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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask the evil witch to forgive me and come back into my life?

58 replies

Stuck38 · 28/09/2018 18:37

My mother. She disowned me. I have spent 8 years in purgatory and never felt so alone and worthless in my life, and I've felt like that all my life. I never understood how it felt to feel empty inside until this. It goes right to the bone.

I have been in a deep (but functional as have DC) depression and I know it will never lift until I either make my peace with it or have her back in my life. I'm isolated, don't trust anyone, can't look strangers in the eye.

I've tried to make peace with me being better off without her. After all this time I'm still trying. My life is slipping by and I'm too old to waste anymore of it.

She is pure evil though, broke me as a kid, discarded me like trash as an adult and made me truly suicidal. What she did is unforgivable BUT does it matter if I feel better having her disgusting toxicity in my life?

OP posts:
GretchenFranklin · 28/09/2018 19:35

Don't do it, OP. Here have these instead FlowersFlowers

MarcieBluebell · 28/09/2018 19:35

I relate. People say it's like grieving but because the person is still there it's so hard to move on. It's such emotional pain. You have been so strong and brave op for so long. It's normal to need some support. I hope you have support in rl? Is there anything you want to tell her?

toxic44 · 28/09/2018 19:35

This might sound callous but I honestly think you would be better off treating your mother as if she had died.

That is called self-preservation. My SO had a very destructive relationship with his mother that has damaged him for life. Five years ago she disowned him (on Christmas Day morning) by email. It almost destroyed him. Then one day he said aloud. 'My mother has died. My mother is dead.' He repeated it very vehemently several times. Every time previously he had grovelled, apologised, done everything to win a scrap of approval; the result was she treated him worse than ever. Since that Christmas, he hardly speaks of her and when he does it is in the past tense. It took ages but he is coming to himself at last. OP, going back, humiliating yourself et al is not the answer. Amputation hurts but gangrene kills you. Set yourself free.

Blackness78 · 28/09/2018 19:38

You want her approval. That is all any child really wants.

So it's not surprising that you feel like this as an adult. The thing is, even if she is in your life, you will never get that approval just more negativity.

So maybe you'll have to accept that she will never be the person you need her to be.

You cannot change her.

Missingstreetlife · 28/09/2018 19:40

The best revenge is a happy life. Don't contact her, be strong, it will improve. You are grieving the good mother you never had and never will have. Don't let her hurt you again. Find good people to love you, and most of all take care of yourself.

SomeKnobend · 28/09/2018 19:49

On the basis that being in contact with her left you suicidal, I'd say absolutely do not let her back in contact, at all, under any circumstances. Certainly don't go inviting or grovelling. Get some really decent therapy to find out why you're even contemplating it.

nearlythesummer · 28/09/2018 19:51

I can’t imagine what you’ve been through and are currently going through. Perhaps write a letter to say what you feel you need to say and leave it at that. You need to protect yourself, with love and support which I doubt she can offer.

letallthechildrenboogie · 28/09/2018 19:52

I agree with BobbyBear. It's what I've done and I haven't seen my parents for 20 years. I mourn the relationship I once had with them but they very nearly destroyed me and I will not let my mother into my life to do the same to my children.

myphoneisgone · 28/09/2018 19:54

I mean this in a kind way. If your self worth and happiness depends on being in contact with your mother you won't feel happy and you won't have self worth.

I was never close to my family, which only consisted of parents and a sibling. My close relationship was with my husband, who was the only person in the world I felt truly comfortable with. It has taken a long time to realise that he is an emotionally abusive and manipulative man (quite like my father). Emotionally disconnecting from my husband has been very painful and left me with a type of deep loneliness it is hard to describe. It is a sort of existential aloneness. But even then, I know that allowing him back in emotionally will be even worse. How could ever respect myself? Instead I am working on making friends with myself. I talk to myself. When I am feeling shit, I have a kind alter ego who speaks compassion to me. Maybe there is another way than getting in touch with someone who will always be against you and never on your side.

M3lon · 28/09/2018 19:58

no OP. If she didn't value you or make you happy before, why on earth do you think she would now?

