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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be Feeling Really Upset and Unsettled ?

85 replies

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 11:34

I could really use some support right now. I'll just be transparent I have been struggling with addiction for the past six months.

The past few days I have been getting high at night and messaging this guy online. Strictly platonic on my side, but he kept pushing my boundary. I am still traumatized by my abusive ex. I kept asking him to stop, he would agree but then he kept doing it. I sort of just laughed it off but he was starting to make me feel uncomfortable. Thing is, it as confusing to me because we did click really well, so it wasn't that hard at the time to give him a bit of slack.

He said he was having a bath. Told me I could get in it with him. I told him to stop it. He did. Then started it up again. He sent me several pictures of his bath bubbles. Remember, I was high, and didn't see that red flag like I would if it happened now when I am sober. To be more precise, I still don't know where the line is I guess I'm trying to say maybe I don't understand the rules of boundaries or perhaps what mine actually are. I sort of was just acting like this was normal as we were "new friends"... a short time later, as I was having a discussion with him, another male messaged me in response to a post I wrote. So I was juggling two friendly conversations.

The first guy continued to send me pictures of my bath bubbles saying get in the bath i'll wear a swimsuit, etc. I sort of was mentally backing away at this point and talking to this new guy, said straight up to him I'm not interested in flirting or anything and he said that was fine and just wanted a conversation about my post. I ended up saying to the second guy look il be honest I'm talking to someone else at the same time as you and it's hard to follow and juggle the two so I'll cut the other conversation short because I wanted to talk to him properly about my post, and that, besides, the other guy kept flirting with me even though I had kept asking him to stop. I even said to the bubble bath guy, stop it, you have a partner. I told him I was tired I'm going to bed, good night we said bye.

So I spent a few hours talking to guy number 2. We clicked very well and I was enjoying the conversation. I found him very intriguing. He was very highly intelligent and as we know this can be quite rare. We were talking about my drug problem for the most part. But then, I felt like he was beginning to act weird.

First off, he made a comment about women on drugs being hot, which I called him out on. He said I didn't call you hot, it's just a turn of phrase. I said fine. Moved on. An hour or two later, he started talking about.... he didn't like some types of women. He didn't like "fatties, single mothers and whores," I asked him if that comment was directed at me he said no. We had a bit of a tussle over it then moved on but as you can imagine I began to feel uncomfortable....

He then started saying things like, society is turning women I to whores to undermine men or some shit like that, that women hated guys like him or something just for telling the truth. I kept asking him was this personal against me I kept saying you seem really angry. Remember, I'm high on drugs and I just was feeling really confused with this argument that we started to have. At the time it felt very personal I felt like he was saying these things about me basically even though we didn't know each other which he denied also as you can imagine I just didn't lie to listen to this shit ? About women general or otherwise.

He was messaging very fast just going on about this sort of tone for a bit and I was just getting this really weird vibe that he was really a guy and I started to grow unsettled and sort of disturbed. He was talking about someone, I don't know which sex, anymore; "loving abortions"... And in between all this he was talking very fast and changing the subject and I kept pulling him up on the things he was saying and taking it personally. My sense of being unsettled deep in my stomach was compounded by the fact this man was very, very intelligent, like when a man is saying these things to you and asking why are you upset about this...

Then he began to say like, sort of, there is a massive psy- op, women are degrade men they repress and undermine me n and then we call them "incells" and the argument got heated and more and more heated I was very upset and confused.

And then eventually he said "I don't care if women are whores, I can respect a whore but I can't respect a liar" and he kept saying this,

While gaslighting me that these were valid things for him to be saying to me and I ended up freaking out at him, asking if he has mental issues, asking him why he was so angry with me which he kept denying and saying he was just talking in a general sense but I FELT his utter rage towards me and I was so upset and freaked out and confused. And then I said I think you are a psychopath and then he said I won't be insulted and he completely just stopped speaking to me at that point.

I the sent him several messages saying how insulted I felt, and how dare he be saying these things to me, how I felt like he was setting with rage towards me and then gaslighting me that I was imagining things and I felt scared of him he has scared me and is he happy now.

I had told this man I have a 17 year old son. I told him the city I live in.

