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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think I’ve really arsed my life up beyond repair?

324 replies

sandiebeech · 12/10/2018 09:11

I’ve made so many bad decisions and they’ve led me to where I am now. I regret it.

OP posts:
fifithefoof · 12/10/2018 16:28

I bet a bunch of you were posting world mental health day memes a few days ago. Hmm

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 12/10/2018 16:37

fifi a lot of us have been there down that if you read the thread.

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 12/10/2018 16:37

done that

LethalWhite · 12/10/2018 16:38

fifithefoof - I don't understand, OP is saying that she isn't depressed. The posters who think she might be have been generally supportive. The ones who've challenged OP are entitled to do so as long as it's within guidelines. It's AIBU FFS

Stop projecting.

hallodarknessmyoldfriend · 12/10/2018 16:52

You mentioned a couple of times that you are not depressed.

However, everything you said so far screams depression. Especially the numb part and thinking your life is beyond repair.

I hope you'll seek help and feel better soon, OP Flowers

Depression comes in many shapes and forms. You can't lose anything by trying therapy / talking to your GP about it.

It's not normal to feel like this constantly.

FrenchJunebug · 12/10/2018 16:56

I think we all feel like that to one extant: I wish I bough a flat in 1995 when I first came to London, I wish I left my ex boyfriend much earlier, I wish I wish.....It doesn't help to wish for what is already done (or not done) but it can be useful to reflect why the bad decisions where made so that they are not repeated.

fifithefoof · 12/10/2018 17:05

There are some spiteful comments.

What she's saying is in essence depression. I dislike the armchair Freds too but I really think you are depressed op.

I suffered from smiling depression for years. There was no crying so much as just feeling like there was no way out, no chance of a good future ahead of me. Not a single person would have known it though, I was the life and soul.

Roomba · 12/10/2018 17:12

I'm sort of glad this thread was posted today. Even if people are getting frustrated with OP, I read a lot of things that I needed to read right now and it's helped me even if it hasn't helped OP. Some good advice here that I shall be trying to take instead of feeling there's no hope for me atm.

Thank you for the wise words, I needed them!

Roomba · 12/10/2018 17:17

And yes, this really is depression. I have struggled with it myself and recognise the logic so well. I wouldn't have said I was depressed either, just that I was being realistic. I saw advice as well meaning platitudes that wouldn't actually work for me in reality, as lovely as that would be. I functioned fine day to day and didn't sit crying either. I wasn't in a black despair as such, I just thought everyone else had no idea how the world really worked and that their advice only worked for the lucky few. I was wrong but it took my depression improving to see that.

ICantBelieveIDidThis · 12/10/2018 17:20

I'm with the OP, actually.

There are some things there's no coming back from.

Compound these decisions over time and there comes a point where you look back, see the mess you've made of the chances you were given and realise that the life you wanted or the career you wanted is lost for good.

It gets to a point where, regardless of your 'potential', the best you can manage is a dead end job, single parenthood, a minimum wage job or some combination of all three and more.

Comiserations OP.

MinaPaws · 12/10/2018 17:35

ICant - it's true that you can look back on yoru life with deep regrets and realise you made mistake after mistake that have got you where you are now and that have closed some doors forever. But there's no reason to think that because of that you can't improve the current state of your life. Even changing from fixed, defeatist mindset to open and positive mindset would be a massive improvement, and there;s no reason anyone can't do that, though many people won't.

dolphinhusband · 12/10/2018 17:40

It's clear lots of you have (luckily and thankfully) never experienced terrible depression or been near it and I've reported quite a few comments

I have, really badly, but guess what? I did something about it. I definitely didn't come on here to whinge and claim nothing can be done and refuse any help from well meaning people

sandiebeech · 12/10/2018 17:46

I’m not depressed ...

OP posts:
MinaPaws · 12/10/2018 17:46

OP I really DO sympathise, and am sorry if all the suggestions are frustrating you.

