Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

She really gets me down every single day

12 replies

spongebob111 · 07/04/2019 13:58

Hi so I guess I'm looking for some advice and a vent.

I'm the sort of person that will help anybody, listen, and always go above and beyond for anybody. But overtime I'm realising that I actually need to take more care of myself, especially emotionally... myself and my siblings had a really dreadful upbringing, both with our birth parents and adoptive parents but I'd like to say we've all come out of the other side.

I'm a busy mum. I have three children (7, nearly 2, 10 months) and due in May with baby number 4. I'm very lucky to have a lovely relationship and for things to be running so well at home... I am generally very happy.
BUT

Every single day for like the whole of my life i have been carrying my sibling. She rings everyday and never asks how I am... even if I wasnt good I'd say I'm good thanks how are you? (I just dont like to put on others, I have a amazing partner who I share all the ugly stuff with) I just really feel like I cannot take anymore of her drama, moaning, attention seeking and generally toxic behaviour.

I'm really starting to feel like I just wish I could cut off from her and never speak to her again but I feel as the eldest sister I have to be there and be strong and try and fix everything all the time. I come off the phone a lot of the time and I'm in a bad mood or I can even cry. She speaks with a counsellor, and lots of other professionals and many of my other siblings and various friends and family members. She has to tell the whole world everything.

Recently my partner had a word with my sisters about being a bit happier when they spoke to me because I've been pregnant three times in a row so struggling with hormones, anxiety and feeling a bit low... but she hasn't paid no attention and continued to pile every single problem onto me. I really dont want to tell her the way shes making me feel because she will then turn it against me for attention from others, just like she always does.

She pretends to have illnesses and always dramatises things so o feel she has a serious attention seeking problem. She has always been the child that required all of the attention and was everybody's favourite and to be honest none of us were bothered. However as adults ranging from early to late twentysomethings we have all had enough and starting to step back because we find her draining, miserable and toxic. She tries to cause trouble with everybody and shes quite sly and clever about it... it's almost a full time job. She doesn't enjoy her children, she moans about them constantly and thinks they have things wrong with them simply because she cant be assed to parent...

Shes recently got pregnant again for around the 3rd time in a year, having abortions but this time unsure what shes doing but telling all family members for attention. I'm due in may and told her I dont want to hear about abortions please. I was so pissed off she even told me to be honest. I had a really bad migraine the other day and I'm monitored closely because I have had severe preeclampsia with my first born and I've had small babies so I get scanned regular to. Well now shes having emergency scans and close monitoring? Shes got a bad headache a few hours after I'd mentioned it... i just had to blank her messages because i just thought please just let me have a headache please in peace.

I dont even think I can be bothered to write anymore and this is just tip of the iceberg but its draining and getting me down!! Oh and may I add she only moans to all of us when her rent free boyfriend isn't there... we are only good enough to lend her money, take her shopping or go and pick nappies up etc.
She likes to keep everyone seperate cause she slags everyone off to everyone... she use to do her kids seperate parties for seperate families,

How do I deal with this? Do I have to literally tell her or just back off. I just cant cope anymore I feel like she is affecting my mentle health.

OP posts:
AllTheGlitter · 07/04/2019 14:04

Hi didn’t want to read and run!

By the post, she seems selfish and toxic but that’s just what I’ve taken from the post. Are you able to maybe sit her down and explain it all to her yourself? I’m sure this is very draining for you :(

wotsittoyou · 07/04/2019 14:09

Back away. Try not to 'fall out', because that could affect your relationships with other family members. Just withdraw and avoid her as much as possible.

screamifyouwant · 07/04/2019 14:18

Don't answer the phone as often , don't be as available.
Some people are so self centred , you need to concentrate on yourself.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

spongebob111 · 07/04/2019 14:23

Thank you. I use to have her kids constantly to give her a break and then I thought hey mine are younger and I'm not getting any night time sleep as well as day time sleep so why am I letting her have so much free time when I'm burning myself out... I work too and she doesn't.

I just get sucked in. She likes to make us all feel so guilty. Makes us all feel bad all the time and shes sooooo good at it. I think shes a interesting study

OP posts:
Redcliff · 07/04/2019 17:03

I wouldn't pick up the phone so much - maybe cut it down to twice a week. She sounds draining.

missteddy · 11/04/2019 13:06

@spongebob111 i feel like I really understand what you are going through. I'm 33 weeks pregnant and have anxiety , I'm having a similar problem with my dad, calls and texts everyday and it's always doom and gloom, it's really hard because you can't just cut off family and because we love and care about them, their problems end up feeling like our problems because we worry!
Sorry I have no advice, just thought I'd let you know that you are not alone x

missteddy · 11/04/2019 13:08

Just to add , I have been answering the phone a bit less which sort of helps but then because of my anxiety end up feeling guilty for ignoring him :(

cakeandchampagne · 11/04/2019 13:13

Your primary role is not “eldest sister” anymore.

letsdolunch321 · 11/04/2019 13:14

Absolutely draining, my sister is similar to this always a drama happening. I used to give her guidance but don't bother now as she doesn't appreciate or take any notice of what I have said.

I have learnt to limit my time with her/reply to messages when I am good and ready.

highstresslevels · 11/04/2019 13:23

I have a friend like this. I did actually end up blocking her everywhere for a year or so, she sent me this lengthy email (she set up a new email address to send it- getting round my blocking system!) saying she had changed, she is getting married etc. I got back in touch- literally 4 weeks later, she is back to normal. It is so draining. I wish I had never replied to the email at all.
It must be even harder when it is family! I would be tempted to stop answering your phone to her, just withdraw from her drama. We shouldn't have people in our life that make us feel bad.

spongebob111 · 15/04/2019 18:06

Wow its comforting to know others experience the same thing. Would be much easier to deal with if it was just a friend.

Thank you for your responses everyone, I havent been on for a while.
Things are still the same but I've been having a lot of me time, my phone is broken so I'm having lots of peace and I only have 4 weeks left till my due date so I'm enjoying time with my kids before my house is wild again lol

OP posts:
maddieharrison · 15/04/2019 18:24

@highstresslevels i have a work friend like this too. She has been through a lot and I've supported her as much as I can even though I've just had my first baby and had complications during birth. She repaid my kindness by telling my husband (me and my DH both work with her) on my birthday that I rely on him too much and need to get out more and sort myself out (I'm on maternity leave, with no sleep and a new baby and recovering from surgery after birth - my DH has supported me a lot regarding the jobs around the house / shopping etc). I've started to distance myself as a result.
OP please relax and enjoy your last four weeks of pregnancy. Try to slowly detach from her. I hope things go well for you and your family. People always see attention seekers for who they are.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page