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if mumsnet can't stomach it, how will I tell a counsellor?

152 replies

mosp · 28/08/2012 22:10

The other day, I posted something in another topic. I can't really repeat it. It got deleted because it was deemed 'beyond the pale' by mumsnet towers.

It was about a situation that I got myself into some months ago, but I still feel ill as a result.

I know that I'm just sick and completely incapable of looking after myself.

Everyone unanimously agreed that I was to blame and the other person did no wrong.

Tomorrow I have counselling session at the trauma centre, second appointment.

It's so hard; the counsellor threw me in the deep end and refused to change the subject at one point even though I was begging and nearly crying, and cutting my arm with a broken plastic cup.

I am just a disgusting mess. Maybe I should cancel it.

Sorry, I don't even really know what I am asking. Just wanted to vent. Sorry.

OP posts:
LastMangoInParis · 29/08/2012 23:45

mosp I didn't read that thread, don't know the situation that you're talking about. BUt that doesn't matter, it's not the point.
The point is that gut responses from people sitting miles and miles away doing very, very different things and who weren't there are not 'the truth'.
Berties probably right though: noone was in the wrong.
And even if you are determined to believe that you were in the wrong, the fact is, it's gone, it's past. You have to find a way to get better and move on, and that's what you have to work with with the counsellor, and you can manage it, even though it will be difficult.

BertieBotts · 29/08/2012 23:48

Why can't you stop? And why do you feel you don't deserve a friend like him? (Might I add, he can't be that great if he's upset you so badly :()

mosp · 29/08/2012 23:52

I'm not upset with him; I'm upset with myself because I hurt him. I can't stop writing because we're good friends now and love each other's letters. I suppose I was fragile today after my appt so I reacted more emotionally than I might have done.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 29/08/2012 23:55

I see, sorry for misunderstanding.

Could you explain to him that you felt uncomfortable with what happened the other day and see where you go from there or do you not feel able to do that at the moment?

mosp · 29/08/2012 23:59

Are we on the same page here Bertie? The penfriend (J) is a totally different person to C.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 30/08/2012 00:03

OH Blush

I'm sorry. I totally misunderstood that and thought they were the same person. I will go back and read the thread properly instead of jumping to conclusions. I'm very sorry.

mosp · 30/08/2012 00:06

:) I thought that might be the case. No need to apologise. J is really great, but he's a HE so I have trouble trusting him (although he's NEVER written anything wrong or suggestive, not ever)

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BertieBotts · 30/08/2012 00:12

I think I understand now. :)

I'm sure J will understand if you need to take some time to reply. It sounds like he is concerned for you rather than being mortally offended. It's possible for someone to be upset about something without it colouring their entire judgement on you (something I struggle to accept myself).

But, hey, what's this about not deserving a friend like him, because NOTHING you've written makes me think that you're undeserving of a good friend. Everyone deserves good friends.

BertieBotts · 30/08/2012 00:23

Anyway, I'm going to have to go to bed now, so I hope you'll be okay. I'm sure someone will be around if you need to talk in the middle of the night.

Try not to drink too much, have a pint of water before you go to bed :) x

garlicnuts · 30/08/2012 00:23

Oh, well done for going to therapy Mosp! You will start getting better, you know :) And you're worth the care you give yourself ... so make sure you care well for yourself.

I think I understand what you're getting at. Firstly, you really need to remember that your penfriend is lonely & bored - his penfriends are probably his only line to the world outside, they mean a lot to him and he's very likely to read more into his letters than the writer often intended. Secondly, although he must have loads of lovely qualities - and you quite rightly give him solace by appreciating his good side - he is a far from perfect human being. He has some bad flaws. His penfriends have a responsibility to remember that.

Please contact your co-ordinator for support.

The other part is your feelings about what he said re your references to sexual things sometimes in your letters. There's a possibility he may be making this up: reading something into perfectly ordinary remarks of yours (you know, like the twerp in the pub who says "The lady wants a large one, haha" Hmm)
From the little I've gleaned from your posts, it also seems possible you did do this sometimes. I went through quite a long phase of being a little too sexy - inappropriately - because, to cut a long story short, I had the idea it was the only interesting thing about me. If you're a bit like this, it's a vulnerability and will be something to incorporate in your counselling.

What's interesting about this is the reflection of what happened with C. Both these men responded inappropriately to a vulnerability (real or imagined) in you. Nice people don't take advantage of such things. They quietly change the subject, take a step back. Nice people don't try to interfere with another person's weak spots. Both of these guys, in different ways, did try to take advantage.

Please don't beat yourself up about having vulnerabilities that could be exploited. You're doing the right thing for yourself by doing therapy. Please notice that everybody has vulnerabilities! There's nothing wrong with having some. Good counsellors can teach you how to respect yours, and to protect yourself with fair boundaries.

What Bertie said about a freeze response is very true. When we feel threatened in some way, by far the most normal reaction is "rabbit in the headlights". It's actually the safest response in most cases. Some people, sometimes, go "rabbit" when it would be more helpful to assert their boundaries. You will learn how to do this in counselling.

