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Narcisstic family and going low contact

29 replies

T42U · 09/11/2022 17:40

Hello, I would really like some advise from people who have gone low contact with their family. Mother and sister all exhibiting narcisstic traits - thankfully not just I see it but my brothers also. However its come to a head now after my 50 years on the planet where I honestly have to change myself and my behaviour towards them . I am the problem now not them. I am constantly getting upset over their behaviour and as I get older I know its effecting my own beautiful family. My husband and kids are so patient but its wearing thin now regarding my reactions when these two individuals text or don't text, ring or don't ring, include me or don't include me etc etc. Although its mostly me including never them ALWAYS TRYING to instigate a relationship. I am holding on to this dream I suspect that all will be fine eventually , but in reality its not and won't be. My sister and mother have zero respect for me or even care. Long history of terrible toxic behaviour and I was always making excuses for them in my own head and with other people. Interestingly now more people are seeing their behaviour and I am blessed to have support from my brothers and husband. But I feel so sad and my husband tells me I am bullied by them and they will always be bullies. I guess my rather long post wants some advise on people who didn't break the contact altogether but just distanced themselves emotionally and perhaps some practical things I could do.

To add my sister and mother do get on very well and will go on hols together, visit each other often etc. But I will never be invited or if I am its a case of the actual event never happening. I am a good person and I have a wonderful relationship with my relatives who find my mother especially a major challenge. As I get older I can see that my mental health is suffering as a result of their behaviour and I want to change all that. I have for years blamed myself for the failing in the relationships I always felt it must be me that did something, but more recently I can see actually I didn't do anything wrong bar want to have a loving relationship with these two people. All the help books I have got just don't seem to be helping me or give myself my self worth. I want to ignore their noise and actually accept its actually ok not to reply to a text if they send one and not feel guilty about it. Its ok to not answer the phone and its actually ok not to turn up to a family event if its going to make me sick ahead of time and ruin my own childrens family time. More recently I was ill and both knew I was having major surgery and no calls and only a text a few days later from my mother wondering was my little procedure over and could I bring some cakes from a bakery near me for a friend of hers who was having a hip replacement and needed her support when I was visiting. Nothing at all from my sister. I Families!!! Thanks for listening!

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T42U · 18/01/2023 19:32

Hi all, hope everyone is doing ok! I have been sticking to the advise re. Whatsapp and feel all the better for it. No more instigating a text to the group and will only answer with a closed answer if needs be. One of my children - ongoing health issues - ended up in hospital last week and not one text or call from my mother to see how he was. Yet I got two calls from relatives noting my mother had called them and was so worried about her grandson. Complete narcisstic behaviour. I have still to hear from her as I am trying very hard not to ring her as thats of course what she is waiting for. Isn't it awful. But I am trying very hard to change the landscape around me and her! Take care all and stay strong.

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T42U · 06/11/2023 21:53

Hi all
Had to pop in to "virtually" talk to someone. I honestly cannot believe what my Mum has done and yet if I take a deep breath and use logic I honestly should believe it. I have an aunt who is nearly 90 and only recently started to have some memory issues and as a result she moved into a care home as she never married or had a family of her own. She keeps in touch with me every week and I visit her when I can - I am a flight away - and she is very much part of my own family and has been a wonderful support to me all my life. My mother has always had an issue with this lady "her sil" and over the years built up resentment and bitterness over things that she feels this lady did or not did to her in the early days of her marriage. She feels my father who was a lot older than my mum had a past life and her sil should have told her this. Lots of stories but basically my mum never ever accepted that she married my father without her sil telling her about my father. In reality there wasn't much to tell and the fact is my mil married very young and resented her decision and reminded her kids of this regularly. For the past year I have said to my Mum that she shouldn't enage with her sil on these conversations as she is old and frail and really was she to blame etc ? She was determined to make this lady aware of her hurt and feelings and decided to visit her and have it out with her she also accused her sil of not coming to my fathers funeral . Which she couldn't have come too because she is frail and she had Covid at the time. My aunt got very upset and the doctor had to be called that evening. My Mum never told me this and I only found out because the nurse of the care home rang me after the visit where she heard and saw what went on. My Mum on the other hand rang me when she came home delighted she had visited and had said a few things to my aunt "to hurt her now". Honestly some people really are so wrapped up in their own world and really do not care, understand, or want to know that people have feelings or actions have consequences. I feel very sad tonight that this old lady had to experience such behaviour and even if I say anything to my mother she will completely gaslight me and twist the whole thing. Thanks for listening - No need to reply. I just needed to talk to someone about it and articulate it somewhat - which I am not sure I am doing properly. I want to share it with my brothers but I feel I am constantly giving out about her and this is just one more example and we all need to just ignore her behaviour and get on with our own lives. Hard when you see her behaviour hurting other people though! Also despite me asking her not to engage with her she still went ahead and engaged. So no respect for me either. But I guess whats new! Tx again!!!.

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Loubelle70 · 06/11/2023 21:56

Very similar to my family, mum, sister, niece...i had to go NC...My mental health was really suffering, and my self esteem. I am a lot better not talking with them. These people wont change.

T42U · 07/11/2023 07:54

Thank you @Loubelle70 I have started the process of low contact and i have become an expert on just the weather chat and that has helped a bit but I have to stay strong and focused on my own family and really try to ignore the noise around me. I thought I had been doing "ok" until this recent episode. It hurt more because ironically she was hurting someone else and it really highlighted her overall personality. She has been like a dog with a bone and was determined to have her say no matter what the cost. Thank you again and I know you understand if you took that very brave decision to go NC with your own situation! 🌸

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