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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

I totally dislike my daughter (long and ranty)

443 replies

ohthatsokthen · 12/07/2014 10:51

DD now 21. Backstory she has been problematic since 13. Started with truancy, smoking etc. Then absconded from school and was found unconscious on the school field with an empty bottle of vodka. We then discovered she was bulimic and self harming. Many trips to the Drs later we were referred to PCAHMS for counselling. There are no known issues in our family, me and her dad still together, he has been a fantastic dad and we have both tried our best to support and encourage her. In her words "you are epic parents and I had a lovely childhood, I don't know why I do these things". Signed off from PCAHMS as deemed "helped". Over the next few years she went to college and got a part time job. She was then sent home from work as she was drunk, this continued and escalated until she was drinking all day and being abusive. I met with her work who offered to help - her words "all teenagers drink", took her to the drs "my mum is imagining it all, I am fine". To cut a long story short, the drinking escalated and she became threatening and violent and I snapped (probably not the best thing to do) and threw her out. We had a number of police visits due to threats and her trying to kick the door in. Police told me I was a victim of dv. She found a room, we paid the rent and deposit for 6 months. She got thrown out from that room because she kicked off and started smashing the place up. At this point I cut contact as she was making me ill with the stress. She moved in with her boyfriend, and his junkie father and moved onto drugs (speed, crack), got raped by her drug dealer. I can't even talk about that. She moved into a nice room, to get away and we paid the deposit. All this time still drinking but miraculously because of her manager she clung on to her job. She was then given notice on her room as the ll was getting married so she went off on a rare one and her threw her out that night. In desperation, the next day I found her a bedsit albeit in a halfway house type place, paid the deposit and the rent. She is still there. 5 months ago she quit drinking, we were so proud of her. I told her that she needed to get help as she obviously has issues (she says she wants to feel incredible all the time and can't bear the mundane day to day life). It transpires that although she isn't drinking the drug use has escalated, to the point she owes dealers. She came round last night and was vile, screaming and shouting at me. Told me all of this was her fault, she hated her life, we should take her back home and she would stop. I forced her to take the bedsit, if I hadn't she wouldn't be doing drugs. She hates her job, nobody has offered her a promotion and she's been there 3 years. I was very calm and told her, nobody had done this to her but herself and I wasn't going to discuss it anymore as she never listened (we asked her to attend Narcotics anonymous and the drs - she won't because they tell her things she doesn't want to hear). She was hateful, vicious and mean. I have got to the point where I totally dislike her and my husband says he despises her and can't be in her company. Sometimes I wish she was dead so that we didn't have to live like this and she wasn't suffering anymore. dh retires next year and we are going to sell up and move away (plan was to buy a house with annexe for dd if she got clean but that is never going to happen). All we wanted for her was to be happy, and either do uni/travel/or a job she liked. Whilst we are not perfect parents (who is) we have always encouraged and supported her and tried to do what we think is best. I am now at the point where I think - I've done everything I can, you are an adult and its up to you. I think this stems from growing up with both parents as alcoholics. I know she is a tortured soul but I can't help someone who refuses to take responsibility and help herself. Sorry for the essay, rant over - just wanted to get it off my chest!!! Thanks if you managed to read to the end

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 11:43

She cries and says she loves us and doesn't want to hurt us and wants to make us proud of her but she has ruined it all. We have told her, yes she has made some mistakes but is still only 21, she can turn this around and has her whole life to look forward to. I have told her she doesn't need to make us proud, that she needs to focus on being well and happy. She says she hasn't achieved anything, she has, she has stopped drinking on her own, she has a job, she has a bedsit and is slowly making friends but if she carries on taking drugs it will all slip away.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 11:44

would ss get involved with an adult?

OP posts:
firstchoice · 15/07/2014 11:46

ohthatsokthen -

I know you haven't asked for pity (or validation). I don't think you can bodyswerve the compassion that is coming your way though, even from posters you have found more challenging Grin
I think we ALL have compassion for you, and your Dd and your Dh too.
It has been gruelling for ALL of you by the sounds of it.

It is good to hear of all the 'little' (big!) things you are doing on an almost daily basis to support her. Clearly if she is needing help eating healthily, keeping dry and warm, being met/transported around, she IS still 'acting' as a much younger person. I hear what you are saying about her chronological age being relevant for accessing services though - very frustrating for you all.

