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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

Advice please, I am being stalked

205 replies

user1491774393 · 09/04/2017 22:56

Hello everyone. I dont really know where to begin and this is complicated. I am being stalked online and offline, I have also been disgustingly slandered and harassed. Stopping short of deleting all of my social network accounts I dont know what to do. I was hacked a few years ago, and things that I had written went on to be plagiarised, then I was subjected to a smear campaign. This was really bad, It ended up in me having a mental breakdown and attempting suicide. The online harassment is still happening. I already had post traumatic stress disorder before this. I have told the police, I have screenshots of the weird cryptic harassment I am on the receiving end of almost daily. Removing my social network accounts would render me pretty much isolated due to disability. This has made me beyond depressed, It also made me relapse back into having an eating disorder and I am now awaiting assistance from mental health services because of this unrelenting and cruel harassment. Any advice would be appreciated, I just dont know what to do. My children and I had to leave our home because of this, which was a massive upheaval for all of us. This is actually making me ill. Sorry for moaning but you ladies give the best advice.

OP posts:
darceybussell · 12/04/2017 16:37

I've read the whole thread now but I'm sorry OP, I'm probably being thick, but I'm struggling to understand the context.

So someone somewhere started a false rumour about you that you had abused a child or children. Following that lots of people believed it and started discussing you online, making up more stuff about you and posting it to Facebook and other places. Then it moved off line and people in the community heard about it, believed it and therefore started leaving horrible things on your doorstep and heckling you in the street? Have I got that right?

I'm not sure what the significance of your medical records is - was someone trying to use that to prove that you are a child abuser?

SmurfPants · 12/04/2017 16:49

Op I've reported this thread because I'm worried for you. Not because I think you're a troll. Whatever is going on for you, you're clearly distressed and I don't feel this thread is helpful.

If you are being stalked to this extent, then you need to take this offline and I would suggest you speak to your gp too.

forumdonkey · 12/04/2017 16:54

Your last post gives a little more clarity OP

I was being threatened with horrible things What were the threats ; Being framed, being kidnapped and the rest. Have you still got the messages? I would hope that the police take something like that seriously.

FB comments on my posts, inbox messages warning me about locking my doors and being drugged and raped, inboxes about hoping someone will find me, Again threats of serious violence. Are your posts public and do you know personally who is your FB friends?

I was called a rat on multiple occasions, called a child abuser Being openly and publicly called a child abuser is worthy of a police report. were there witnesses and have you ever found the source? If so many others have seen it, have you?

Have you googled your name? I'm shocked that the police won't step in on this.

NotCarylChurchill · 12/04/2017 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hellofromme · 12/04/2017 17:38

are you concerned that the person responsible for the stalking is following this thread?

Norland · 12/04/2017 18:02

I have had objects left outside my home, What has been left? Rotten foodstuffs of an unknown animal origin, books about stuff that I'm not interested in (Royalty, The Manhattan Project, Loads of Winston Churchills books, books about symbology) I did not keep them, I should have donated them because some were quite valuable and rare but I binned them because it just seemed odd to me.

If you get any other rare books appearing mysteriously, please let me know as they're a bit of a passion of mine. Are you also in the ABA?

Icantthinkofafunny · 12/04/2017 18:03

They also bought up the 2 terminations I had, and my own sister doesn't even know this. I chose to terminate because I was developing really debilitating illnesses, and having that used against me, when it's something I am neither proud of or really willing to discuss is vile, and what made me realise that this was serious.

I also reported the thread a night ago, I felt I had disclosed too much and this would almost guarantee more awful trolling because it's specific details and those responsible could easily figure out who I am.

Darceybussel; I dont know what the significance of my records was, there is not much in them really, just stuff about childhood accidents, illness and getting counselling when my brother died and asking for referrals for anorexia. Trying to emphasize why just makes me conclude (possibly incorrectly) that they where showing off and making it obvious that they were in a position to access my boring and not very useful information.

forumdonkey · 12/04/2017 18:15

Who might know about your terminations other than your DH? Have you ever blogged about them?

Did you find the source of the Child Abuse allegations? Have you googled your name?

forumdonkey · 12/04/2017 18:16

How well do you know your GP receptionist? Have you got mutual friends?

