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I am really losing it and I feel so guilty

6 replies

Caththerese1973 · 29/04/2006 05:59

Hi
I'm a single mum, and recently resumed relationship with old boyfriend (someone I've been involved with on and off for years). I have been very worried lately because despite the fact that contraception has been used, I am pretty sure I have had a delayed period. To my shame, I got rather drunk last night (despite being in sole charge of 3 y/o dd, who was asleep) and phoned clairvoyant (Ugh! don't even BELIEVE in clairvoyants!) who told me I was in early stages of pregnancy, and that the father was 'a married man' (she may have been on the ball there, since BF still lives with his de-facto but claims - very implausibly - I am now thinking - that they are merely platonic these days).
Anyway, upshot was that I had total panic attack, phoned BF and insisted he go to all-night chemist for test. Test proved negative (although I still have not got period and have VERY sore boobs, am awfully tired and don't really feel premenstrual, so I am not 100% reassured....I am not sure when my period is due beyond remembering that I was meant to get it this week, and I know most tests don't register unless you are at least a day overdue).
The thing that makes me feel really awful, though, was that whne BF initially refused to go to chemist for test for me, I actually considered (drunk as I was) putting sleeeping dd in back of the car and driving to chemist myself. In fact, the only thing that stopped me, as panicked as I was, was that I did not actually have enough money to buy pg test. I would like to think that even if I HAD had enough money, sanity would have prevailed and I would not have put my child in danger like that, but I'm not sure....and I feel like a total creep.
Anyway, as it turned out, BF did come round with test and apparently it is all okay. This BF has to get out of my life, though, and I emailed him to that effect this mmorning. Because previously it has always seemed that presence of darling dd was sufficient to prevent me from acting irresponsibly (drinking, etc) but apparently not anymore. I am not blaming BF: I have always had the propensity to drink too much: but this particular person has always had the capacity to really upset me, and I have definitively decided to give him 'the swerve' from hereonin. I think I need a quiet celibate life right now (ex dp, father of my child is keen to re-establish relationship with me and I am not so keen, so that is an additional problem).
I am considering going back to AA (I used to go, before I was pregnant). I can pretend all I want, but the fact is that every night after I put dd to bed I usually have 4-5 glasses of wine before retiring, and it's too much. Also I binge a bit when her dad has her overnight. I just don't know what else to do....I feel so guilty about ex dp's misery, about dd's unhappiness (as young as she is, she remembers when we were together, and often says she wishes that 'daddy and mummy would stop fighting and live together again in the one house'.
Thing is, ex-dp was extraordinarily controlling and occasionally violent, and this more or less permanently put me off him sexually. So I very doubt 'giving it another go' would anything other than a waste of time.
Sorry. Hope y'all don't think I'm too disgraceful. Advice would be appreciated. I just wish I'd get my darned period, though!

OP posts:
stoppinattwo · 29/04/2006 07:35

I think you have the solutions yourself. You know your drinking is wrong. and you know these two guys are no good.
There are three things in your life you can change. you need to prioritize. Your drinking is probably the first priority, firstly for your own health and then for your daughters health. god forbid she should be ill in the night or need your attention and you are not able to be there for her. (im not lecturing sorry if i sound like i am)- Go back to AA. arrange for the first meeting. and do it
your BF, he sounds like a bullshitter, nobody lives with their ex wife and its purely platonic. Give yourself some space from this guy.
Your DD's father. Give yourself some space from him as well, he see's his daughter, thats nice but youve done well to get away from him if he has violent tendancies, when shes older your DD wil understand why.

Have some time for you and your daughter, its such a special time and it wont be there forever make the most of it. It isnt long before they want to be away with their friends and your cramping their style. Do you have friends/ family nearby who can help.

These three things arnt simple, they are all in their own way life changing, Im not that daft to think you can just do them, you need support from your friends and family or MN users.

Hope ive been of some help, bit rambly i know but write back and let me know how your doin.

SA2

winnie · 29/04/2006 07:53

Caththerese1973, it sounds like you know the steps you need to take. Don't beat yourself up, take action. You and your dd deserve more. Time on your own with your child would be good for you. It will give you perspective. Hope your mind is put to rest about the possible pregnancy soon, take carex

tigermoth · 29/04/2006 08:35

You've got a lot on your plate and I think you are very right to give yourself space. You feel you need time alone from both men - go with your feelings is my advice.

