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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I don’t like my sister and I don’t care about her “mental health”

277 replies

Hoverfly1 · 15/09/2024 15:59

My sister is an alcoholic, she has lost her children because of it. She just sits in her filthy house all day drinking. She never makes any effort to deal with any of her problems, she denies that she drinks but she very much does, I think all day every day levels of alcoholism. I am sure that this is what the majority of her issues are caused by. She says she has bad anxiety and depression so can’t do anything for herself. She won’t even leave her house to go to the shop and will make out mum fetch anything she needs (my mum won’t buy her alcohol though and she clearly manages to get out the house for that).

She constantly phones me and my mum day and night about the most ridiculous things when she is drunk. Arguments she has had with her ex partner or things that have happened years ago, she once called me relentlessly in the middle of the night to tell me all her problems were my fault because I once pushed her off a swing when we were kids (I did do this when I was about 7).

If she doesn’t get enough attention from us because we are both busy (dm is 63 still works full time and my sisters children also live with her full time so she has a huge amount on her plate already, I am a single parent with a full time job) she will start sending us photos of self harm or threatening to kill herself, she has also harmed herself and phoned ambulances a lot in the past which means my mother will have to go and pick her up from hospital at all times of the night.

She once told me she had cancer and was going to die, which I never believed but she would message me about it every day telling me about the drs appointments she had been too. Once it became clear no one believed her she just deleted all the messages she’s sent about it and denied she had ever said it, then accused me of making things up and “gaslighting” her. she has also made up having dementia and pregnancies and miscarriages as well.

Todays she sent me a message first thing the morning implying she had been sexually assaulted. When I ignored it because I was driving she immediately followed it up with self harm photos. When i asked her where she was she said she had gone to stay with friends for a few days and been out drinking with them, despite the fact that she hasn’t bothered to walk down the street to see her own children for months because she of her “anxiety”. At that moment I just realised I don’t care anymore. I don’t like her as a person and I’m sick of being manipulated by her. I told her she was selfish and manipulative and asked her not to contact me again. I also suffer from depression and anxiety which I take medication for and I find the way she behaves very hard to deal with. I think this makes it harder for me to feel sorry for her though because I HAVE to deal with my problems there so no one to step in and help me if I don’t want to get out of bed one day. I can’t understand why she doesn’t want to help herself a little bit, I’m starting to thinks she actually likes living like this.

I know this makes me a bad person because she obviously does have issues but I honestly don’t want to ever see her or talk to her again I know other people will judge me for it, i also know she will have shared the message I sent to her with a lot of people who will think I’m being horrible, she will very likely harm herself in some way because of it I’m scared she will actually do something serious.

How are you supposed to deal with someone like this without making things worse for them!?

OP posts:
NotThoseKindOfEggs · 15/09/2024 16:02

I think you’re right to step back. Only she can drive change if she wants it.

Pandasandtigers · 15/09/2024 16:04

I think you’re just being realistic if I’m honest. Yes it’s a sad situation, but what can you do, you can’t help someone who won’t help themselves, that’s just the way it goes.

I would wash my hands with it personally, but maybe I’m not a nice person…I don’t know. I do know I’ve had my share of devastation, downfalls and hard times, butI’m a fighter and work hard, so someone not even trying would not appeal to my better nature anyway.

PonyPatter44 · 15/09/2024 16:05

Don't worry about her sharing the message to make you look like bad guy. Most of her "friends" are probably like her, and who cares what mentally ill addicts think? Anyone who knows her will know what she's like, and may well be glad that you have finally put your foot down with her.

millymoo1202 · 15/09/2024 16:06

You are not a bad person she needs to take accountability for her actions

Babyworriesreal · 15/09/2024 16:11

IMO you are right to step back and concentrate on yourself, your children, your mum and nieces/nephews. Your mum should too, but probably won't. I'd ensure she knows how to seek help for her addiction and mental health, and then cut contact.

Scammersarescum · 15/09/2024 16:14

I think you need to step back. Fir your own well being. Also because supporting her allows her to continue living as she does.

WhereYouLeftIt · 15/09/2024 16:15

"I know this makes me a bad person ..."
No, it doesn't.

You must prioritise your own mental health here. As the saying goes, 'don't set yourself on fire to keep somebody else warm'. Step back from her, block her from being able to contact you, and concentrate on yourself. ((hug))

mushpush · 15/09/2024 16:17

Honestly I don't think that makes you a bad person at all!

She needs help that you cannot physically or mentally provide her with - what she needs is a professional. 100% the correct thing to do is step back (id block!) and focus on your own health.

If there's some way to notify a service of your concerns about her self harming then maybe do that, but her actions aren't your responsibility - she's an adult, albeit with an addiction and issues, but none of that is your fault.

