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I have no idea what I’m doing.

6 replies

Pokadotlipgloss · 24/06/2019 18:39

I’m terrible with words but I’m desperate and need to tell somebody what’s going on inside of me right now.
I’m a Mother of 2 and just moved back to California after living in an isolated area in Oregon for 3 years. My boyfriend and I had been trying to move back to California and my only friend offered for us to rent two bedrooms in her home in SF until we save up for our own place. At first, I was really excited to get out of where we were living in the woods, but very nervous because I have an anxiety disorder and my 8 year old has ADHD and it’s a big struggle. My friend is a new Mother and often expressed needing more help over the phone. I told her that I would be really happy to help because I am good with babies and I just wanted to help which she seemed happy about. I don’t have a job and haven’t ever really had a job my entire life other than one that lasted a couple of months and this is because of my crippling anxiety. I still try and push through with life for my kids but my partner has become more and more frustrated with my lack of direction over the years. Moving here has made me deeply depressed and I’ve only been here 2 weeks so far. My friend hasn’t once asked me to watch her son which has made me feel really insecure. I feel like I’m in the way and just by me being here that I’m going to lose the only friendship I have left. It’s honestly eating me up inside. I’m constantly cleaning and I feel like I say sorry way too much. Last night I accidentally broke her coffee mug and I just went to my room and cried. I’m an absolute mess. I’m basically home with my 2 year old all day and I try and just leave the house and go to the park everyday but I’m really feeling the pressure to do more and I have no idea what to do. Last night all I could think about was that moving here was a huge mistake, that I’ve failed my son who has ADHD and terrible behavior problems, that I’m no longer attractive and that I’m worthless to everybody. Maybe someone has advise or has gone through similar things and wants to share?

OP posts:
interminablehellishwhatever · 24/06/2019 21:15

You're not at all terrible with words, OP, you described both your inner and outer situations very well and it's clear you're suffering terribly. Tension of that level can't go on for too long before something in you breaks, and the coffee mug synchronistically illustrates and describes what's going on inside you at present. You feel unsupported in some essential way by your partner, that's a source of growing pressure because you simply don't know how to manage the anxieties that 'set you up to fail' in work situations, so you're understandably avoiding working that through. You're trying to be responsible for a special needs child which isn't straightforward and can often be unmanageable for parents without their own mental health difficulties. That's a considerable source of pressure, thinking about his needs and now feeling intense doubts about your decision to uproot him (and yourself). Incidentally, it's important to acknowledge that your partner agreed to this move too, and must own his part in it. Plus he's likely to be a factor in you feeling so unattractive, so there seems to be a relationship issue there that remains unresolved. But a third source of pressure now is your doubts about whether the friendship can withstand this living arrangement, as not only do you not want to lose the friendship but you're also depending on having enough time there to plan a constructive next step. All those pressures together are frightening you and creating a crippling sense of insecurity which any mere mortal would struggle with! Added to all that, you have a toddler to take care of, which can be a full time job in itself.

Is it possible your friend doesn't feel comfortable asking for your help with her baby because you're renting from her and she doesn't want to impose or make you feel obliged? Whatever's going on in that respect, it feels like you would both benefit at this stage from a gentle discussion about one another's expectations in the new arrangement, to check out how you're each feeling about things. Does she know about your struggle with anxiety and depression? If that's something you've ever been open about with her, could you find an opportunity soon to give her some insight into your fears about imposing or 'messing up' the friendship, explain that you're so worried about potentially cramping her style? Would she have invited you without understanding that it was likely to be a difficult transition for you, do you think?

Sorry, I realise that from the inside where you are what I've suggested might just seem overwhelmingly difficult to get into. But somehow or other, reaching out to her, and letting her know that she can also feel free to reach out to you, feel like important steps to take very soon. Is your partner talking to you, aware of how it all feels for you at the moment?

Fromthewombtothemoon · 24/06/2019 23:43

She does know that I have anxiety, it’s just that the years that we hung out together were mainly spent partying together and now neither of us do those things anymore. She knew my 8 year old when he was younger and she’s seen me have anxiety attacks when we weren’t drinking or partying so she’s well aware of my issues I think. During that time in my life I was supporting myself with inheritance money, so I went even longer than I should not attempting to work. Ever since having another child, I’ve put on a lot of weight and that’s been a huge source of shame for me. I feel like everyone looks at me differently now and my looks no longer override the fact that I’m terribly awkward. My partner is actually the only person who tells me I’m beautiful, so he’s not the reason why I feel insecure about my weight gain. He just hates my anxiety and how often I forget things and I’m just very slow and it drives him crazy. I’ve tried getting on medication but I never continue with it because I don’t like the side effects and I don’t think medication will really solve the underlying issues. I do need to figure out how to get to a therapist because I think that will help and maybe a daycare for my 2 year old. I don’t know. I sort of feel trapped right now and it seems no matter where I’m at I feel alone. I do need to talk to my friend and tell her about the things that I’m worried about but I’m not sure how to bring it up yet.. that’s going to be really hard but I do know it needs to be done. Thanks for response.

Fromthewombtothemoon · 25/06/2019 00:17

And she just came home from work and went to the kitchen and yelled “what the Fuck” while my son is still napping. I went out and asked if I had done something and she she accused me of putting her sons formula in the freezer. I absolutely did not do that and that just really makes me really uncomfortable. Wow.. Btw people, we were not looking to rent with people. She offered because she knew we were looking for a new place and we took it so that we could get down here sooner. I really should have thought things through. :(

Woollycardi · 26/06/2019 10:28

It's ok, there is no way you could have foreseen this situation. It really is all ok, but I appreciate it feels like a living hell at the moment. I hope that that doesn't sound like an over-exaggeration for me to write.
I love my closest friends, but there is no way I would live with them, and I'm sure they feel the same way about me. It is a massive test on a friendship to live in the way you are living with her, and like you have so eloquently written, you were always partying friends before and now the very basis of your relationship has entirely changed. It is highly probable that you are both rubbing each other up the wrong way, and this is triggering your anxiety and insecurity, and is doing some stuff to her that I can't really comment on as I'm not there, but all that sounds completely normal as well.
I feel like you already know what you need to do. Your emotional health is asking to be held and supported, and I would strongly advise therapy to help you with that if you can afford it. Perhaps in the mean time, try to write down how you feel, or is there anyone else in your life that you could talk to? This is a temporary situation. You will not be living with her forever, just try and remember that you can and will move through this.
Also remember that she offered this space to you, that is all. You are human, it is ok to make mistakes and drop things, we are all forgetful from time to time, a high percentage of the human population has anxiety and depression, non of these things are character flaws, they just are. You are absolutely ok. We live in a challenging world and it is ok to struggle with day to day life.
But please, find your own space, get out of there, and things will start to look differently. You are not worthless, no one is. You are doing the absolute best you can for you children and for yourself. Take care.

Fromthewombtothemoon · 28/06/2019 06:13

Wow. Thank you for being so caring and thoughtful in replying to me. I appreciate that so much and it really helps. Things have gotten better between me and my friend since I wrote this, but my anxiety and depression is still extremely bad and I have an 8 year old son that I don’t know what to do with anymore. I’m really lost and I wish I had someone to talk to about what’s really going on with me. I have to keep the bad stuff inside because it’s not something I can talk about with anyone other than a therapist, I think.

Cailleach · 01/07/2019 10:38

If your child has ADHD, could you also have the condition, albeit undiagnosed? This is a neurological disorder that is strongly heritable. It may be the reason for your underlying anxiety.

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