Have you tried break down the problems into smaller chunks to make them easier to deal with? Rather than beating yourself up about being a bad mother to your child because you considered driving when over the limit, buy in some soft drinks that you really like, don't have any alcohol in the house and have a go at breaking your wine habit in the evening. Or switch to low alcohol lager (this is something I do). Or log onto mumsnet, plan to phone some friends, do some work - anything that you think might work for you. If you then still feel your wine craving is too much, then seek help. I hope this doesn't sound too glib - it's not meant to be.

Hope your period comes soon.I have been there, waiting for mine to happen and not knowing for sure when it is due. It is an awful feeling.

Caththerese1973 · 29/04/2006 13:47

Thanks
everyone is right, and the advice has been correctly and sympathetically put (I don't feel lectured at all, stoppinattwo...same thought has occurred to me about drinking after dd has gone to sleep: ie what if there was an emergency and I wasn't fully with it).
BF is definitely ex-BF as far as I am concerned: I feel like I am finally strong enough to write him off at the age of 33. (I've been involved with him on and off since I was only 20! And he has never been monogamous, and has caused me much grief over the years).Actually, it was quite empowering to tell him to 'eff off', as it were. I would almost feel cheerful if it wasn't for my guilt about my irresponsible behaviour lately. Up until last six months or so I have always been (even if I say so myself) a very conscientious mother: somehow my standards seem to be slipping lately, although I love my dd beyond description. I'm not making excuses here, but there is so much pressure on at the moment. We are in dire straits financially (ex only does child support when he feels like it)and live in horrible little flat that my parents own, and for which I have to pay (albeit reduced) rent. I guess it could be worse: I could be out there having to rent in private market on single parent payment alone. Happily, I have a really good teaching job that is coming up next semester at local uni so that should ease things considerably. Only problem is that it is only definite work for six months, although Head of English Dept (I am an Eng Lit lecturer) assures me that if my unit goes well, I'll get more next year. BIG problem with this job, though, is that it's a SHAKESPEARE unit, and I am far from being a Shakespeare expert, so I have a ton of unpaid preparation to do before unit even starts. To be honest, I don't even know why they gave me the job - I admitted at interview that I'm not a Renaissance scholar. I've got dd in daycare one day a week, and the rest of the work I do while she's at her dad's overnight on Sats. Haven't done anything constructive today though....I still have not got period: did second pg test out of packet (it was negative) and lay in bed for about eight hours just rolling around in a depressive stupor (today is dd's overnighter with her dad). I wish I could remember when my bloody period (if you'll pardon the pun) was due: it seems like a long time since I've had one, but perhaps stress and weight loss (I"m down to 50 kgs, and not by choice) could account for that.
Ex dp is another whole can of worms: I am supposedly staying over at his place tomorrow night instead of taking dd straight home to 'talk things over'.I made it clear to him that I want to sleep in spare bed: I am anxious that he doesn't get wrong idea about me wanting to resume things. I don't even really want to stay overnight at his place, and if I wasn't so exhausted and desperate for support in caring for dd I would probably say no.
As for drinking, I want to end cycle on that one and have resolved to resume AA meetings this week. I just hope they have kid friendly ones, as I generally have dd in tow wherever I go (as far as I can remember, they often do). I have also recently started anti-ds on advice of my GP, as well as short term anti-anxiety medication (tranquillisers), so I really can't drink anyway.
I just hope, though, with all these pills, that I'm not pregnant! I really don't think I could handle an abortion.
Anyway thanx to all and further advice would be welcomed.
CT1973

OP posts:
stoppinattwo · 29/04/2006 19:44

((((((((Big hug))))))))) CT1973
you sound like you need it. Its easy for us to be objective. were not in your life. Please stay about and let us know your alright, I hope all our advice can stay as helpful, this seems to be a really kind place with people who are always willing to listen, SA2

stoppinattwo · 29/04/2006 19:45

((((((((Big hug))))))))) CT1973
you sound like you need it. Its easy for us to be objective. were not in your life. Please stay about and let us know your alright, I hope all our advice can stay as helpful, this seems to be a really kind place with people who are always willing to listen, SA2

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