I wonder if you could offer her the unconditional chance to come with you so you could ALL have a 'fresh start' - maybe if she is physically with you somewhere new she might find the courage to access fresh services. Just being 'away' from the scene of so many set backs and failures might really really help her, but I think she'll need you with her for the support you so obviously give.
Clearly you have - and continue to - help all you can.
She needs to know you love her - no matter what, and under your frustration, clearly do you.

chockbic · 15/07/2014 11:49

Yes ss will, can be a useful avenue to pursue.

flappityfanjos · 15/07/2014 11:51

I think this thread has taken the direction it has through people's fear. If the OP really has tried everything, has cared, has been a warm, supportive parent, then it's possible that our children might spiral down and we won't be able to prevent it. If the OP can't be rescued by counselling, if she really has tried over and over to get support for her and her daughter, maybe our families can also go through this and there will be no one to rescue us. We can't let that be true, so the OP MUST have missed something, must have done something wrong. That way we can log out and go to bed safe in the knowledge that nothing's going to bring our worlds down around our ears. Shame that doesn't help the OP in the slightest, eh?

blubirdy · 15/07/2014 11:51

I wonder if you could offer her the unconditional chance to come with you

You're advocating letting a drug addict (one who even refuses to admit an addiction) just move in with no conditions what so ever to temper their drug use prior to moving in? That to me is the height of enabling and possibly the worst thing the OP could do.

I know you mean well, but really, I think your advice is very dangerous and you should refrain from giving that sort of advice.

winkywinkola · 15/07/2014 11:53

Flappity, I think you're right.

When nothing works to make a difference, to make things better, it's a deeply depressing prospect.

Oblomov · 15/07/2014 11:57

agreed. Sad

Oblomov · 15/07/2014 11:59

and I don't agree with chocbit either.
I think ss are the LAST people you need.
they too are severely unstaffed and under strain and can't cope with the workload they have.

firstchoice · 15/07/2014 12:01

flappity - I for one am not saying the OP 'must have missed something' but I am saying they could all do with some support (jointly or severally). Not the same thing.

blubirdy - my advice is no more 'dangerous' than yours, really. It could be the best thing the OP could do, it could be the worst. None of us know, and only time would tell. It is simply advice, for the OP to take or leave as she wishes.

winkywonkola - yes, it may be a 'hopeless situation'.
They DO exist and people do 'naturally' shy away from the implications this existence may have for their own lives.
But the OP clearly IS still striving to make it better, and wanting her Dd to take her part in this striving too.

deepest · 15/07/2014 12:02

flappity...you make an excellent point .... I have a 12 yr old with major behavioral issues...and all I get from people is "have you tried star charts? rewards?one to ones? etc......of course we have!!!

OP sometimes you are dealing with something that doesn't respond to normal/rational actions (or anything much) - and you just have to accept a large part of it and work around it to just to alleviate the little bits that you can change - but essentially accept that life will never be "fixed" - once you do this you can pace yourself and surround yourself and gain strength from people in the same boat.....which is what you need to best support your daughter.

chockbic · 15/07/2014 12:04

I think there's always a family dynamic, of approval, disapproval. Hopes, dreams, fears.

Social services can be very helpful. You've nothing to lose.

blubirdy · 15/07/2014 12:12

blubirdy - my advice is no more 'dangerous' than yours, really. It could be the best thing the OP could do, it could be the worst. None of us know, and only time would tell. It is simply advice, for the OP to take or leave as she wishes

firstchoice now you are just being stupid.

The only advice I gave to the OP was "look after yourself". That can't be construed by anyone as potentially very dangerous. Your advice however goes against decades of tried and tested techniques into dealing with addiction. Please get your facts straight before you accuse me of giving dangerous advice. I don't. But if I had done so inadvertently, and that was pointed out to me, I would accept my advice was well meant but ultimately potentially too dangerous to contemplate, and as such I would admit that and climb down.

And as for "none of us know, only time will tell" - sorry but what a crock of shit! Professionals have been dealing with addiction issues for decades and some techniques used are proven to be effective, others, like the enabling you recommend, have been proven to be the opposite of helpful, and are detrimental to all involved.

flappityfanjos · 15/07/2014 12:12

I'm sure she'd love some support that actually helped. She's tried many avenues, including counselling and Al-anon for herself, and didn't find it helpful. The support she keeps trying to access for her daughter simply isn't there, especially now that her daughter is legally an adult. This is kind of what I mean by "OP must have missed something" - you are advising her to get support when she has tried and tried and tried to get support.

ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:15

First its a lovely sentiment, but we can't take her as an addict. She threatened to bottle me when she was living with us and was violent. We would be back to square one BUT if she gets help and gets clean we would love her to come with us. If we take her back we have to go through the pain of throwing her out again and I think that would be more damaging to her than managing it all at arms length.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:16

Thats if we take her back whilst still taking drugs, plus I don't want drugs in my home.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:17

My gran used to say when my dad was alive, oh he's giving up drinking. I would say, I don't think so, he has lost his home and family, if he couldn't give up when he had a wife and 3 dependent children there's certainly no incentive having lost everything. He died at 58, 2 weeks sober.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 15/07/2014 12:17

agree with flappity.
what support EXACTLY are people suggesting that Op tries to access, that she hasn't before.
I'm a bit confused.

ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:19

He had been put in hospital to dry out, phoned me because he was upset they said he couldn't drink. I said you are an adult you do what you choose to do, and please don't involve me with it. I had no choice as a child but I do as an adult. That was the last time I spoke to him, he dropped dead from alcohol damage a week later. Sadly I am very realistic about the outcome which is why I have spent 8 years trying to help dd.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:21

What I have learned, right or wrong is you can offer help, you can't force it and ultimately you have to protect yourself or you become just as damaged yourself. Its a no win situation.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:24

This has been hell for my dh he has never experienced anything like it in his life. I have dealt with it better as I realised based on earlier experience an addict has to want her you cannot fix them. It took him 2 years and seeing her dragged away kicking and screaming by a police officer for trying to kick our door in to see this.

OP posts:
ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:25

I haven't asked for pity/support/validation but you are lovely compassionate people. Thanks

OP posts:
firstchoice · 15/07/2014 12:32

blubirdy

I think you have misunderstood me - or perhaps I was not very clear?
I wasn't implying your advice was 'dangerous' at all (your word not mine), much less 'accusing' you of anything. I was merely saying that my advice was no more dangerous than anyone else's on this thread. I stand by that. If the OP wants to obtain advice supported by 'decades of tried and tested techniques' then she would be looking for PROFESSIONAL advice. I was not pretending to offer that. I was offering what I assume the OP came here for - general support and general unprofessional advice/opinions/thought, for the OP to take or leave as she wishes.

OP:

My thought process was working on the possibility that you might take her back and NOT have to go through the pain of throwing her out again - IF you were able to access the support you need this time. Clearly, the support / her ability to access / accept it, would have to be very different.
Please don't think I am being nosey re your finances but do you have the wherewithal to try private options?
As you have found, NHS provision is patchy at best, and dries up when a child (chronologically) reaches adulthood.
Just because she hasn't been offered adequate help to date / been able to accept it, doesn't mean she never might???

You KNOW your daughter, we don't.
We don't know you, just the bits we see on this thread.
We can only surmise what might help.
I am sorry if I am not making helpful suggestions.
If that is how you feel the scenario would go if she came with you, then I see why you feel as you do. You are trying to avoid more damage.
Whether it could 'work' or not really depends on the level of support available at the other end, as to whether you feel you can take the risk of it 'failing' again. Is it worth researching this, meantime?

nauticant · 15/07/2014 12:38

do you have the wherewithal to try private options?

Surely the prerequisite is the daughter being willing to cooperate. If she is, then the OP can have a look in her bank accout.

ohthatsokthen · 15/07/2014 12:38

First we could pay for rehab, the problem is she doesn't want to stop. Its not that she doesn't think she can (she stopped drinking and had been officially diagnosed as an alcoholic) Her support worker had told her it would be impossible to do on her own but she did it. She does not want to quit drugs, she likes the effect they have on her. Thats why we won't pay for rehab or take her with us. Thats why she can't get help for her MH issues because her dr said she had to be clean for 3 months to get an assessment. Yes there is a lack of help but we would pay for it too but the major problem is her unwillingness to accept/seek help and until that changes it is status quo. Her actual words are I like drugs and I don't want to stop, you are all bitches trying to stop me making myself happy.

OP posts:
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