MinorTom · 15/09/2024 16:18

I think you need to start by giving yourself a bit of credit for how difficult it has been for you when she behaves these ways instead of saying you are bad and then if you have some sympathy left over you can feel a bit sorry for her, in that order. When behaviour is affecting you, you need to act protectively towards yourself and if there is any energy left over after doing the necessary daily tasks you can see what you can give your sister but that might easily be none. I feel sorry for addicts, it is a horrendous life but day to day unless someone faces up to their problems and makes changes what can you really do for another adult.

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 15/09/2024 16:18

Alcoholism is a cruel disease, to the sufferer and those who have to watch their loved one destroy themselves.
If you feel need to step back then you need to step back, for your own wellbeing.

blueshoes · 15/09/2024 16:18

You have put up with her long enough. You and your mum have been saints. You are allowed to look after yourself Flowers

harriethoyle · 15/09/2024 16:25

You are not a bad person at all. Sounds like her problems are almost entirely self inflicted and you and your mum have done more than enough. You’d have to have the patience of a saint to put up with the self pity as well!

99OrangeBalloons · 15/09/2024 16:27

You're not a bad person at all - you're prioritising what you need to do to look after yourself, in order to look after your children.

I'd strongly advise you to have a look at what resources there are for family members of addicts - support from other people who understand what living like this is like can be invaluable in helping you recover from the impact she's having.
There are national support services, but also lots of really great small local charities, often set up by family members themselves.

Happii · 15/09/2024 16:28

My brother is the same and we have zero contact now. I've had a lot of judgement over the years from people in real life over that, but honestly you have to prioritise yourself and your family; I don't owe him anything just as we are siblings. I don't wish him any harm but similarly have no desire to have any sort of relationship with him.

Hohofortherobbers · 15/09/2024 16:30

Well done for marking out the boundaries. Now enforce them and do not back down. Prioritise yourself, your dm and those dc. You owe your sister nothing.

Mumof2namechange · 15/09/2024 16:33

Sending you photos of her self harm is abuse. Your sister is abusing you. It's not ok, please do what you can to protect yourself from this abuse.

89redballoons · 15/09/2024 16:34

YANBU.

Have you ever been in touch with Al-Anon? Not AA - it's a support organisation for family and friends of alcoholics. Absolutely up to you if you want to engage with anything like that, but just to say that you deserve support and help, however you choose to engage with your sister (or not). It can be so tough having an addict in your family.

drunksister · 15/09/2024 16:34

I cut off contact with my sister during the pandemic after years of manipulation, lies, drunken phone calls and outright gaslighting. If we are in company (I.e. family gatherings) I acknowledge her and am polite, but I made it very clear to her that this is all I would tolerate (after she started on my son with the same bullshit - he has also cut her off). Like a pp, I don't wish her ill, I just reached my limit and simply didn't care enough in the end.

angellinaballerina7 · 15/09/2024 16:36

You aren’t a bad person, we all have a limit.

Tagyoureit · 15/09/2024 16:37

Personally, I would block her and let her realise you can't be manipulated. I'd also encourage your mum to do the same but at the end of the day, it's her daughter so it will be harder for her.
However, if she's looking after the kids full time, that's enough running around.

I also doubt the self harm threat is entirely real as she uses it as a weapon to control you with.

Livelovebehappy · 15/09/2024 16:37

Don’t let her bring you down. Because that’s what will happen if you’re continuously at her beck and call. Some people are beyond help, and have to reach the very bottom before they acknowledge they have a problem and need to seek help. Look after yourself. She sounds manipulative, self absorbed and unpleasant.

Jom222 · 15/09/2024 16:38

You’re not a bad person. Block her and concentrate on your own life, she doesn’t care about you and only wants attention.

you can’t fix people esp people like her, sorry.

TypingoftheDead · 15/09/2024 16:38

My adoptive dad was very similar - I was very relieved when he passed, and knew even as an adult, I couldn’t do anything to help him.

Daleksatemyshed · 15/09/2024 16:39

You're not a bad person Op, you're a person whose Sister has refused to take any action to help herself with her addiction,whose tried to pass the blame onto everyone else and who expects you and her DM to pick up the pieces all the time. As I said on here recently, I'm sorry for someone who has a problem but it's up to them to help themselves. You and your DM would both be better off going low or no contact. The cynical side of me wonders if you both stopped bothering with her if she'd suddenly remember her DC.

Haroldwilson · 15/09/2024 16:39

There are different things here. What she needs and what you are able or willing to give.

It's brutal but just because she needs help, you don't have to be the person to supply it. I don't think you need to decide she's undeserving of it or manipulative or not really ill. You just need to decide how far you're prepared to go in supporting her.

In your shoes I'd be more focused on supporting your mum, she's taken on a lot and must find your sister's situation very difficult to deal with.