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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My mother (very long, sorry, but I need help and kind words)

134 replies

Dior · 07/07/2006 12:28

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Pages · 25/08/2006 21:16

Oh, btw Milward, Dior has gone away for the weekend.

milward · 25/08/2006 21:22

Sorry dior to ask this on your thread -

Pages thank you - would you be able to point me in the direction of what we could do to help her?

Pages · 26/08/2006 10:05

Milward, your GP or social services dept should be able to tell you exactly how to go about it but as a close relative you have the right I believe to refer her to be assessed under the Mental Health Act and possibly then sectioned(section 2 is 28 days and thereafter possibly a section 3 which is 6 months). She would have to be assessed by two doctors (psychiatric) as a danger to herself or others and her condition would have to be treatable. Clearly as this would involve being held against her will (she obviously would not agree to voluntary treatment)it is quite extreme and I don't know how bad you think she is but it is in her own interests if she is in need of treatment and is not getting it. HTH.

TheRealCam · 26/08/2006 13:33
Shock
Pages · 26/08/2006 15:00

I know, it does sound shocking.. but the law is there for people's protection for the reasons I have stated. Obviously, as I say, it depends on how serious the problem is as to whether you would wish to take this action.

milward · 27/08/2006 00:02

Thanks Pages - I'll call the gp and ask. The trouble is that she's a difficult person. I don't think that they would be able to actually keep her for tests as she comes across as 'normal' but if someone would listen to my sister & I they'd see that she's not right in the head and probably never has been.

Pages · 27/08/2006 08:11

Yes, a difficult one. That's the trouble with those kind of mental health problems, most people who suffer them at that level don't/won't acknowledge it. Does she have any behaviour that is putting her at risk at all? Maybe you and your sister need to go to the GP together.

Sorry Dior, for hijacking this...

milward · 27/08/2006 09:47

Thanks Pages and also apologises to Dior for this on your thread.

I'll see what we can do - I'll update when I know something on this xxx

Dior · 01/09/2006 20:15

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Pages · 01/09/2006 21:06

Dior, can't wait to hear more. So excited for you (and a bit ).

Dior · 03/09/2006 20:47

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Dior · 18/09/2006 18:54

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MagicGenie · 18/09/2006 19:36

Dior

Just come across your thread and read it through. Wanted you to know someone was here

You're right not to do anything. You've made it clear that you're happy for your M&D to see/have a relationship with your DS - the right decision, IMHO - but I agree that you need some head space to figure things out for yourself.

Hope your counsellor helps you sort it out. FWIW, I think you're really brave.

Wanted to ask, do you remember any warmth from your D as a child? (Reading what you say about him, it feels like he's trying really hard; showing you he cares, 'reaching out' in his own way, but trying to consider your M's feeling at the same time.)

Dior · 18/09/2006 20:02

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Dior · 18/09/2006 20:03

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MagicGenie · 18/09/2006 21:14

I can understand 'united front' when it comes to matters of discipline e.g. setting curfews, not drawing in the walls (!), that kind of thing.

But would I be right to say you hold him partly responsible for how you're feeling cos he was complicit in what happened in your relationship with your M...? He didn't 'protect' you...?

Blimey, I bet he's had a rough old time with your M over the years, Dior (not defending him - just saying). It all probably made for a complicated marriage.

(Don't wanna get all heavy on you and upset/offend you, by the way! Just looking in from outside, trying to help {hug!})

Dior · 02/10/2006 19:15

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MagicGenie · 02/10/2006 19:24

Dior - I'm so glad you've posted with this update. I've seen you around but didn't want to barge in and ask how it was going.

Great that DS had a nice weekend with them. Gives you two a nice break.

Anyway, I'm really happy at what you've said. Sounds positive.

Sending a x.

Dior · 03/10/2006 10:06

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Dior · 03/10/2006 10:06

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AnguaVonUberwald · 03/10/2006 10:50

Dior
I have been reading your thread for sometime and just wanted to express my sympathy and also my hope for the future for you. I look at my relationship with all three of my parents (mother, biological father, stepfather) and the best relationship, in fact the only real relationship, is with my mother.
The reason for this is that she is the only one who has been able to admit that she made mistakes in my childhood and that some at least of my "issues" with her are legitimate.
For me that was the start of healing, and while I hope I could have done it without that, to be honest, I am not sure.
It wasn't by any means an instant fix. But we now get on very well and have a very honest relationship.
With both fathers the sad reality is that I am not and never have been important enough to them to go through that kind of soul searching. But having even one parent who does that can transform your life, because you can finally dare to belive that you are not just "weak, bad, lazy, insert self insult here) but actually did experience the problems you think you did. It still took years, but my mother admiting "her side of it", was one of the most fundamental and life changing things that every happened to me.
Sorry, this is very long and rambling, really trying to say, there is hope, and I really really hope you experiance the validation of yourself that I got from my mothers admision.

Dior · 03/10/2006 18:55

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Pages · 10/10/2006 12:26

Dior, I can relate to so much of what you are saying. I really want a chat with you but have been without a computer for two weeks. Hopefully I will be back on line in a few days but am at work so can't really talk now. If you want to CAT me I will get back to you asap or I will CAT you as soon as I get my computer up and running. xx

mamhaf · 10/10/2006 15:01

I've just read this thread, and it sounds so much like the relationship I had with my mother, who died of cancer almost exactly three years ago. Dior, you've done exactly the right thing talking honestly to her - even if she hasn't admitted it out loud enough. I wish I'd had the same sort of conversation with my mother because it's too late now. I was fortunate enough to have (at least partially) come to terms with her behaviour and not let it ruin the rest of my life..although I wasn't able to do that until my mid-30s. Not long after that, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was with her when she died, but I still find it hard to forgive the way she treated me. Would your mother go to joint counselling with you? That would give you both space to express your feelings and maybe reach acceptance even if it doesn't bring the solution you seek. I would not advocate cutting off contact with her for ever - life is too short, even though it's very tough at times. My experiences gave me the determination to be a very different mother to my children, and to be independent so that I wouldn't have to rely on my parents. One of the consequences of everything that has happened is that I now have a very close relationship with my dad - he always stood by her bad behaviour, but the fact that she's gone means there's nothing standing in the way of our father-daughter relationship.

Dior · 17/01/2007 15:28

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