LookAtTheFlowersKerry · 12/04/2017 18:53

In what way were the terminations brought up?

I'm just trying to get my head round it.

Onecutefox · 12/04/2017 19:51

OP, what about your DH? It is either him or someone else who knows so much of the personal information about you and has also access to your computer.

WelshMoth · 12/04/2017 19:52

OP, who knew apart from you, about your terminations ?

This is horrendous.

OP, when a list is drawn, as much as we've really pressed you, a net is cast. I really want you to be ok.

Are you suspecting that someone is stalking this thread? X

WelshMoth · 12/04/2017 19:52

Sorry about the X - force of habit Confused

DesertSky · 12/04/2017 20:31

OP, this all sounds awful. I believe you. I don't think you are crazy. I think whoever is behind this is trying to make you think you are. As you've already stated, you were cleared from the mental health assessment.

This is a serious question - has anything that has appeared online or anything relating to this stalking/harassment been in relation to something you have NEVER told anyone (nor written about online) other than your DP?

DesertSky · 12/04/2017 20:39

NotCarylChurchill You can receive messages to your fb inbox from people you've not accepted - I sometimes sell things on selling pages and get messages from strangers. I think you can change your settings though to prevent non-friends from messaging you though.
OP I would make sure your privacy settings are on the highest level possible. However if somebody has access to your account this may not help as they could be altering the settings?

MiscellaneousAssortment · 12/04/2017 21:44

The more you say, the more it's clear that something is going on.

Or more possibly, a couple of different things going on which are separate but all contributing to your awful experiences and this terrible harassment Flowers

A couple of times in my life, I've ended up in situations where I was being abused, and suffering terribly. One was my childhood and one was my marriage.

When I tried to tell people, my distress and the way it all came tumbling out, the really bad stuff and the little things all mixed together, well... it made people react in unhelpful ways that remind me ALOT of your situation.

It's really hurtful when people dismiss you. And I know your situation is different being about harassment not abuse, but I stayed in abusive situations longer as I couldn't somehow get anyone to acknowledge my situation and it stopped me from taking action and getting help. I felt powerless and isolated and utterly miserable.

To me, the little things and the big things were as upsetting and damaging as each other. And I couldn't separate it all up. It's hard when you're living it.

But eventually I did learn from it although a huge bit of me thinks I shouldn't have had to learn! But, sadly, reality is that people don't react well and rather than keeping on getting that reaction (which I found almost as distressing than the actual abusive situation I was in), I had to change the way I was telling people rather than hoping they'd change and be hurt each time they didn't...

This is what I did, I'm sharing in case you find it helpful, I'm quite practical and I can hear such pain in your voice and want to help you the best way I can Flowers

  • Write it down, and get it all in one place, don't share it yet, this is the most personal stuff. It's a huge mental download of every single thing that's happened and how it's effected you. Keep this version to refer to but now use it as a base for editing:
  • make each event/ occurrence into bullet points
  • put it in order and add dates and times for everything. Take out anything that doesn't have a date next to it (that prunes out any general statements)
  • make sure each bullet point starts with what happened, and Not with 'how it effected you' or a general 'label for that type of behaviour'. Let the events speak for themselves.
  • then go back and delete any emotional words (to make sure people 'hear' the facts and not just react to your emotion)
  • then go through and add more facts, more detail. And keep taking out general statements.
  • and after all that bloody hard work 😓, I'd go through and star the 'biggest' events that seem most clearly stalking or harassment. And next time you try and get help, try starting with these points and using factual sentences first, so you're making it easier for people to 'hear' what's happening...

You may have to do this in short sessions as it's hard work and upsetting remembering it all again. I wrote bits and added to it over a few days. The editing is really hard as you have to almost take YOU out of the text, which feels weird & is difficult to disassociate your own overwhelming feelings from it.

But it's really worth it. I'm saying that as someone who went through it herself. No preaching or judgement here Smile

Facts work loads better than general stuff. Lots of emotive describing words seem to just get heard as your opinion and value judgements, rather than specific and factual events.

If you manage to do all that, I suspect you'll naturally start using language and phrases that reach people's brains without getting diverted down a blind alley!

