I need someone to talk to right now....how do I live with myself

[ScottishShortDog]

Over the past year or so I heard and read in the news about poison pen letters. Always thought it was horrible and still do.

Earlier this year, there was some one annoying me. I was going through a hard time in different areas of my life and in a moment of weakness I wrote something and sent it. I wrongly took my frustration out onto someone else and my frustration came out the wrong way. I regretted what I did almost instantly by the way. I decided to put it to the back of my mind.
It's just after coming to light now in recent times. I never knew it was an offence at the time and I don't know what's happening behind the scenes. The person wants a confrontation.

What do you mean — you wrote an anonymous letter saying cruel things to them? And they now know you sent it and want to confront you?

Did you post about this a few days ago OP?

So you didn't sign the letter but they know it was you? Did they know immediately or did someone tell them?

I think you’ve just got to give them the opportunity to say their piece. You should apologise profusely and whatever happens next you need to take on the chin. You did wrong. Don’t try to excuse it to them. Hear what they have to say and learn from it. It might not go as badly as you fear.

They figured it out from a previous genuine mail I sent before.

No, I didn't write about this a few days ago.

I am beside myself.

I’m not buying this. You didn’t know it was ‘an offence’? But you’d spent the past year hearing about poison pen letters in the news? What part of sending unpleasant anonymous letters to people did you think was ok?

At least they want a face to face confrontation and didn't send a spiteful anonomous letter to you making you wary of everyone around you.

Time to face the consequences of your actions.

Personally I would have called the police, so count yourself lucky you're only getting humiliated and told off.

You’ll just have to take what’s coming.

I don’t know what you mean by ‘I don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes’ but I assume you mean you’re afraid they’ll report you to the police? I think they should.

Can you not deny it? Do you have to engage with them at all?

You'll feel better if you take the criticism on the chin.

Don't try to make it about you, or how sad you feel about it. Be honest, be open and trust that this will eventually be over.

If these things are not confonted and dealt with, they fester - and it's way worse than any 'punishment'.

Face it OP, you're not feeling bad about what you did. You're feeling bad about being found out, and having to face the consequences of your actions.

So you've sent an anonymous message to someone where the content is so bad it's breaking the law?

And you've managed to 'live with yourself ' until you've been found out?

What do you want from this thread?

Oh look it's the consequences of my own actions....

I know you are, but you can’t change what you’ve done. All you can do is try to fix it as best you can. You owe this person a huge apology, and frankly the chance for them to get angry with you in return for the bad things you said to them in the letter.

I don’t know how old you are, but your responses seem quite immature. Firstly, in sending the letter in the first place and secondly your wanting to run away and hide from the consequences. You need to behave like an adult now.

Try not to catastrophise. You won’t get sent to prison for one nasty letter. You need to look at why you did this, and make sure you find some healthier way to deal with stress and anger in future.