It's just etched in my mind, repeated comments of I have no respect for liars, over and over again.

I think the two men are the same person. I "lied" about going to bed. I was really in fact talking to "another man" can you see where I'm coming from ? I feel sick. I sent him a last message and just said I'm sorry for calling you a psychopath that was too far but that it was in response to him pushing my boundaries and scaring me.

I had a panic attack I was imagining him finding me and murdering me.

This is the major wake up call of my life. I need to get clean right now. What the hell am I doing with my life. This is dangerous. I feel so ashamed of myself. I have left myself with £50 per week for groceries for the next month (my son has his own money) (he is not aware that I have been using drugs)

I am also having g this sudden insight that I do not think it is safe to talk to strangers I line at all. It's become so normalised but this isn't normal at all. We shouldn't talk to strangers, it is not safe. I was imagining him finding me and harming me or my son. I feel completely freaked out. I don't know how to process or deal with this. I swear, I am never taking drugs again. What the hell do I think I am doing. This is insane.

I need to change and I am going to change right now. I will go to meetings if I have to. How could I put myself in such a vulnerable situation. I feel scared and paranoid and unsettled and sick.

I know fine we'll some of you will just me harshly, and I deserve it but please, I am feeling so vulnerable right now that I do not think I can handle any hate

OP posts:
Brightlittlecanary · 22/02/2026 12:33

You need to get help as you know. What sort od drugs are you taking op, it makes a difference.

talking to random weirdos isn’t the root of the problem, your drug addiction is. See your doctor if you do want to get straight, and get help.

does your son live with you?

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 22/02/2026 12:36

What kind of drugs?

Recovered drug addict here, can help to a degree.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:46

ReturnOfTheToad · 22/02/2026 12:26

Do you think the come down is adding to your paranoia here? My husband works in the Internet/communications world and says there is no way for someone to track you down to your home address using your IP address if that lessens your fears somewhat.

Really, thank you so much for telling me that. Yeah I think I freaked out I am starting to calm down I think I just feel confused. Like it was so unnerving, having a great conversation for hours chilling, new friend, and then he starts ranting that he hates whores and single mothers and whores that have abortions and it's a psy op to repress men etc etc... I think I am starting to understand that it maybe wasn't personal to me. Like I thought he was being I'll call it passive aggressive or gaslighting me... Saying these things and acting like I was weird and attacking him for having a problem with it. It was bizarre. I was really upset. Definitely the drugs didn't help. I'm a mess.

But he was talking about a forum and the arguments he was having with women on there. So maybe it wasn't personal. I don't think I've been able to articulate any of this very well. Idk it was just really weird. It frightened me. It felt like I was being coldly manipulated I to a reaction ?. Idk.

OP posts:
Trevordidit · 22/02/2026 12:52

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:19

No I really don't think I can do that. Not that way. Not through the NHS. I thought last night about finding meetings... I don't know how I'm going to cope. Well I've none left, and no money, anyway, for the next several weeks. I just spiralled down so fast... I just feel so weird like I'm not myself anymore. I don't know how I can cope. I wish I could afford to speak to a private therapist. Ive just been hit with this stark realization that the reason I'm acting like this is because I am mentally ill and I am trying to cope

Edited

Finding meetings sounds like a great step forward. 🙂 maybe just explore options, no pressure to attend, just have a bit of a research.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:53

Brightlittlecanary · 22/02/2026 12:33

You need to get help as you know. What sort od drugs are you taking op, it makes a difference.

talking to random weirdos isn’t the root of the problem, your drug addiction is. See your doctor if you do want to get straight, and get help.

does your son live with you?

Yes he lives with me but I do it at night at the weekends when he's sleeping or staying at his friends he's got quite an active social life so he isn't aware of it and I'm normal during the day and around him. I need to stop this before he finds out he would hit the roof. I can't believe how I've been acting the past six months. It feels like it went by really fast. It's like I just realized how wrong this is and I have to get a grip. I've been taking cocaine with my cousin at some weekends and taking opiates when I'm by myself. I don't like this. But I don't want to go to the GP I want to approach it differently. I feel like my mental health is really bad though. I think that's why I'm doing it so i might ask the GP for Prozac or something

OP posts:
Brightlittlecanary · 22/02/2026 12:53

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:46

Really, thank you so much for telling me that. Yeah I think I freaked out I am starting to calm down I think I just feel confused. Like it was so unnerving, having a great conversation for hours chilling, new friend, and then he starts ranting that he hates whores and single mothers and whores that have abortions and it's a psy op to repress men etc etc... I think I am starting to understand that it maybe wasn't personal to me. Like I thought he was being I'll call it passive aggressive or gaslighting me... Saying these things and acting like I was weird and attacking him for having a problem with it. It was bizarre. I was really upset. Definitely the drugs didn't help. I'm a mess.

