn't going to help you get the enjoyment out of life that you deserve!

Thanks i read Eckhart book a while ago. Not for a while. I must read it again

OP posts:
Nervousb2b · 07/07/2026 20:25

Hey, sorry you feel this way - it sucks and I've been there momentarily throughout life.

I really recommend watching or listening to Eckhart Tolle (or similar). Your current mindset isn't going to help you get the enjoyment out of life that you deserve!

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:25

WalkTalk · 07/07/2026 19:46

So sorry you’re feeling this way OP. Nature, meditation are both good habits to heal. I really feel for you and am hoping life gets better for you. I agree therapists aren’t great.

Yes nature and meditation are lovely arent they. I've just gone for a walk. I'm walking to a park right now

OP posts:
notysm · 07/07/2026 20:24

No need to report me, I had already reported my post to MN for troll hunting
😂

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:23

JustBecauseIAm · 07/07/2026 19:37

Ok. This may be long and I have name changed as there's some fairly personal stuff in this.

I completely get it @MyFastZebra. I grew up like you, horrendous parents; abject poverty (eating dry bread and sitting in a house with no electricity as we'd been cut off, clean clothes were a wish!), my dad was violent, mean and aggressive. My mum suffered but threw me under the bus to save herself, we had golden child and scapegoat dynamic between me and my brother and he was the golden boy who could do no wrong. I was told every single day I was stupid; thick and useless. My dad was a classic narc.
a teacher lied for me on my school report, because in his words, he knew what my dad would do to me if he told the truth about me messing in class. I also suffered CSA from my uncle. On top of all that I was an easy target for bullies too.

It absolutely destroys something fundamental in you when even your parents cant love you. You feel so alone and unlovable and become "old for your years" as there is no other choice.

That said, I'm a year older than you now, and I enjoy my life, it's taken a long time to get there, some serious work along the way, a chunk of reinventing myself and avoiding some triggers too. (I cannot watch Disney's inside out at all, reduces me to a sobbing mess, the part where it talks about core happy memories and they're being banked, I realised I had less than 5 in my whole life up to 16 years old!).

I married a much milder version of my dad (just the angry shouty part) of a guy who showed me attention and had a wonderful child. Realised when they were 4 years old this wasn't what I wanted for them and went to counselling for that. I've realised focus on fixing the immediate thing that needs fixing, you'll never heal the old stuff fully so unless it impacts right now, a box is perfectly ok to stick it in.

Take the small wins; you are absolutely not weak. If you were you wouldn't be standing solid right now, your foundations may wobble occasionally but they're there and you built them. That makes you incredible. Most people have others building their foundations and you created your own from chaos.

So right now you have an issue with some awful bullies at work. Work on fixing that. Is it self confidence, are there any books that can help on that. Can you get support on that from a union at work to address the issues. Look at another job etc.
start thinking "fuck you" at them every time they're mean and hold your head high. Anything that changes a little bit how you feel will all help.

When my child hit preteens I realised I was being shouty and aggressive at times. I can't fix my childhood, but I did take myself off for some epic (and blooming expensive) parenting classes from someone who specialised in helping parents when they came from a tough background. I worked on that and completely changed the outlook of our house by doing that work. It doesn't fix the underlying issue I had, but I can work on the here and now and know I can be better. I just sometimes need help to get there.

Can you help others who grew up in your situation, I volunteer for a charity that provides beds to children who don't have them. It's my little bit of paying it forward to acknowledge it's still there for a lot of people and if I can help make someone's life easier then that all helps them in future.

Only you can decide how to move forward. It's fine to sit and cry at the unfairness of it all, because it is unfair, but if you only sit and cry you never find the small glimmers in life. You've got your own place, you can have a coffee in your own place and know you're safe, because that's your peace.
You're strong and kickass, with a few wobbles. Look for the glimmers. FlowersFlowers

Back to the kind posts.

Thanks for sharing that. It's very helpful.

Well done on all you've achieved.

Also it's great that you are volunteering for that charity. I'm proud of you

OP posts:
MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:22

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I've reported you.

Jog on

OP posts:
notysm · 07/07/2026 20:22

TheBlueKoala · 07/07/2026 20:20

? Are you OK?

Wonderful, thanks hope you are too

I have reported this thread. Troll hunting not allowed for obvious reasons. But sometimes it's just nice to name a spade a spade and all that.

TheBlueKoala · 07/07/2026 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

? Are you OK?

notysm · 07/07/2026 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

notysm · 07/07/2026 20:17

Some unusual threads on Mumsnet today.

