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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not see the point (long)

56 replies

LEMmingaround · 06/09/2014 10:20

I don't see the point of me, i don't see the point of anything. Please don't feel you need to respond, or evenread this

I try so hard, i really do - but what i am is a lazy good for nothing drain on my family.

DD back at school - so i'll get a job (except that wont happen because i'm useless and it must show because i can't get anything, so is it even worth trying?)

I was hoping to start a small business but have come to realise that i just don't have what it takes - i have zero money, a bad credit rating, people have pointed out to me that wont use me because i can't drive so would not be trusted with their dogs (dog walking business) as i can't take them to the vets. So thats another fuck up, before i even start.

I live in a shit hole of a house, there is stuff everywhere, i was determined that i was going to declutter the place after the holidays but i spent the whole day yesterday trying to sort out the living room but i lose concentration, i just ended up wiht jobs half done, so half did the washing up, got distracted by the washing on the line, did that but then got distracted by dogs poo that needed cleaning, so cleaned poo, went into living room started picking up wrappers etc, so washing not folded, other washing left in garden, washing up going cold in the sink - couldn't even think about loading the dishwasher as it fries my nerves.

Then a knock at the door from a "heavy" from the mortgage company, we are one month in arrears, we pay extra every month to cover it, every month we pay the extra and the arrears are coming down - every time dp rings up to pay we are told different things, we need to set up an "arrangement" oh no, as its such a low amount just carry on as you are, we will send you letters but thats all. So then yesterday i open the door to a highly intimidating man asking for my DP and refusing to discuss it with me. Dp clearly wasn't going to be in at that time (he works - like most people with mortgages do during the day!) he was sneering and wouldn't let me past him to fetch my dogs who he had let out on the street because he left the gate open. I asked him to wait while i rang my dp but he wouldnt, he just laughed at me and said you;ll just have to wait for a letter now wont you. I lost it of course, had to get dp home from work, who phoned the mortgage company and was told it was because we wouldnt make an official arrangement to pay the arrears - err, that was because we were told not to bother. That is ALL they had to do, make the payments that we are making on top official - instead they send a thug roung my house to intimidate me. They say they will investigate our complaint but really? they will probably be having a laugh at the nutter who was begging to get her dogs in from the street. I know you will flame me for not having my dogs under control but i didn't have time to grab them as the man was trying to get in. they are only jack russels so slipped out and he had left the gate open.

So that was it, the rest of the day i was like a zombie out of my face on diazepam, i hadnt had to take it for a while so it always fucks me up when i take it.

What is even the point? every day i struggle, some days i kid myself that i'll turn a corner but that makes it hurt more to be honest, like i tantalize myself with a vision of how it could be, if only i could get a job or sort myself out. Now im back to square one - what is the point of sorting the house out, we wont be staying here. They willl take our house at the first opportunity and dd will be taken into care as we wont be able to find anywhere else to live.

My DD is dyslexic and we have booked her in for extra tuition after school but i have no idea where we are going to find the money for this. I just fooled myself that i would get a job by this time. She is already picking up my anxieties and has OCD traits. This is because of me. My oldest DD hardly ever calls and is jealous of her younger sister. There is a big age gap.

So not only do i not bring anything to this familyy - no money, no domestic use, i cause them problems - DP had to come home from work twice this week, once to sort out my mother who was kicking off with the council workers. Then to sort of the pig from the mortgage company - had i been more assertve i would have just told him to piss off and let dp sort it out later on. As it stands they have now an official arrangement in place that gives us a bit of flexibility on pay dates which is useful as dp is self employed and money is erratic. His business is really picking up which is good but this has knocked him back - he has hardly spoken to me and got out of bed at 7am today when we usually grab a bit of a lie in together.

The only reason i am alive is my DD who i adore but now she is back at school. .She doesn't need me really, i think i take from her life rather than add to it, but i don't want her to be THAT child, the one that mummy left her.

I know this is all self pitying shit but it just seems that no matter how hard i try, something happens to kick me back down. Where i belong.

Thankyou for even reading this, i don't expect any replies

OP posts:
LEMmingaround · 06/09/2014 11:50

I do need to do it on my own - heavens if i walked into my house i would have a great time chucking everything out, but would find it so stressful for someone to do that, i will do a little bit more this week. It has to be chucking stuff out rather than moving it from one room to another.

OP posts:
furcoatbigknickers · 06/09/2014 11:55

Re the household, i find setting the timer for an hour and blitzing helps, them rest for 15 minutes and for again. A list would be good, only do whats on the list and tick it off as you go, love that feeling.

furcoatbigknickers · 06/09/2014 11:55

Also can you fill a bag a day with stuff to go.

