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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People keep manipulating me into spending time with them

51 replies

Klostro · 07/10/2018 09:03

OK I've NC as this is really outing but I've had enough. I feel really mean for writing this but I just want to know if you think I'm being unreasonable.

It happens all the time. I'm a loner but for some weird reason I seem to attract a certain type of person.

First is my friend C. Shes separated and now divorcing her husband and has two kids and she is constantly on at me. By her own admission she can't stand being alone. But because I'm actually a loner, this is really difficult. She cooks meals and then invites me round to eat and when I say no she says "but I cooked extra for you 😣". She is constantly complaining - I understand her life is complicated but its constant. I introduced her to a friend of mine and she decided to pursue him. He said from the get go he was not interested in a serious relationship. Despite being told again and again by him, and fby him, she continues to get upset every time he is unavailable. I have told her nicely that she needs to learn to appreciate time on her own, and after so many years with her dickhead ex, she needs to stop making men the core focus of her life. Because of this I find her really draining a lot of the time. She needs to be in constant text contact every day. As soon as a conversation starts by text she will try and push me into doing something with her. She had a really minor operation and kept sending texts about how nobody cared enough to go around and see her - so clearly I will "have" to.

I should point out that I know this sounds mean because im ranting here, but I try to do my best my her but its just never enough. It also goes completely counter to who I am as a person. I have lots of other friends where there are no issues - we see ewch other once a week say and no real texting in between. I come away from seeing her feeling drained and deflated.

Its a similar situation with an old woman who lives in the flat below me. A few times I've had long conversations with her in the hallway and she has asked me over for coffee. I understand shes lonely. I have a lot of work on at the moment and also as something of a secret introvert I need a lot of alone time. What the neighbour has started doing is intercepting all my parcels so I have to go around and have a cuppa and collect them.

In both these situations I get it, I really do, and my heart does go out to them hence why things have gone so far. But I'm just getting frustrated now and also resentful as I feel like I'm being used to soothe other people's emotional issues with little regard seemingly for what type of person I am and what I might want. With my friend C, I'm angry as I feel manipulated into a deeper level of friendship than I want.

OP posts:
DayManChampionOfTheSun · 07/10/2018 09:10

Why don't you introduce neighbour to friend c? 😉

SondheimFan · 07/10/2018 09:14

Are you telling these two people clearly that you don’t want the level of engagement they are seeking from you?

DerelictWreck · 07/10/2018 09:15

When friend c says "Oh but I've cooked extra for you" just say "oh no! Sorry I can't make it, let me know before hand next time"?

And with neighbour, when you order parcels make it clear that they are not to be left with her! Or when you go to get the parcels and she says 'come in for a cuppa' just say 'sorry I've got to dash, just need to grab those parcels and get on'.

Set some boundaries OP!

toomuchtooold · 07/10/2018 09:20

You should read some of Captain Awkward, as she has great scripts for these sorts of situations.
I used to be like you and I didn't handle it very well, I eventually just stopped answering the phone to one "friend" who I just didn't have the skills to deal with. Life hardened me and I'm much better at saying "no" these days. My advice with your friend would be to let her make her own mistakes with this mutual friend... well meaning as your advice is, she has to make her own mistakes, and you getting involved in their relationship is only going to backfire on you, no matter how it turns out. With the lady down the stair, can you start picking stuff up in the morning on the way to work or on the way out to somewhere? It is hard to protect your alone time when you're in your own house I know own, as people know where to find you. My other piece of advice is to try, if people invite you to stuff or ask you for favours you don't want to do, try and give them a "no" which is basically "because I don't want to" - "sorry, that won't work for me", or "ah sorry no, I've got too much on" or just "sorry, no." If you give reasons, they will find ways around those reasons, and then you look like more of an arse because it becomes clear that you're just trying to get out of it. If you make it clear from the start that you just don't want to, it's less painful for everybody.