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

YankSplaining · 07/07/2026 20:14

OP, if you were severely abused as a child, you are 100% “allowed” to note that you and Preston Davey are both abuse victims. I don’t know why people have a problem with that.

i understand not wanting to volunteer with children, but I think volunteering in some way would be beneficial to you, even if it’s not connected to children. It will give your brain something else to think about instead of ruminating on your past, and I think it would help your self-esteem to know that you’re making a positive difference in the world.

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:12

Laura95167 · 07/07/2026 20:08

I am sorry to hear about your struggle OP but i think you are massively distasteful to compare your struggle to Preston Daveys.

I appreciate it must have been hard growing up with an absent dad and abusive mum. But I do think you could have built relationships with friends or your siblings. And if you havent been able to, then maybe you need some counselling to help you move forward.

What happened to you wasnt fair and wasnt your choice but everything happening to now is in your sphere of control. You can build a life of love and connection you might just need some support to learn how. But wallowing in the past wont help

I think you should be ashamed to write to victims of Child sexual abuse like that

OP posts:
MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:12

Laura95167 · 07/07/2026 20:08

I am sorry to hear about your struggle OP but i think you are massively distasteful to compare your struggle to Preston Daveys.

I appreciate it must have been hard growing up with an absent dad and abusive mum. But I do think you could have built relationships with friends or your siblings. And if you havent been able to, then maybe you need some counselling to help you move forward.

What happened to you wasnt fair and wasnt your choice but everything happening to now is in your sphere of control. You can build a life of love and connection you might just need some support to learn how. But wallowing in the past wont help

"but i think you are massively distasteful to compare your struggle to Preston Daveys."

How exactly is me being raped as a child different to Preston being raped as a child?

I compared our sexual abuse which was similar in a lot of ways.

Explain your strange logic

OP posts:
Laura95167 · 07/07/2026 20:08

I am sorry to hear about your struggle OP but i think you are massively distasteful to compare your struggle to Preston Daveys.

I appreciate it must have been hard growing up with an absent dad and abusive mum. But I do think you could have built relationships with friends or your siblings. And if you havent been able to, then maybe you need some counselling to help you move forward.

What happened to you wasnt fair and wasnt your choice but everything happening to now is in your sphere of control. You can build a life of love and connection you might just need some support to learn how. But wallowing in the past wont help

TheDenimPoet · 07/07/2026 20:06

Life absolutely isn't fair. That is a fact. However, it is your life. You have two choices. You can either ruin your future by thinking about the past, which you can't change, or you can treat today as the first day of the rest of your life and decide to make things as good as you possibly can under the circumstances.

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 20:06

Uricon2 · 07/07/2026 20:03

But what do you think you'll get from that? Reinforcement that life is crap? Noone posting here can sort your life, only you can do that and me or anyone else telling you about how very, very difficult our childhoods were will not change a thing for you.

"Will not change a thing for you".

I disagree. Sharing my story on here and hearing other people's stories has already helped me. I feel less alone and stronger.

Maybe get some kindness and emapthy?

OP posts:
Uricon2 · 07/07/2026 20:03

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 19:37

Oh no way. Therapists are awful in my experience.

A woman I work with told me that she went to a therapist recently and came out more depressed than she went in.

I think it's better to talk to people who have actually been through the same things. That includes people on a chat forum

But what do you think you'll get from that? Reinforcement that life is crap? Noone posting here can sort your life, only you can do that and me or anyone else telling you about how very, very difficult our childhoods were will not change a thing for you.

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 19:59

Barbarella73 · 07/07/2026 19:55

Yes, but who were you told these things by? Were they kind people, who were empathetic and aware? Or were they abusive idiots?

If the latter, then why would you internalise/take on board any of that? It’s like listening to an electrician who is telling you what medication would be best to lower high blood pressure. Why place any stock in the opinions of the people you mention - are they experts????

Thanks. I appreciate that.

OP posts:
MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 19:58

Barbarella73 · 07/07/2026 19:55

Yes, but who were you told these things by? Were they kind people, who were empathetic and aware? Or were they abusive idiots?

If the latter, then why would you internalise/take on board any of that? It’s like listening to an electrician who is telling you what medication would be best to lower high blood pressure. Why place any stock in the opinions of the people you mention - are they experts????

Thank you. Yes you're right. It's like that clip in the film where Robin Williams talks to Matt damon. Good will Hunting is the film

Matt Damon had been an abused child and Robin Williams was his therapist. Robin Williams keep saying to him "it wasn't your fault" Until he finally gets through to him

Abused children usually blame them selves.

OP posts:
JustBecauseIAm · 07/07/2026 19:57

MyFastZebra · 07/07/2026 19:36

How do you feel worth something when you've always been told that you are not lovable or worth anything..

Thats what I want to work on

Work on your inner child. There are some incredible books on it. And it can be very rewarding. I thought it was mad, but it definitely helped.