MyFirstName · 06/09/2014 11:58

Rubbish at emotional stuff but good at pragmatic stuff.

You do not need a car for dog walking! How often would Vet visits be needed anyway? You explain to your clients if an emergency vets visit you would call them to discuss whether they wish to come home or happy for you to use a taxi. Simples. The lack of car for Vets visits is now a non-issue.

As for getting to clients - do you own a bike? Cycle to the clients house.

You can do it.

And you cannot chuck everything out in one go - no-one could. Unless they worked in a ridiculous TV programme. 7 items a day.

Flowers
LittleBearPad · 06/09/2014 12:13

You poor chick. You're giving yourself a hard time.

I think the dog walking is a great plan.

I also think a GP visit is a goos plan.

I would have been scared by a horrible intimidating man. You did the right thing by calling DH.

Thanks
fluffydressinggown · 06/09/2014 12:50

I absolutely do NOT want to slap you LEM you are trying your hardest and that is something to celebrate. I won't repeat myself about the GP so I will just say - take care of yourself x

LuisSuarezTeeth · 06/09/2014 12:51

Perfectly ok to feel crap sometimes. You say you can't cope with anything - but you have done and you are doing. Give yourself more credit!

I can cope with any number of crises - at the time. When it's over is when I get all flummoxed by the simple things, which I'm sure there's a proper name for but I can't think what. Sort of like a delayed reaction.

One of my clients has a dog walker who doesn't drive and she does just fine. If I wanted someone to walk my dog, the last thing I'd think of was if you had a car. Cos you're walking the dog, not driving it Wink

With regard to the house, I'm helping my friend do one room at a time. The sitting room is now "sacred ground" and the kitchen is half done. To be blunt, I doubt your home is anywhere near as bad as my friend's. It got so bad she just felt powerless to deal with it, but I found it easy, simply because it's not mine.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 06/09/2014 12:55

Is it the Flylady thing that says work in 15 minute bursts? That has stuck with me and it is quite effective. Otherwise I get distracted/bored etc.

Tittifilarious · 06/09/2014 13:03

Oh love, sorry you're having to deal with so much at once. It'd floor anyone.

Lots of wonderful, pragmatic advice above but can I say on a personal level that while I don't always agree with your posts, you always come across as very honest and likeable. They are wonderful qualities and I'm sure you're very much valued by the people around you in RL.

allypally999 · 06/09/2014 13:04

I used to be a rotweiler too but am a big chicken now ... how old are you? could it be your hormones too?

I understand feeling you have lost yourself ... I got myself back briefly then lost it again and am now on more drugs which haven't kicked in quite yet but hope to be myself again soon.

Like you I have no reason to be depressed, we too own our house so no money worries. I have always been low in confidence and self-esteem so my hormones had somewhere negative to start. I try not to beat myself up about it as its not my fault, just like its not yours.

Hope this thread is helping .. its good to know we are all the same really isn't it? x

pluCaChange · 06/09/2014 14:30

But the dog-walking sounds great! Exercise and money and purpose- fantastic. You might even be able to add - as a separate round, if you need to keep the dogs separate from that sort of work - leaflet-dropping/ paper delivery.

As for the matter of sorting your way out of your other crises:

  • who doesn't have clutter problems? It all gets on top of us with only the slightest disruption, in some cases. DS and I had food poisoning on Thursday night, and that caused a BIG interrelated pile-up: lots of laundry (sheets and clothes) in addition to the three normal loads I had queued up beforehand; carpet cleaning (ugh); and i missed the rubbish and recycling on Friday morning. That is from ONE NIGHT'S worth of upset. For what it's worth, I find the packaging and recycling are my biggest sources of clutter (which is mad, because these are, by definition, things you can and are supposed to get rid of!)
  • I was really shocked to read your post, as you have always struck me as an articulate, mentally-organised person. You seem to be distracted by detail, but once you have blitzed the clutter, I'm sure that the rest will fall into place, because clutter seriously gets in the way of another point to keep in mind is that, according to a friend of mine, who studies the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, educated and articulate people tend to benefit in particular, because such people are used to method and writing things down and other habits conducive to systematic rewriting of one's emotional responses (to stress, depressed thoughts, etc.). Sorry if that's a bit simplistic.
WobblyHalo · 06/09/2014 14:46

LEM, just wanted to say that I'm thinking of. I really, totally get how you feel. I am not far from that.
The advice on here has been good. I will also follow it xxx

Kitsmummy · 06/09/2014 14:50

LEM I too was coming on to say carry on with the dog walking, you really don't need a car to do it. I use a dog walker and it would never have occurred to me that they need a car in case of vets.