You need to find a way to feel valued in loved that has nothing to do with this person who cannot provide that.

You can't fix her, you can only work on yourself.

AcrossthePond55 · 28/09/2018 20:14

I know you feel pain now, but if you ask her back into your life you may be trading one sort of pain for another. It's a devil's bargain and usually one that has no winner.

Do you mind saying what caused your mum to disown you? It might help us give you more helpful advice.

Cailleachian · 28/09/2018 20:23

Dont let her back in. I speak from experience.

I had a terrible relationship with my mother, left home at 16 and went very low contact, but always played the dutiful daughter at family functions - a decade later when I was in a much better place there were a number of deaths in the family. I (stupidly) decided under pressure from family and friends that it all wasnt really so bad and that I should really grow up and construct a functional adult relationship with her

I put so much work into that relationship, and for a few years it was fine...so long as I jumped to her every whim and reorientated my life around hers. When problems surfaced in my own life, I remembered the realisation I had at 8 years old - that there was no problem in the world that was so bad that my mother could not make worse.

I went no contact with her ten years ago after her controlling behaviour spiralled out of control to the extent that I had to get the police involved, she has spent the last decade actively trying to destroy my life, under the guise of "concern". My general paranoia that she is watching me, waiting for me round corners and working in the shadows to harm me is back....but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean she isn't out to get me.

I totally get that feeling of wanting to reconcile, wanting to her to hear you, wanting her to understand you and understand how her behaviour has made you feel and to hear her say "sorry", but its not going to happen...and holding on to the possibility that it might if only you could find the right time, the right words, the right place only prolongs the limbo....again... its not going to happen.

I had counselling at 17 and it helped (....but being 400 miles away from her and not giving her my address or phone number helped more ;) ). Try reading "Will I Ever Be Good Enough" by Karyl McBride. Also I had "stayawayfrommother" as my work login password for a while, so that I had to type it out everyday as a reminder, which really helped.

Stuck38 · 28/09/2018 20:28

It's not just my mother though. It's my whole family, 30+people. My DCs cousins, kids I babysat for and refused to even accept gifts I sent them for their weddings. Obviously not invited. They won't even speak to my adult DC who has contacted them herself.

I know the depression is reactive and perfectly normal but I still can't let go after 8 years so how will I ever be able to? This is a massive thing in my DCs family history too. It will have long lasting impacts.

The being addicted to stress struck a chord, very good! I am always stressed and I recognise that I create that deliberately, albeit subconsciously, myself.

I am pretty sure I have PTSD but was diagnosed with OCD, the intrusive thoughts were in direct relation to what my mother used to tell me I was a child. I have suffered the traumatic death of a baby at birth too but never had any help for that until I had treatment for the OCD. My very first therapist told me that I should confront my mother which is what started all this. It should have been empowering but it turned out the repercussions were much worse that I ever imagined in her disowning me and telling my siblings to do so too.

My DD has had contact with my mother (and only her, mother has not opened the gateway for her to contact my siblings) which is a massive bone of contention but I understand she is entitled to her own feelings and I don't want to feel guilty.

My siblings all have normal lives and they ditched me without a second thought, which is where the worthlessness comes from, notwithstanding my mother doing it too, if people who've known me all my life can do that then what is the point of making friends who'll potentially do the same too?

I suspect I'm hoping that I go back into the family fold and my mother realises what she did and apologises and all the stars line up and bam, my self esteem starts building but that's not going to happen. She's deeply damaged and narcissistic. I understand why now and I know her well enough not to be mindfucked (that's exactly it) again. She would never see my younger DC without me being present.

Urgghh, no more therapy. I've spent thousands. Waited 3 years for OCD treatment at a specialist centre which massively helped.

The premise was letting go of the brick wall and believing it is strong enough that it won't fall down. To apply that to my self identity as a whole is terrifying. I don't know who I am, what if I am actually a monster like I was taught I was? Easier to keep the status quo and go back to being mummy's little scapegoat? Lots to mull over.

Thanks again everyone.

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 28/09/2018 20:39

I'm so sorry you feel like this.

Getting in touch with her will not make you feel better. It will make her worse.