But he was talking about a forum and the arguments he was having with women on there. So maybe it wasn't personal. I don't think I've been able to articulate any of this very well. Idk it was just really weird. It frightened me. It felt like I was being coldly manipulated I to a reaction ?. Idk.

Op you seem very focused on these men, who you can just block and delete and less focused on the drug issue.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:56

Brightlittlecanary · 22/02/2026 12:53

Op you seem very focused on these men, who you can just block and delete and less focused on the drug issue.

I feel...scared, basically

OP posts:
PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/02/2026 13:10

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 12:46

Really, thank you so much for telling me that. Yeah I think I freaked out I am starting to calm down I think I just feel confused. Like it was so unnerving, having a great conversation for hours chilling, new friend, and then he starts ranting that he hates whores and single mothers and whores that have abortions and it's a psy op to repress men etc etc... I think I am starting to understand that it maybe wasn't personal to me. Like I thought he was being I'll call it passive aggressive or gaslighting me... Saying these things and acting like I was weird and attacking him for having a problem with it. It was bizarre. I was really upset. Definitely the drugs didn't help. I'm a mess.

But he was talking about a forum and the arguments he was having with women on there. So maybe it wasn't personal. I don't think I've been able to articulate any of this very well. Idk it was just really weird. It frightened me. It felt like I was being coldly manipulated I to a reaction ?. Idk.

It may not be personal to you, but it’s personal to him- as in, proof he personally is a nasty piece of work. He may- or may not- have intended to insult you. That doesn’t matter. He’s a nasty piece of work.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:19

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/02/2026 13:10

It may not be personal to you, but it’s personal to him- as in, proof he personally is a nasty piece of work. He may- or may not- have intended to insult you. That doesn’t matter. He’s a nasty piece of work.

Yeah I don't really know why I freaked out so bad. I think I got it on my head that he was a psychopath and was manipulating me. Idk. It was just really odd. I'm.not sure what to make of it. Maybe it was just paranoia.

OP posts:
AlwaysTheRenegade · 22/02/2026 13:19

Can you safely stop taking the opiates OP? It can be very dangerous. Are we talking painkillers or heroin?

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:22

AlwaysTheRenegade · 22/02/2026 13:19

Can you safely stop taking the opiates OP? It can be very dangerous. Are we talking painkillers or heroin?

Strong pain killers. I've got 1 oxy and 1 strip of dihydrocodeine. I bought it all a few days ago... I've taken a lot. I didn't know stopping can be dangerous

OP posts:
NormasArse · 22/02/2026 13:23

Listen- your first challenge is to get off the drugs. It seems like it might be normalised in your world, but it’s really not.

How old is your son?

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:24

NormasArse · 22/02/2026 13:23

Listen- your first challenge is to get off the drugs. It seems like it might be normalised in your world, but it’s really not.

How old is your son?

I know it's not normal. He's 18 next month. He doesn't know.

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 22/02/2026 13:27

I think if it's coke/stimulants you're using it's making you paranoid. But you know you shouldn't speak to these men who are only after one thing.

There are plenty of places online to talk to people where it won't get sexual.

Isadora2007 · 22/02/2026 13:31

Frank

this link can help you find local support. If you feel your MH is poor your GP can help. But maybe your MH is bad because you’re taking drugs which alter your brain.

It definitely sounds like classic drug related paranoia rather than anything actually risky to you. The biggest risk to you right now is you. Get help.

