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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not do anything about ex friend in abusive relationship

5 replies

rumandbiscuits · 01/12/2019 08:39

Not sure whether this was the correct place to post really. I'm at a loss of what to do or if it's really my place to do anything and would appreciate some advice.

A little background I have a friend (ex friend now unfortunately) we met in school at 15 and were friends for around 10 years until things went a bit wrong. I will call her S for the sake of this thread. S has had a very turbulent life, her Mum was in an abusive relationship when she was growing up (S's ex step dad) so she was obviously exposed to a lot of violence. Luckily her Mum managed to escape when S was around 15/16 but moved away so she then had to move in with her Dad. When she was 16 her DS was diagnosed with cancer (her sister was only a year older than us and was part of our friendship group so they were very close). She then went a bit off the rails and started taking drugs and running away from home, hanging out with the wrong crowd and I stopped hearing from her. Fast forward about a year she got back in touch, she had been having substance misuse support and realised in order to change her ways she needed to start hanging around with people who didn't take drugs, we all welcomed her back with open arms and our friendship continued.

Unfortunately her DS battled on and off with cancer for 8 years going in and out of remission and everytime giving us hope she was cured and then it would return. She died 3 years ago and it wasn't a very pleasant death she was in a lot of pain and was on his deathbed for 3 weeks, S was by her side the whole time and was there when she took her last breath (which again was a pretty traumatic thing for her to witness as it wasn't peaceful.) S has obviously been hugely effected by her death and I think has PTSD.

Since her death she has gone completely off the rails again, completely understandable. She has been a very difficult person to remain friends with although I have tried very hard. Last year I had a pretty traumatic time myself with PND and was suicidal. Therefore I stopped messaging her/checking up on her and she made no effort to contact me either. From then our friendship has fizzled out completely which I am sad about but I can't force someone to remain friends with me and I did feel I needed to start surrounding myself with positive friends and not keep trying to save her when I don't think she wants to be saved. We still have a mutual friend (who also takes drugs although not as much as S does and this I think is the only reason their friendship has been maintained) so I still hear about her and what she's up to.

Here comes to why I am so worried. S works within a SS team and therefore deals with vulnerable children for a living (when she actually turns up to work). She uses cocaine and alcohol from Friday through to Sunday and has been known to also use through the week but the following day isn't able to go into work. She is in a relationship with someone who also uses massively. This week they have been on a 'session' and her OH has turned very violent and beat her, and smashed her house up, amongst saying some pretty awful things to her about her sister. She feared for her life and called the police (who weren't very helpful) by the time they turned up her OH had fallen asleep so they left her. Anyway the next day she threw him out and ended there relationship.

Now she has found out she is pregnant and taken him back. It's a disaster. We haven't spoken for a few months and aren't on awful terms. Is there anything I can do to help? She is a clever person she knows the risks of staying with an abusive person and the harm it will bring to a child to grow up in that environment. She has worked with DV victims through work and has also done the freedom programme due to work. She also isn't in denial she knows he's abusive she has admitted that to my friend but it's almost like she's wants to hurt or punish herself. I feel so helpless.

OP posts:
rumandbiscuits · 01/12/2019 08:40

Sorry it's such a long post. I just didn't want to start drip feeding through the post.

OP posts:
RosieLancs · 01/12/2019 09:02

Firstly I'd be making her job aware of the drug taking etc, she's working with very vulnerable people and not doing her job properly. People are suffering because of her.
A quick Google will give you the details of the head of social services at the council she works with.
It might sound like a harsh thing to do but I've worked in social services and the delays and mistakes caused by poor social workers is horrendous.
Write her bosses a clear concise letter outlining the facts and your concerns, then they can keep an eye on her case work and try and support her. A good manager will take your concerns seriously.

As for your friend, ring a DV support line and talk through your concerns with them, they will be able to offer you guidance of how to help her and support her.

I can fully understand not wanting to involve yourself in her car crash of a life but at least let her know the door is always open and she can turn to you if she needs you.
From the sounds of things she needs help with her mental health issues, getting her to accept that help though is another thing and often people refuse until they hit a real crisis point.

rumandbiscuits · 01/12/2019 18:44

Thank you so much for your reply @RosieLancs
I agree that her manager needs to know what is going on but I would just like to stay announcement in the whole thing.
Her OH has a very nasty family who wouldn't think twice about taking 'revenge' and I need to ensure I protect myself and my family over everything else. He is dangerous and I am very scared for her and now her unborn child Sad
I will take your advice and speak to a DV support group.
Thanks again for your reply.

OP posts:
getitright222 · 01/12/2019 18:53

It sure would be nice if you could help but unfortunately it is very difficult when drug use is involved. the incident you describe about the row and the police doing very little would for sure be because it is a domestic drug use " both as bad as each other " situation with him asleep they would see that any immediate threat has passed.
using form Friday through to sunday is a horrible way that this partnership survives and the having him back would revolve around this drug use for the both of them ...
baby or no baby ...you can help by being distant from it because at some point she will need some one who is not involved ...telling on her to people who employ her would not help your friendship as lots of people do that , the manager may even know . steer clear , lay low and get on with your own priorities , sad though it is this may pass ...or it may not ..

rumandbiscuits · 01/12/2019 20:05

@getitright222 that's worried me if I speak to her workplace then it will be unforgivable to her behalf and our friendship will be over forever. I am holding hope that she will reach out to me like she did last time she went into a drug spiral and ask for help to get out of it. Although this time I fear she is too far in it to be able to get out. Very sad situation Sad

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