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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

New friendship is not what I was hoping..

25 replies

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 10:13

Ive been living in this area for two years after moving from a different county & made a mummy friend online just before xmas. Shes an absolutely lovely person & suffers from depression and anxiety and has lots of other ailments, you name it and she's got it/had it. Ive suffered from depression myself so I know what its like but I cant help my gut instinct telling me alot of it is attention seeking ftom me and I think she may be a bit of a hypochondriac. The friendship brings me no joy really, no laughter, its all doom and gloom and its bringing me down now which I dont need. I truely dont know what to do, im a nice person and dont want to dump her like a ton of bricks but I think I misjudged the situation. Advice please? Sad

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 06/03/2015 10:15

I would just distance yourself - stop being available to meet up very often and things should fizzle out

PandorasToyBox · 06/03/2015 10:25

Yy to letting friendship fizzle out, life is too short for negative relationships.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/03/2015 10:28

Fizzling out is one way of doing it. Another would be to be more honest. Tell her that, whist you sympathise with her problems and have been happy to listen, you're not a trained therapist and your own mental health is starting to suffer. 'Why don't we take a rain-check?'.... might be a kind way to call time.

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 10:29

Shes a really lovely person but the friendship is going nowhere, all visits/phonecalls revolve around talking about how bad her life is and wont go out anywhere. Im not getting anything out of it, apart from it making me feel down too. Am I being selfish?

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/03/2015 10:32

Of course you're not being selfish. You're being used... If anyone's being selfish, it's the person monopolising the conversation to chronically air their own woes. It's boring apart from anything else. Does she ever ask about your problems? Ever offer to help you out? Ever show any interest in you whatsoever?

I call such people 'Dementors' after the creatures in Harry Potter. They drain all the happiness out of you. Give her an expecto patronem... and get shot.

theboatisleaking · 06/03/2015 10:33

No you're not being selfish at all. You don't owe her anything. Just become 'very busy' and avoid meeting up until she gets the hint.

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 10:36

Thanks ladies, you're right. She will ask how I am/my family but its very soon back to her.

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Mouldypineapple · 06/03/2015 10:50

Perhaps she is in need of support? As a new friend you may not be the right person but maybe delve a bit deeper.
A few years ago I had an old friend I only saw a couple of times a year. A few times she seemed really miserable but never said why. I thought about not seeing her anymore but we did and it turns out she was going through a lot of problems including marriage breakdown (which i didnt know about) and the death of a close family member (which I knew about) and felt she had nowhere to turn to. Things now are much better. She is divorced, feeling stronger and our relationship is much closer than before.
Just saying if you like her otherwise perhaps don't be too quick to walk away..

ITHOUGHTISAW2ANGELSAHEADOFME · 06/03/2015 10:57

I think in this situation you have to slowly withdraw your self from the friendship. If she is down and has anxiety then suddenly stopping the friendship will upset her which I know is not your problem but could make her anxiety worse.
I find people do this with me because I have a lot of issues. I am used to it now but from experience I think you need to drop her gradually.

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 11:11

She's extremely needy and given support constantly, in fact thats all ive done. Theres no laughter or banter and my husband is now concerned that the friendship is weighing me down and not doing my mental/emotional wellbeing any good.

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ITHOUGHTISAW2ANGELSAHEADOFME · 06/03/2015 11:19

yes if it's affecting perhaps just say you are busy busy busy you don't have to lie or make excuses busy is a good word to avoid people you don't want to see.

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 11:40

Thank you, its really helped me. Been wracked with guilt feeling like a bad person Sad

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MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 15:02

This friend doesnt know my address as she lives 5 miles away & its only me ever been to see her at hers. Ive thought about telling her a tiny white lie, that ive got a job which would be the perfect 'busy' excuse.

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TheresACatInMeKitchen · 06/03/2015 15:18

OP I could have written your post word for word as I have a cousin that is like this. We were really close once but as we got older the neediness and attention seeking got worse.