Klostro · 07/10/2018 09:22

@DerelictWreck
But the sad thing is I don't want there to be a next time. I feel like I'm constantly warding off her invites. I know this makes me sound like an utter bitch. But I don't want to have long sessions hearing about her emotional problems and getting dragged into talking about "men" and being urged into picking holes in my DP.
I have three very close friends who I discuss all types of things with, only very occasionally touching on relationships. My less close friendships, its about going down the pub, discussing ideas and having a laugh. Those are the kinds of friendships I enjoy, where we can be there for each other but its not solely about that.
With my friend C I feel like I'm being constantly pushed into this BFF thing where its about constant support and offloading and I just dont want that. I dont know how to back out of it. She sends me walls of text walking me through all her inner turmoil and sadness and its just too much. Now when i open her texts before i even read anything i start feeling stressed.

OP posts:
Klostro · 07/10/2018 09:25

@toomuchtooold
Thank you for your advice, I'm going to read some captain awkward!
So in my post just above I explained more about my friend. So in her ideal world, I would go round her house to eat and stay overnight, and we'd spend hours dissecting "men" and why she feels so sad.
So how am I supposed to deal with this when I just want to keep it light, and down to meeting for coffee or a drink or two? I mean I can't say no every time, can I?!

OP posts:
DerelictWreck · 07/10/2018 09:26

OP just because you say 'let me know before next time' doesn't mean you actually have to go! It just allows you to start distancing yourself.

Until you say 'no', 'that doesn't work for me' or 'not now' for the first time, nothing will change

Villainelle · 07/10/2018 09:27

Just phase your friend out. When she's not getting attention from you she'll find somebody else to moan at befriend.

arethereanyleftatall · 07/10/2018 09:30

The first time I said no to someone (I was 42), I was flabbergasted at how easy it was.

Fairylea · 07/10/2018 09:30

I get you op. I am a complete introvert and I would hate that. You’ll have to be a bit harsh and not reply / even be a bit rude - “oh sorry I forgot”. Etc. Sometimes that’s the only way people get it. Let them think you’re a complete arse, at least they won’t bother you then. Grin

longwayoff · 07/10/2018 09:36

Friend, No, I cant come round, let me know in advance. Dont invite her to your house. Neighbour, No, sorry, got something in oven need to get back. Variations thereof. Friend will soon find another sap, vampires always do. Neighbour - yes, old and lonely. Awful but dont be forced into a commitment you resent. Don't save people. They eventually resent you for it.

sonjadog · 07/10/2018 09:38

I have had a few of these in my life. You really have to toughen up towards them and put firm boundaries in place. They won't suddenly leave you alone so you have to take the initiative.

Ignore the endless texts. You don't have to reply. Ignore the dinners. You don't have to go. She can bitch and moan about it but too bad. Your life is not about pandering to her whims. With your neighbour, you stand on the doorstep, get your parcel and go. If she asks you for coffee, you say no, no time.

rightreckoner · 07/10/2018 09:39

I’m like you in terms of introversion and I’m basically really defended because of this sort of thing. I have friends and then there’s everybody else. No one else gets access.

So in your case I would drop C. Phase her out. You don’t want to spend time with her on her terms and that’s all you are being offered.

With your neighbour I would have no shame in being bright and breezy but saying no to coffee. You don’t want to be her chatty friend so don’t be. Be her polite neighbour.

Cue a whole stream of people saying it’s so important to be kind - well no. They are not being kind to you, are they? They want you for their purposes. Which is fine but you have your own aims to pursue.

sonjadog · 07/10/2018 09:40

Regarding wanting to say no every time, when you aren't feeling so bombarded by her demands, you might actually want to spend some time with her. So just leave that for more and work on the boundaries. When they are in place, you might feel more friendly towards her.

Gersemi · 07/10/2018 09:51

She cooks meals and then invites me round to eat and when I say no she says "but I cooked extra for you"

Easy one to respond to. "That's a shame, if you'd asked me first I could have told you I couldn't come over. Still, you'll have leftovers for another meal, won't you?"