Kitsmummy · 06/09/2014 14:51

And along with the dog walking, how about animal holiday care - eg you visit their house, feed cats, rabbits etc

Thumbwitch · 06/09/2014 14:53

(((hugs))) LEM
You do know your DD will always need you, lovely. And your DP. And your family.

I recognise and empathise with a lot of the feelings you've described - but you are still a valuable and important person. xx

petalsandstars · 06/09/2014 14:57

Re the dog walking - my DPs have a dog walker occasionally who does drive but will not take any dogs in their car so walks only ever start and finish at the DPs house. They (DPs) take the dog to the vets themselves when required.

BeerTricksPotter · 06/09/2014 15:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dolallytats · 06/09/2014 15:15

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. I don't think I can add much to what others have already said.

Practical advice: Lists are your friend when it comes to tidying up or clearing out. I make a daily list of jobs that need doing and tick them off as I get them done. Trying to remember them was sometimes difficult and overwhelming. And seeing the ticks mounting up as the jobs are completed is a really nice feeling.

Tackle one room/corner of a room at a time when it comes to clearing out. Make sure you have a good stock of binbags/boxes for charity shop so that it doesn't all pile up in another corner.

I think the dog walking idea sounds great.

Please don't think you are useless. I know how easy it is to feel like that. I am agoraphobic so am unable to work or take my poor children pretty much anywhere. It gets me down and I feel like a waste of space and useless member of society on a daily basis. However, I know my children would rather have me as I am than not at all. Although DH doesn't understand the anxiety/agoraphobia, he wouldn't manage without me.

Flowers
LEMmingaround · 06/09/2014 16:39

Dolally that sounds difficult. Thanks

Just spent the day building a lego house with dd. From a kit so bloody complicated. Frustrating as she doesn't quite do it right then argues. My nerves are shot to buggery :( dp getting frustrated as he wants out.

OP posts:
magimedi · 06/09/2014 18:03

Lego used to drive me totally bonkers! DS used to get sets that were really beyond him & wanted me to help, but hated it at the same time.

You have my sympathy!

chocolaterainbow · 06/09/2014 18:27

Shit, LEM. I've been there too. It's a terrible feeling helpless and useless, and trapped. But not all days will be as bad, and there's no use in thinking what you could have done differently with that twat of a baliff. It's done, focus on today. Focus on little things one at a time :) I'm sure you're an awesome mum and wife, you obviously care about your DD so how awful could you really be? You sound depressed, trust me I've been there over and again. I choose not to take antidepressants but you could talk to your GP as other suggested, that's your decision.

Do you want some advice? Focus on one task at a time, write a list if it helps so you can tick next to it once it's done - that helps me 'cause I like to feel proud of my little achievements (and some might seem pathetic but oh I hate housework so bloody much so each crappy task is listed separately for maximum ticking potential haha).

If you're on benefits you can get a loan to start a business through the job centre (the rates aren't great but it's something), they'll also help with a business plan and give you lots of advice. If you're not on JSA a quick Google should bring up into on other organisations that do the same/similar in your area. Job searching can be depressing but cast your net far and wide, keep trying :) hopefully something will come up. Maybe consider some volunteer work in the time being if you have the time - it'd help you feel more valuable as a person, it certainly has for me anyway.

I feel really sorry for you, having been there myself. Hope things get better for you soon

chocolaterainbow · 06/09/2014 18:28

Dollytats - sorry didn't see your post just there, lists FTW! :)

glenthebattleostrich · 06/09/2014 18:55

Re the business...

I'm a childminder. Lots of people said it'd be a waste of time setting up because I don't drive. Said how would I get kids out and about, what if I need to get one to the docs etc. 3 years later I'm full and I have a waiting list. Pop a card in the local shop window or a few leaflets through some doors. Offer a pet feeding service or doggy daycare perhaps?

And yes. Write a list and allocate 15 minutes every hour to doing 1 thing from the list. Include a couple of things for you on there too - a short walk, a bath, read a book. Whatever helps you feel happier.

PistolWhipped · 06/09/2014 19:09

LEM, go back and see your GP; I suspect you could be prescribed something much more tailored to you. Ask for counselling, too. I really wish you all the best and I think you should come back sometime in the future and let us know how you're getting on Thanks

P.s..I think medi was lovely to offer practical help.

LEMmingaround · 06/09/2014 19:39

Yes it really was very kind. We live too far aapart. My lovely friend who is having chemo keeps threatening to come and help me. The irony being i keep doing the same with her. Its funny how other peoples houses are easy.

One day at a time. I am going to design some flyers on monday and talk to the insurance company if i have the energy. Thats enough for one day.

Dp thinks i should just get a job and wants me to stand down as pfa secretary but dd was distraught at the idea.

OP posts: