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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 need to piece stuff together (possible triggering)

28 replies

FraggledUp · 29/10/2015 05:15

You may well recognise parts of this, I have messaged before about bits of my life. I need to put this all together to know who I am and what I do next.

I am the youngest of six children, I am aged 51, I don't feel at peace in my life or happy.

I was a very very lonely child, my brothers and sisters were a fair bit older than me and as children were very close and did lots together. I was a mistake, often told to me by my siblings and made clear to me by my parents. I was an only child in a large family. I will give you some examples just so you understand.

Christmas night one year the local pub decided to open, but it was only for over 16s, all my brothers and sisters were over that age, so everyone left me on Christmas night and went and had fun, while I was left alone.

Another year, I was possibly 15/16, it was New Year's Eve, I was invited to a party, but I was only allowed to go if I was back by 11.30???? I walked home alone from the party, knowing no one would be in, everyone of the family was out doing their own thing and I sat alone. No one knew if I was home or not, but I wouldn't defy my parents by staying out.

My birthday is in January, I was never given present as it was too close to Christmas, I was instructed however to tell anyone who asked, that I got money.

My mother particularly didn't like me, but that is a whole different thread.

As children we used to visit an aunt and uncle who had a small holding, my uncle abused myself and my sisters. We have discussed this, I seemed to have suffered more, probably as I was often left alone when the others went off the small holding to do stuff together, I was more of a target.

In addition to this, when I was 14 (a very young and naive 14) I started to babysit for a friend of my parents, the husband can only what I can describe as "groomed" me, he took my virginity, used me, got me to perform all sorts of sexual acts. I accept my part in this, I went wilingly, I thought he loved me, I thought he was going to leave his wife for me. I was very very young for my age, very naive.

When I first started dating my husband, my one and only boyfriend at 18, I didn't go near any other boys since the babysitting stuff. I told him about the friend of the parents. He was massively angry with me, screaming why did I do that stuff, I remember I ran and hid in a dustbin shelter behind one of those really large bins. Eventually he left and I went home. He of course was massively sorry the next day, blah blah and eventually I married him.

I became a very strong person, I got into a job that was a good career path and was/am doing well.

We have two sons, they have now left home, the most recent was around four months ago.

I never told my husband about the uncle, nor would I have done, however my sister did.

So, I am a strong person, the only thing my husband can hurt me with is the sexual abuse, largely we have a happy marriage, but along the way he has used the abuse to hurt me. I think he previously had a porn habit which I think stopped after my finding evidence of him paying for stuff last Christmas Day, previously I would have reacted differently to finding this stuff but that day I just broke down. I just cried, something he probably didn't expect. He had been distant and not wanting to have sex with me, now I know why again, I had had enough and I didn't want him to be near me. I have seen a big difference since then, but I'm not sure it's enough.

Examples of over the years what he has said, done......

On more than one occasion, I have been told "I don't act like a sex abuse victim", not sure how an abuse victim acts, but I refuse for the previous people in my life hurt me know.

Not long after marriage, it was my birthday, again we had not made love for sometime, I tried to initiate it. I couldn't see why he would not ant me, long story short, he did start but then as we were kissing he viciously but me and told me I was too fat and turned him off. Lots of stuff was said that night, I was devastated and can remember everything like it was yesterday. The next day he came to my office to apologise, he could've came to my office the previous day to wish me happy birthday, but he did nothing for my birthday, I got the wine, I got the did, he did nothing. But then he is sorry.

A lot of the time over the years he has gone off me, I have very rarely not wanted him or if I didn't I would often "pleasure" him, willingly I would add. Howeve, i remember once that I suggested that maybe even if he didn't want sex with me, he could repay the "favour" after all our sex life wasn't all about him. He agreed, I felt he was being a bit clumsy, but a little way into it, he said, you can't possibly be enjoying this, I realised then he was actually deliberately attempting make me physically uncomfortable.

There is more, but that's some examples, I will add there have been years gone by without incident at times.

So this leads me to today, I feel massive anger about everything over the years. Bizarrely, not about my abusers, but about my husband. They didn't love me, my husband said/says he does. I cannot move on, I time after time, week after week, month after month keep going over what's happened. Things are good in the marriage at the moment but today was one of my bad days, another row about the same things, I at times feel hatred, I need to find closure.

I keep asking him the same questions, why? Why did you say/do those things, why did you take my most inner feelings and use them against me? Why? Why? Why?

I need to be able to forgive and move on, I'm hurting again today. How do i do this?

Sometimes he gets angry and says that some of the stuff was 30 years ago, he is right, some is. I cannot seem to let it go, I feel so low again today and I just need to find some peace. Other times he is massively apologetic, he is desperate for us not to separate, I don't think I want that either.

I don't know what I expect any of you to say, but it's helped me writing a lot of it down. Sorry it's so long.

OP posts:
FraggledUp · 01/11/2015 14:23

Thanks for the further replies, I will make an appointment with my GP, I am hoping that this will be the start of putting everything behind me. I understand that counselling won't make the memories go away, but I presume you can no longer think of the things and feel that stomach churning anguish?

OP posts:
Biber · 01/11/2015 16:09

Hi Fraggled,

your story is horrific and I am so glad that you are going for help. There are actually many sorts of counselling, I'd have though you would benefit from something long term, but let's see what the GP can offer. It might be that something private or via an appropriate charity might be better now that mh services are so badly funded.

Somehow talking about issues with a person who is not involved but who wants to support you in growing and healing, who can give you another way of looking at things makes the pain ease. As you grow in strength you can look at what you want to do about your life now and your counsellor will support you in making these choices.

These are many articles about how the counselling process works. Here is one. www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellor-articles/adult-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuse-how-counselling-helps

i got into therapy/counselling when my baby died. This was .. good grief ... 21 years ago. I have had many other issues in my life but this was what sent me looking for one to one help. Now I can talk and think about his life, his death, the whole experience and usually I do not get that stomach churning anguish as you put it so well. That experience is part of what makes me who I am now, and it will never be forgotten, the same with all of our histories. Occasionally the burning grief does come back, but rarely, and it is livable with.

With very warm supportive thoughts for you, the child who went through so much and the adult who is searching for her healing.

This support charity is much recommended: napac.org.uk/

FraggledUp · 03/11/2015 14:04

Biber, thank you so much for all that effort and thank you to all the other posters! I really feel warmed by your taking the time to answer.

Well I have taken two steps, I've moved out of our bedroom, I need space and time alone to just be quiet if that makes sense? It's not been met with much sympathy but it has been a week now, my sleeping is improving slightly!!

Secondly I have made a GP appointment this is for the 12fh, I couldn't warrant an emergency appointment.

Thank you all once again

OP posts:
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