Things To Do in Ambridge When Rob's Dead. Can The Archers get Home Deliverance for Helen?

[PseudoBadger]

Just listened on iplayer. Bastard.

Once I'd simmered down, I too wondered how any halfway clued-up psychiatrist could listen to H and agree that yes, it's all her fault. Unless Knob and Arseula have actually gone so far as to pay someone to pretend to be a psychiatrist.

I listened until Helen said she wanted Ursula go then I switched it off. I knew she'd pay for that.

I suppose him hitting her was the next stage in classic, abusive behaviour. I'm glad they gave a support number out.

Definitely coming to a head, and I think the head will be the birth of the baby.

On the psychiatrist/ therapist. Is Rob actually delusional in that he does actually think it's all Helen? And he's being utterly reasonable? Because if not it does seem an amazingly high risk strategy for him.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/2590205-AIBU-to-ask-for-relationships-advice-here

Delusional I think.

The nefarious stuff Knob gets up too, I think he processes that as that's-how-everyone-behaves.

I really need this to be over. I love TA - it's comforting and cosy and a bit crap. Like an old cardi that doesn't do anything for you.

Having said I wasn't going to listen any more, it's very difficult not to - I work from home and R4 is on from the moment I get up until the moment I go to bed. I am no longer a listener to TA though

Summary: the new curtains went up at the Village Hall. Cue much inane chat between Neil, Susan, Clarrie and Lynda. Interspersed were some dreadful scenes between Rob and Helen. She begged him to tell his mother she could go home. She said she felt stifled. He pooh poohed this. He told her there was something wrong with her and there always had been. His mother was putting her whole life on hold to help out and all she could do was complain. He couldn't understand why she had ever been allowed to have Henry. At that point she called him a bastard and said 'How dare you!' and he slapped her. She seemed to suggest later that she might have been trying to hit him at that point, but he was the one who actually did lash out. Later she found him crying and he said he was at his wit's end and it was time to get her some psychiatric help. Of course she was apologising for winding him up.

Have I forgotten anything?

Then the CA read out the Action Line number, which is the first time for this storyline.

I'm very wound up by this. It's just fiction for me. Goodness knows how people with personal experience of this must be feeling.

Along the lines of, why the fuck was hellin allowed to bring him into the world, seeing as she is certifiable.

In RL = total reveal and unforgiveable

I think Rob has a personality disorder. He's delusional, arrogant
and a cunt

I'm hoping that slap is the beginning of the end and that the end isn't too far away.
I read somewhere (OK, on MN - and probably on a TA thread) that it takes 7 (or 9?) acts of violence before an abused woman leaves for good Let's hope Helen leaves well before that (for all our blood pressures and for all abused women who this SL might help).
One good thing is that Helen does seem - slowly - to be coming to her senses and rescuing herself - which will be a better outcome than Kirsty riding in on a white charger - let Helen take control.

On the "posting as Helen" conversation. I once posted as Jane Eyre (torn between two lovers following abusive childhood kind of thing) - some people spotted it immediately but a couple took time to offer kind and considered replies and I felt somewhat ashamed of having duped them.

That RuthAaghh - whatever happened to her? (Looks around innocently and suddenly notices - is that the time? Must be going)

Just to be clear, I've never pretended to be anyone but J Eyre and Ruth

Excellent summary Gasp0de

It was brilliantly written and acted but v v hard to listen to.

Agree with those saying the end game is in sight (reckon it wiil be when Henwee tells mummy the secwet about him going away to school).

I really can't take another ten weeks of this.

I assume the psychiatrist will insist that Knob and Arseulsa are not present when Helen is seen. This could potentially be a good thing.

BBC blog post on the Helen and Rob story by SOC

A psychiatrist would insist on seeing Helen on her own at some point, even if Rob and Urs were at the initial consultation. Even for those under the age of 18, the psychiatrist will see the child on their own.

It takes an awful lot to actually section someone. Anyone can make a referral if they consider someone is a danger to themselves or others, but actually getting the person sectioned is another matter.

And in my experience, once someone is an adult, a family member/partner will only be asked along to an appointment if they feel you have something positive to contribute. And it isn't that usual.

It's coming back to me now. Helen said that Henry had changed since Ursula arrived and that he didn't come in to her in the mornings any more. She thought he was very unsettled by all the changes in his routine and environment. Rob said it was no wonder that he was unsettled, but the change was all in Helen. Then he ran through a long list of areas where she was a failure and ended with the unforgivable remark.

He really went for her - it reminded me of when he was lashing out (verbally) at Jess.

Whoever said TA was a bit like a beloved old cardi - I feel the same way. Could really have done with wrapping that cardi round me recently for comfort - but now if TA is a cardi, it's one knitted with barbed wire.

(and not in a Knob way)

Toomuch - I wondered tonight whether this had happened in Rob/Jess's relationship many years ago.

BTW on my psychiatric notes there is a box that can be ticked if abuse is suspected. I did tell my psych that there was EA (cocklodger, not violent), but that box was not ticked...

Jeez, Silvery.