Find drug and alcohol support near you | FRANK

Find drug and alcohol support near you | FRANK

https://talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you

Damnd · 22/02/2026 13:33

You sound drug addled and paranoid. Quit the drugs be best thing you ever did

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:34

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:37

Damnd · 22/02/2026 13:33

You sound drug addled and paranoid. Quit the drugs be best thing you ever did

Do you think it's possible that I just did encounter an an extremely intelligent, rage- filled psychopath who hates me even though I don't even barely know him and that's why I'm scared. I don't which way it is basically. I still feel scared. I'm definitely aware that the drugs didn't help the situation. I wish I was normal.and had a normal life. This is all just crazy. My life was normal not that long ago.

OP posts:
LadyCrustybread · 22/02/2026 13:42

You can join an NA meeting online. https://meetings.ukna.org/meeting/search/online

LadyCrustybread · 22/02/2026 13:44

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:37

Do you think it's possible that I just did encounter an an extremely intelligent, rage- filled psychopath who hates me even though I don't even barely know him and that's why I'm scared. I don't which way it is basically. I still feel scared. I'm definitely aware that the drugs didn't help the situation. I wish I was normal.and had a normal life. This is all just crazy. My life was normal not that long ago.

Edited

No. You met an angry man who resents women. The drugs blew the whole scenario up further than it otherwise would have. He isn’t coming for you. He’s just a loser on the end of the internet. Men who like women to be drug addicted are never good men, so don’t talk to them.

holdtheline11 · 22/02/2026 13:48

Stop talking to this man/these men immediately. Never do it again. And stop getting high if this is what you do when you are. Also do get therapy - it will help.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 13:52

holdtheline11 · 22/02/2026 13:48

Stop talking to this man/these men immediately. Never do it again. And stop getting high if this is what you do when you are. Also do get therapy - it will help.

I was thinking maybe it is just an unsafe thing to be talking to strangers on the internet in general. I do like mumsnet though and there is some good support on here and sometimes it's really funny. I was in tears when I came on here and I've calmed down quite a bit now.

I won't talk to them again. And I will work on my boundary issues.

I will.have to stop the pills and stuff, I know that, but what it is is that I really want to just numb my mind

OP posts:
ClaredeBear · 22/02/2026 14:00

I can hear how much you’re struggling, and I just want to say how brave you’re being by sharing this. It’s clear that your drug use is at the heart of what’s making everything feel so overwhelming right now… trust me, it’s clouding your judgement and feeding those paranoid thoughts, which is completely understandable when you’re in the grip of addiction.

The most important thing right now is to focus on you. Blocking these guys is a really positive step. You’re so much stronger than you might feel, and with the right support you can find your way out. Addiction can make everything feel impossible but recovery can stay very quickly and you’ve already shown such self-awareness by recognising how vulnerable you are, and that’s a huge first step. Before you think about anything else, please prioritise getting the help you need. You’re worth it, and your future self will thank you for it.

NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 14:27

LadyCrustybread · 22/02/2026 13:42

You can join an NA meeting online. https://meetings.ukna.org/meeting/search/online

Thank you for this. I will look at it in a minute.

OP posts:
NewUserName1000 · 22/02/2026 14:39

ClaredeBear · 22/02/2026 14:00

I can hear how much you’re struggling, and I just want to say how brave you’re being by sharing this. It’s clear that your drug use is at the heart of what’s making everything feel so overwhelming right now… trust me, it’s clouding your judgement and feeding those paranoid thoughts, which is completely understandable when you’re in the grip of addiction.

The most important thing right now is to focus on you. Blocking these guys is a really positive step. You’re so much stronger than you might feel, and with the right support you can find your way out. Addiction can make everything feel impossible but recovery can stay very quickly and you’ve already shown such self-awareness by recognising how vulnerable you are, and that’s a huge first step. Before you think about anything else, please prioritise getting the help you need. You’re worth it, and your future self will thank you for it.

Part of it is just that I without question clearly went too far this time. I just took 90 dihydrocodeine tablets in three days. And 14 oxys. Then the gear last night. Spent £400. I would have rather spread it out over the month and be able to control it so I could have it here and there, but , well, here I am. Unfortunately. Probably dangerous as well. I'm scared of what being straight all the time is going to be like though. I think I need an anti depressant. I just have to pray I find the strength somehow to get through.Thanks for the support.

OP posts:
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