In august I fell out with my cousin. We have been friends since adulthood (she's 8 years older than me so we weren't so close as children).
I felt like she was bullying me (snide comments about my job, weight, marriage, life, putting me down in public, constantly, putting me down to other family members)
After a long time of saying nothing I confronted her about it by text, but I exploded in the text. I told her she was bullying me and that her put downs were coming from a nasty place, that it was relentless and pathological and it was making me feel really down.
She stopped talking to me.
Now several months later wanting to make amends, I have reached out to her and said can we talk it out. However she wants nothing more to do with me.
Her sister additionally told me that what I did to her was horrible. 'Accusing' her of bullying was a nasty thing to do and if I did feel like that I was being unreasonable. That's not what was happening.
These two sisters have now made it known to the rest of the family that I have upset the cousin, that the cousin is very fragile now and in much pain because of this nasty accusation.
I feel so sad that not only did I feel bullied, but when I stood up for myself I was not believed. That I am made to sound unreasonable and crazy in what I am saying.
If I had just kept quiet and let her put me down, none of this would have happened.
It's made me doubt myself and it's affected my mental health so much.
Fellow MNetters what should I do, I'm at such a loss.