Get your parcels sent to one of those shops where you can collect them so your neighbour can't grab them.

twoshedsjackson · 07/10/2018 09:52

I agree with arethereanyleftatall about how hard the first "no" can be, and how liberating!
Years ago, I received a wedding invitation; normally, I very much up for these celebrations, but for various reasons, this one would have been a strain to be polite iyswim. My polite reply to the RSVP went in the post, and a phone call ensued, trying to persuade me to come. I thought of all the excuses I had fabricated, thought of how I would probably be reluctantly persuaded, took a deep breath, and when asked why I wasn't coming, just said "I don't want to." Stunned silence, then quiet "Oh", then they gave up. What really surprised me was that there was no enormous comeback; they just accepted that my mind was made up and I wasn't a pushover.

Gersemi · 07/10/2018 09:54

So how am I supposed to deal with this when I just want to keep it light, and down to meeting for coffee or a drink or two? I mean I can't say no every time, can I?!

It depends on whether you want to keep the friendship going at some level or not. If you don't, keep saying no and block her calls/texts/messages. If you do, or if you want to let her down gently, suggest meeting up in a café and make it clear you have an appointment to go to around an hour later.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 07/10/2018 10:02

"No."

That's all you need.

You soon find out who you want in your life, and who you don't; who stays, and who leaves.

thighofrelief · 07/10/2018 10:07

I have a friend who's dearest wish is that i go to her house, get in my jammies and keep her company. She's been divorced 15 years and is still constantly complaining about it, even though he's now dead. Vampires don't change, I wish I had cut her off years ago but it would be too traumatic now.

My advice OP is to phase her out by being constantly busy and don't offer any advice to her woes. Just - gotta run, bye.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 07/10/2018 10:14

Tell them straight. I too attract people like this, for some reason, and much prefer my own company. They are draining. The only way is to be straight. Otherwise you end up with a friend deciding your taking her to a ball with you and going and ordering a dress and shoes within an hour of hearing that I'm allowed to take a free guest ConfusedAngrySad how the fuck do I get out of that one? Really don't want her there, she'll piss everyone off and stop me being me

Klostro · 07/10/2018 10:17

So for example this meal she cooked and made extra for me and I said I couldn't. That was yesterday.

So yesterday she says "OK well thats fine I'm just going to freeze it. So when can you come? Monday or Tuesday?"

What the fuck do I say?

She's like "because after the operation I'm now housebound so cant go anywhere to see anyone 😣😣😣😣. I'm tired of all my friends being busy all tje time 😢".

My DP thinks i should just go and have done with it. But again its like but why should I???! Seriously???

OP posts:
Klostro · 07/10/2018 10:20

@thighofrelief
Its so confusing though because you and some others have used the word vampire - thats what it feels like but its hard to accept that because shes always giving me little gifts (when i dont want her to and dont reciprocate) and trying to get me to open up (i dont want to - i work through problems by myself or with one of my very close friends)

OP posts:
Klostro · 07/10/2018 10:22

@TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge
"Stop me being me"

Its so funny you say that. She came over to mine and my DP was there and afterwards she was like "you're not yourself with your DP ypu know, you really go into your shell".

The truth is its because my friendship dynamic with her is so downbeat and based around man bashing that when my DP is added to the mix i just close off. Alone with my DP im myself.

OP posts:
Maelstrop · 07/10/2018 10:22

Ghost friend C. Give her shit excuses as required, too busy, unwell, lots to do, washing your hair, having an alone pamper night.

The neighbour is tricky because avoiding her might be hard, but you can do the whole rushing out/in/distracted/meeting someone. Do Click and Collect, tell the delivery company specifically not to give her parcels. Definitely don’t allow the whole must have a cup of tea every time. Harsh, but I had a neighbour like this and 5he only thing that stopped her was her moving away! Drove me nuts and put a strain on my relationship because my DH hated her.

thighofrelief · 07/10/2018 10:25

TripTrap I have a friend (same one as I mentioned above) she invites herself if there's the slightest opening. I now edit everything I say and even manage to keep holidays abroad secret, it's ridiculous. I once said I was taking my DC sledding and she gushed "oh goody, can you pick me up then!" I just said "no, we want it to be just us". With the ball i would say "oh God Mary, I've made such a cock-up. I made the mistake of mentioning the ball to my mother and she has bought a dress, booked a hotel blah blah. She'll kill me if I don't take her but I know you'll understand"