Need a hand hold

[Imbluedalale]

That’s just it really. I really need a cuddle but that’s not possible so can anybody just support me right now? My mental health is on the floor right now I’ve never felt as low it’s making me feel so ill

Well I think your pretty awesome too ChoccieCornflake
xx

You star! LOVE that poem!! 💙

A writer and a poet? Good for you, gal 🙏

Yay for the updates! Love the poem too! Who wrote it? I can find it on Facebook, but not an attribution :)

Thanks for the update. Fingers crossed my belief in MP clout comes through! Media could probably run story under a different name/greyed out photo to protect you but let’s leave that aside as an option for now.
I love the book title & expect to be able to put it on my Christmas list in 2026 😀

No I’m not a poet I used most off it from Pinterest but added a few bits myself xx

It’s on Pinterest I’m not sure who wrote it but I did add/change a few bits myself xx

Thank you Ruralretreating,
I’m keeping everything crossed 🤞
I will be giving each and every one of you a free signed copy ☺️xx

How truly disgusting for an 18 year old to call his mum that vile name.
God help us how standards and behaviour have gone down.
I would not be trying to see him, until he can show some respect and kindness. That's awful.

How would he like any future kids he might have talking to him that.
Nobody needs to put up with that.

Are you able to work @Imbluedalale ? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I feel like we’re a little crew now, all working together to support a friend in need. I’m a semi retired teacher, in my 60s. Live with hubby and have lots of grown up kids and beautiful grandkids.

Love cats and learning about Feng Shui and witchy things. Am making a dried lavender and rosemary stick to cleanse my house with.

Beautiful poem Laura ❤️. Yay for the mp response and 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 things start to happen now. Sending you lots of strength and hugs and thinking of you xx

Hi PassingStranger,
I am aware it is vile that he called me that name and the lack of respect he has for me but he is my son and I love and miss him tremendously.
Unfortunately he didn’t have a good role model on how women should/shouldn’t be treated and I do own up to the fact that it is partially my fault because I didn’t nip it in the bud when it started .
What I do know is that I won’t allow him to speak to me the way he has in the past.

Hi Apolloneuro,
Your life sounds very interesting, I love witchy things too. There is a shop at Matlock Bath that’s all dedicated to witches .
I have turned 40 this year , I am not currently working due to health but I did work in mortgages for 15 years and before then I was a travel agent at Lunn Poly (now Tui).
As you know I have 3 children , I don’t have any pets though but I’m hoping when I get a home I can get a dog once I’m all settled etc.
I like reading books and listening to music and love true crime stories/documentaries xx

Thank you RaspberryBeretxx,
Im just sat looking at the window wishing I could have a walk around the lake .
Hopefully I’ll be getting a wheelchair soon but I will have no-one to push me in it so I might use my good leg to peddle through the streets xx

Laura with regards to True Crime can I suggest Laura Richard's Crime Analyst Podcast if you haven't come across her. She has a very unique perspective and worked within New Scotland Yard and FBI so it's totally fact based. She's a strong advocate for victims of violence, especially women. @Apolloneuro I'm 42, civil servant, parent of SEN child and we have a cat. I'm a huge reader and Yoga when I'm not bogged down with battling the SEN system, even though I need it more then!!

Thank you nornironlady
I will search for that on my podcast . I’ve not heard of her before but she sounds interesting.
What books do you like reading @nornironlady ?
Im currently reading ‘Before I go to sleep’ I think they made a film out of it with Nicole Kidman in xx

Laura Richards started on Real Crime Profile with Jim Clemente who also worked at FBI so they have great insight on some high profile cases without ever making a hero out of the perpetrators or sensationalising the story. I like reading thrillers and mystery, I did watch that film but I don't think I ever read the book. I have a list of authors so I can keep up with their latest releases. I spend way too much money on books!

I’m listening to a podcast called The Great Dictators. Lots of stuff about Hitler and Stalin. Wouldn’t recommend it if you want to cheer yourself up.
I class myself as quite bright so if anyone asks I’ll recommend the latest ‘great’ read but what I’m really doing is reading Jilly Cooper and Richard Osman, and watching Dinnerladies and The Royle Family.
Have just watched the two part special about homelessness led by Prince William. It’s a decent watch. The emphasis does tend to be on people with addiction and MH issues.
I think after reading this thread there needs to be far more attention to what happens to women fleeing abuse.
I also know that women who are disabled are statistically more prone to domestic abuse but the support available to them is poor. Very few refuges have facilities for women in wheelchairs, for example.
Do understand in your case OP that you want to let sleeping dogs lie and leave your DC in the care of your ex, but it’s infuriating to read about him.
I have a good friend who runs a DV charity. She was a victim of terrible abuse, including a physical injury that has left her disabled for life. She had a very, very close family and this man even convinced her parents she was mad/abusive/dangerous.
It did take a while but she had rebuilt her life. Her children are very close to her now and her parents are mortified they entertained him.

@PeggyMitchellsCameo I love Richard Osman. His podcast is very good. So many fact on the world of entertainment, I only listened for him but I love it! As for TV choices, we all need a bit of something that allows us to switch our brains off. Isn't that the point of TV!!

Oh Laura. You’re so young. One of my kids is 40.

You might like this. I love Lucy Worsley. She came to my city and did a talk about Jane Austin and is sooo pretty in real life. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0016pq3

Are you confident that you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to, Laura? Do you get PIP?

Yep. I get stuck into something highbrow and think sod it I will put Eastenders on!
Not that Eastenders is cheerful. I have been watching Classic Corrie and Les and Cilla Battersby are televisual gold.
I am just about to watch The Diplomat on Netflix which is a bit classier.
I am trying to imagine Les Battersby as a diplomat - now that’s a comedy!

I must admit I am a sucker for a bit of Road Wars, Police Interceptors, etc etc!

@PeggyMitchellsCameo My DS10 loves Corrie! He stumbled upon some clips of classic David Platt and couldn't believe it! He would love good old Les. It's in the genes, my Mum and her Mum were avid fans. My Mum, son and I are going to take the star tour early next year, they can't wait.

Hi to all the other wooden spoon crew members!

Youre so young Laura, so much life to live yet! Sounds like you need a mobility scooter - my DP bought a broken one from eBay for £10 and it just needed a new battery which was £40. He took it apart and made a little car for my DS - he absolutely loved it! I’ll have to ask him if he thinks it’s possible to do similar without making it into a little car!

Youre all brave to listen to the true crime podcasts etc! I get a bit scared 🙈. Although I do love a good thriller/crime novel. When Dp isn’t around, I like watching really trashy romance reality shows like love is blind and I’m currently on married at first sight uk 🙈.

I’m 45 and have DS12 with exH who had an affair while ds was tiny and we split - incredibly traumatic at the time with a non sleeping 6 month old baby but we got through it and all ok now - massively in part due to my incredible parents which is why I feel so devastated that your mum is being how she is. I don’t know how I’d have coped so I truly know how incredible you are to be still battling on and with all your extra issues on top of what I was facing. I also have Dd3 with DP. DP and I don’t live fully together due to location of his work, my ds etc. I actually quite like having a bit of space from each other sometimes 🙈🙈. I work part time from home in publishing but I’d love to retrain as a dietician. That’s all a bit outing but nevermind 😂.