I've suffered chronic depression for years. It lands on me, like a massive wall has spring up between me and the world I want to live in. It got so bad that I was bedbound for a year,. In that year I achieved nothing at all. No social life, failed mature student uni, earned about 6k all year. I felt like a lump of gristle that didn't deserve to breathe.

I decided to take an entire year out of my life. Commit to nothing (except bare minimum work to get by) and try anything and everything I could to feel better. I did. It took four months before I felt anything at all. But by May I was starting to feel alive, by June I was active and dynamic - making proper changes in my life. By september - there;s no point in saying because it sounds like a trashy movie, but the most incredible changes had come about, stuff I couldn't have dreamed of.

Life didn't stay that good. It dipped back down. And it's wobbled along ever since. But I know what to do now. I know what can and will work, and I won't ever let myself feel that useless and pointless and valueless and disappointing to the world ever again. I blew opportunity after opportunity, lost so many friends and colleagues because I was so lacklustre. But now life is good. It really is.

You have the advantage (from the sound of it) that you don't have any children at the moment, so you don;t have that responsibility. You are free to dedicate a lot of time to yourself, to feeling better, stronger, happier, more in control of your life and what you wnat from it. Whenever you feel ready to hear this - whether you believe it or not, you can make changes.

MorrisZapp · 12/10/2018 17:50

Loved the story about the boarding school matron! Think I might run away and become a matron myself.

sandiebeech · 12/10/2018 17:56

Tbh I hope that wasn’t a true story. It disturbed me a little.

OP posts:
bobbinogs · 12/10/2018 18:06

OP my DH has chronic depression, my dad had depression and I have suffered it myself in my twenties. So much of what you are describing, the numbness, the feeling of pointlessness, the grey flat feeling, the anger, the self hatred, the inability to envisage how anything could ever ever be different and the absolute certainty that you are not depressed actually screams depression to me. It really really does.

Just open your mind to that possibility a little bit if you can, it’s an illness that warps your reality. Things could be different, just consider the possibility that you may not be very well and you could feel differently.

But I agree don’t get a dog, they are a f*ing nightmare.....

leafgrass · 12/10/2018 18:13

Tbh I hope that wasn’t a true story. It disturbed me a little.

What did you find disturbing? Sometimes people want an adventure and it is possible some sort of 'live in' job might provide it, if it is the sort of thing you might enjoy.

00100001 · 12/10/2018 18:15

Stop moaning OP.

Snowymountainsalways · 12/10/2018 18:17

You might not be depressed but you do sound quite ungrateful, lots and lots of people have tried to make you feel happier/better/more positive and you haven't uttered as much as a thank you.

Butterymuffin · 12/10/2018 18:26

Why did that story disturb you OP?

Also, if you're not depressed, I'm a Dutchman. (I'm not Wink)

sandiebeech · 12/10/2018 18:29

I’ll try 00 Wink

Disturbing because of the ‘always loved children, especially loved little boys.’ Honestly, yes, I did find it creepy and weird.

I can assure you I’m not depressed. If magically things changed I’d be grand.

OP posts:
Butterymuffin · 12/10/2018 18:33

You seem very resistant to the idea that you could be depressed yet not emotionally volatile.

Richersounds · 12/10/2018 18:34

OP - my beloved sister was a deputy head of a school, owned own flat in London. Well respected. Loving partner of 18 years.

She took up with a wrong’un (parent at the school, abusive arsehole), dumped her partner, developed a TERRIBLE coke and alcohol habit, was reported to the local authority, lost her job, lost her home, lost her credit rating, nearly lost her family. All at the age of 40.

She’s 54 now. Dumped the arsehole. Painfully worked her way back up into a teaching job where she’s loved and respected. Bought a new home. Stopped drinking AND smoking. Made amends to her family. Is genuinely happy and at peace with herself.

I wish happiness and peace to you too. 💐💐💐

sandiebeech · 12/10/2018 18:35

That’s amazing.

I wish her all the best Flowers

OP posts:
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