You have associated how you feel with her, that she can make you feel better. Truth is, the damage is done. She can't give you back the childhood you should have had, even if she wants to.

You need to focus on healing yourself and your children, knowing that you are safer without those people in your life.

Stuck38 · 28/09/2018 21:23

That's the thing. I don't feel safe. I have been terrified ever since I 'disrespected' my mother that my stepfather or my siblings would come and get me. I was threatened by a brother that someone may want to harm me. The terror that came over me after I first stood up for myself was unbelievable. Its a very childish fear and I can rationalise that.

My mother admitted that when I left home and moved 50 miles away as a teenager that she had someone keeping an eye on me. That's was why they didn't need to contact me apparently Shock.

Better to go back so I'm out in the open?

It's a living nightmare, really. I don't deserve it and I'm can't carry on living like it. My DC must sense it although on the outside I'm perfectly normal (even intimidating so I've been told). They notice that I don't chat to the school mums though and have no friends, not since secondary school. I have a DH of 25 years who was shocked by my family's reaction as much as I was, (they always put on a front to outsiders) our relationship has suffered badly as well but we're still hanging on. He never knew about the childhood stuff until it all came out after at least 16 years together. He has been resentful that I hid that I was damaged goods in a sense. He met me when I was completely disassociative to what had gone on in my childhood. Can't blame him really. He didn't sign up for this.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 28/09/2018 21:34

Based on your most recent post, please don't contact her. It will serve absolutely no purpose and only add to your pain.

I do think you need further counseling to gain peace and the acceptance that she will never be what you want her to be.

FruitCider · 28/09/2018 21:51

You are grieving for the relationship you should have had, I get it because I felt the same with my dad. I cut him in and out of my life so many times and each time my mood spiralled lower.

Then... he developed terminal cancer and died.

I dug deep during those last 2 months so he could die thinking we had rebuilt our relationship.

In reality I don't miss him at all.

It's ok to grieve for what you should have had, be kind to yourself x

CSIblonde · 28/09/2018 22:18

It will never be any different. She won't change. Do you think its good for your mental health to put yourself thru it again? Ive been NC 25yrs & only twice considered another try. My therapist was unable to hide his horror, so that was a massive red flag so I didn't & I'm glad: it'd got so abusive that it would've been totally humiliating to do the expected grovelling.

picklemepopcorn · 28/09/2018 22:35

Could you move and not tell anyone where you are? Would that reassure you?

Have you done the Freedom Programme? It sounds as though there is major coercion going on.

myphoneisgone · 29/09/2018 09:03

I am so sorry that therapist gave you that terrible advice. I am very against the blanket idea that seems to have permeated society (and a lot of therapy) that you need to talk to sort things out and move forward. You can only talk to people who are willing to listen, and willing to listen openly, and with the potential to be changed by what you say. Trying to talk to people who are not willing to listen is extremely destructive and painful as you (and I) have dicovered.

myphoneisgone · 29/09/2018 09:06

And you are not what your mother told you. She is, as you say, an evil witch. Don't believe her lies. Abusive people always blame their victim for their own abusive behaviour.

myphoneisgone · 29/09/2018 09:07

If you try to go back you always face the possibility that she won't let you. How will you feel then?

Stompythedinosaur · 29/09/2018 09:08

She will not change and contacting her will hurt you more in the long run. You would be better trying to build up other relationships in you life that are less toxic, do you have any good friends?

Broken11Girl · 29/09/2018 09:10

Flowers No, love, do NOTallow her back into your life. You'll be fine. Please get mh help.

DaniC18 · 29/09/2018 09:15

I think given you need to be surrounded by positive, caring people who will contribute to your wellbeing. Your mum sounds toxic and I think having her in your life would be detrimental to your mental health. Try and join a group, are there mindfulness groups etc in your area? That would possibly allow you to make new friends who treat you properly and also hell you feel better.
I haven't spoken to my dad since I was 14 due to the sever domestic abuse he inflicted on my mum and stopped speaker to my sister 3 years ago because of how verbally abusive she was go me. You are better off without some family and dont owe her anything x

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