She used to come round for hours on end, every conversation was turned back to her, whether it be relationships/health/money/work etc it would all be "Woe is me, how shit her life was. She also used to bad mouth everyone and anyone (usually down to jealousy) which wasn't nice to hear. If she wasn't getting the attention she craved she started making up serious issues/incidents to gain that attention, then would drop herself in it by contradicting herself. It got to the stage where I no longer knew what the truth was. (i'm not even sure "she" knew what the truth was tbh!!!)
I was left feeling absolutely wretched after ever visit.

Two years ago it all came to a head when I was going through a really shit time of my own and although she asked how I was, didn't really care for the answer. She had come round and spent the best part of 4 hours telling me her (non existent) problems. When she left I broke down in tears to dh. I couldn't do it anymore, I had nothing left to give and clearly remember saying to dh "I don't know what she wants from me" She'd finally done it she had broken me.

I started to withdraw, stopped being so available. I needed time and space to fix my own head (I too suffer from depression but can usually deal with it without going back on my meds, but I need time out from other people to do it).
Not long after, Dh had a word with her and told her a few home truths when she "demanded" to know why she couldn't come over.

It took me months to get back to a happy place again and I needed to understand why she was the way she was so after a lot of googling I finally think I found what I was looking for. That made me realise that it didn't matter what I did or didn't say she was never going to change .

Now when we spend time together it is on my terms, as soon as she starts with her "woe is me" crap. I just smile and nod and then change the subject or if it is a problem of her own doing, I tell her so. If I suspect she is lying and she contradicts herself I point it out and thus it goes. I don't play into her hands
I cant go no contact but It helps me massively to know that I can deal with her and she cannot take from me something I am not willing to give.
I think she has finally realised this and its not all doom and gloom now which is much better.

But having said that if she were someone id only known a few months I would have phased her out slowly and permanently a long time ago.
Its really not worth your own wellbeing "trying" to be there for someone who gives nothing back so don't for one minute feel guilty OP
Put yourself first!!

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 15:20

TheresACatInMeKitchen - Thank you Smile x

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TheresACatInMeKitchen · 06/03/2015 15:38

oops didn't realise that i'd cross posted with you mummyb

You're most welcome! Smile.
Seriously I put up with this crap for way too long and I would hate for anyone to feel the way I did.

You can tell her whatever you like as she is unlikely to find out anyway, just don't be available for her.
I wouldn't go in with too much detail though. Its best to keep the excuses short and sweet.

That way it doesn't get too complicated and you don't leave yourself open for further explanation.

Good Luck!!

MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 16:05

Thank you so much. Feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders already Smile x

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MummyBtothree · 06/03/2015 20:33

Sad Sad

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Meerka · 06/03/2015 21:42

something happened mummy?

dangerrabbit · 06/03/2015 23:04

Personally I wouldnt bother trying to discuss your reasons for it with her as it seems kinder as a new friend to just distance yourself and become "busy" for a while.

MummyBtothree · 07/03/2015 13:50

Ive backed off slightly and shes now suddenly feeling a bit better in herself. Not sure if its just coincidence or she sensed me backing off and has just said that to try and get my attention again.

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MummyBtothree · 07/03/2015 14:06

Ive got enough problems of my own hence struggling to find the amount of support my friend needs. Ive just started a new thread titled 'having to choose between my family and my husband'

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BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 07/03/2015 14:06

It doesn't really matter why she's suddenly feeling a bit better, YOU ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WITHDRAWING. Please don't be deflected or she'll suck you right back in.

She's an emotional Black Hole and you really don't need this kind of friendship. The cost is far, far too great.

Meerka · 07/03/2015 14:24

Regarding your friend, as bitter says ... keep on keeping your distance. You have far too much on your mind to deal with someone who is this needy.

MummyBtothree · 07/03/2015 14:55

Dunno if you have seen my othet thread but I def have too much of my own shit to deal with xxxx

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