It's all good, Mosp :) Good therapy does leave you feeling somewhat flattened! If it didn't make your mind do some work, it wouldn't be doing anything would it?

All the best. Hope you sleep well.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 30/08/2012 01:41

What a fantastic, supportive post, garlicnuts.

MrsHelsBels74 · 30/08/2012 05:26

I'm so glad you managed to go to your counselling Mosp, but it is a hard thing to do & can leave you feeling like all the stuffing has been knocked out of you. And I second the poster who said a counsellor will not lie to you, that's not part of their job & would not be helpful.

I don't think you should blame yourself over what happened with J, remember we're all flawed human beings, capable of misinterpreting what others write, just because he read something as sexual doesn't mean you intended it that way. However, I think perhaps if you are going to continue writing to him then you need to be perhaps a bit more careful that you don't write anything that can be misconstrued.

I just feel so sad when I read your posts as I get a feeling of such self loathing from them. I have no idea what has happened to make you feel this way but I'm sure such hatred is undeserved. Hopefully through therapy you can work through this & come out the other side a better person. I know I did.

Ormiriathomimus · 30/08/2012 10:38

Oh mosp Sad So sorry for you. I didn't read the other thread but from what you said here I can't see that you were to blame. Please stick with the counsellor for now. x

mosp · 30/08/2012 12:32

Thank you all. I just need to try to get through the day. I badly want to cry and scream but my dds are so sensitive and they HATE to see me upset.

To add to my troubles, we've all got nits...AGAIN :(

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mosp · 30/08/2012 21:36

I just want it all to be better. Today I posted a letter to J - a knee jerk reaction to yesterday's letter. I can see all that is wrong with me but am powerless to change it. He'll probably ditch me as I'm more trouble than I'm worth.

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MrsHelsBels74 · 30/08/2012 21:59

I wish you'd stop saying all that's wrong with you. You're no worse than anyone else, we're all flawed human beings. If you keep at the counselling it will get better but it takes time. Are you on any medication? Maybe you could try cutting down on the alcohol too, I know from past experience self medicating only leads to more self destructive behaviour. That's not an attack on you, it's just an observation.

mosp · 30/08/2012 22:06

I know I know. I just can't stop f*ing hating myself. J is the first male friend I've had for years and I bet I've driven him away.
I wish I was free to kill myself. My dd2 is so aware, it's scary. She was asking and asking what was wrong yesterday, and keeps asking me to promise not to get drunk/kill myself/harm myself. It's not like I make a habit of those things, but I need to drink tonight because I'm in such agony. My heart is shattered.

OP posts:
garlicnuts · 30/08/2012 22:15

Oh, sweetheart, you're so raw, aren't you :( I once read something that described (rather gruesomely) this feeling as if all the author's emotions were on the outside instead of skin, like open wounds. It really shook me; I felt like that at the time and didn't realise other people felt the same ... and lived.

You will live. You will heal. Trust yourself, trust your daughter and trust your therapist. Most of all, your self. The 'you' that wants to heal and be well - will succeed. It'll be slow, as healing can be, and will go in fits and starts. Don't worry. You will heal :)

mosp · 30/08/2012 22:17

But in the meantime, I've lost me a good good friend :(

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NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 30/08/2012 22:20

Mosp, sweetheart, you need to stop, your children need you to stop.

Call your CMH team and get some extra rl support. Your hurt is massive, I am not dismissing that, but you are allowing your hurt to damage your children.
Your heart may be shattered but can you imagine going to bed not sure if your mum is going to have killed herself over night.

PLEASE take any help that is offered, any support that they want to give you, and in between time there are people trained at the end of phone lines to help you.

I am not saying don't post here. of course if that feels helpful then do, but you need something more concrete than words of anonymous strangers on MN.

Wowserz129 · 30/08/2012 23:12

I agree with neverknowingly.

You need to get proper help for your problems.

If not for yourself then for your children.

mosp · 30/08/2012 23:24

I'm getting all the help I can. However, it is impossible to protect me from myself 24/7. I know I am passing on fears and terrors to my dds (particularly dd2), I am powerless.

I want to do serious damage to myself. When they're asleep. I will find a part of my body that I can hide. I try to protect them. They love me and I love them.

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NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 30/08/2012 23:30

right, I am going to have to leave this now.

You are NOT powerless, really really not. You may think you are but it isn't actually the truth.
Wanting to do damage to yourself is managable. Whatever help you are getting it isn't enough, people who are trying to help you need to see the threads you post on here. any quick search on your name shows years of torment that is really not being dealt with.

Unfortunately I am not in a position to help you.. I wish you all the best.

mosp · 30/08/2012 23:43

Another one I've driven away.

I'm grateful to you for your attempts to help x

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MiniTheMinx · 31/08/2012 00:10

Simple self fulfilling prophecy, if you push people away they will go. Is that what you want to do? Is it now up to us to reinforce your perception of yourself as a bad person?