When you've got this summary of what's been happening, with stars against the 'biggest' things where it's not up for debate that something definitely happened... then you can also look for patterns 👀

More on patterns later if you can bear reading any more from me!

Brew Flowers

NettleTea · 12/04/2017 22:31

Can I just ask why people on the outside said that you should be wary of your husband?

PsychedelicSheep · 12/04/2017 22:53

I could be wrong but you might not be suitable for EMDR at the moment, as it's only recommended for past traumas and your trauma is very much ongoing. Trauma focused therapies are not always 'safe' unless the person is in a place of relative psychological calm at the time and you, quite understandably, aren't right now. You can't process a trauma while it's still happening. But, may as well see what they say I guess.

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 12/04/2017 22:54

I was going to ask the same as nettle.

DP wouldn't want to watch me go from being happy and healthy to a blubbering wreck, a shadow of my former self, he could have just left me at my lowest but didn't. He even put up with me blaming him because initially I did. [...] He has gotten nothing from this, apart from watching me slowly be chipped away at, and lose independence and autonomy, which isn't nice because he does care about me, he is a good dad and we are happy.

Horrendous as it is to acknowledge, some people do set out to grind their partners down and keep them in place. I'm not saying that that's definitely the case here but it is something that many abusive partners try and do.

SparklingRaspberry · 13/04/2017 00:04

OP. Please please be very cautious of your husband. Unfortunately there are some horrid people out there who enjoy seeing others suffer - sometimes their own wives.

Given ALL that you've put on here, I can't think of anyone else it would be other then your husband.

Nobody else would have access to ALL of this info about you, unless you 1) lived with them, or 2) shared everything about yourself with them. And I mean every single thing.

Whoever it is that's doing all of this must have access to your computer. Other than your kids and husband who else uses your computer on a regular basis?
Who else would have access to your medical records?
Who else would know pretty much everything about you?
Who else knows what you do with your time?
Who else knows exactly how to upset you?
Who else knows what you have saved on your computer?

As I said, there are some twisted people who enjoy seeing others suffer. Often it's a control thing. It doesn't matter how many hours they work, how often/little they socialise, if they want to make someone's life hell then they will.

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 13/04/2017 01:20

i've been stalked -unfortunately more than once - by different people over the last 17 years.

They used their friends to access contact details, medical info, yes it's illegal but not everyone exercises professional integrity
Plus with the ease of access to the DarkWeb you can now buy that kind of access to someone's life....

My feeling is the perp's agenda here is more than just tormenting/slandering you via social media etc - it's to totally discredit you on every level - even in front of professionals

So - who gains by making you sound crazy when you reach out for understanding and support (MN/police)?
Who gains by making you look crazy when you take action (moving twice, physically isolating yourself etc)?
Who gains by keeping YOU as the centre of negative focus with regards the 'abuse' issue?

My gut is saying this is too close to home for you to discount your 'lovely' husband.
He seems to have escaped unscathed from all this - how has he got away with not receiving this kind of abuse?

What has he actually done that has been CONSTRUCTIVE in either reporting this for investigation, supporting you or defending you?

It seems the onus is completely on you to 'collate evidence/find proof/explain/justify' and deal with, all whilst he makes sympathetic noises.

The level of stalking/harassment is psychopathic and you're living in constant fear.
You need to go back to the police and insist on this being investigated.
Don't take no for an answer, take it higher if needs be
www.policeuk.com/police_ranks.php

I

DesertSky · 13/04/2017 10:07

Have you see the current storyline on Corrie re Sally being stalked by a troll? I think sadly in this day and age it's more common then we think. It's good they are raising awareness of how damaging it can be.
OP I hope you manage to get the support you need.
I don't know if you can contact a very experienced IT person who can try to install as many safety barriers on your computer as possible? In the meantime perhaps it's best to step away from any social media sites and ensure you don't post any more personal information online.
If things escalate - this may sound OTT but do you think perhaps you could hire a Private Investigator to track down the original source? May be worth a try. Good luck!

Ginger782 · 15/04/2017 13:02

OP - to reiterate everyone else's question - why did people on the outside warn you about your husband?

MattBerrysHair · 15/04/2017 16:17

Hi OP

What you're going through sounds like torture. I'm aspie also, and from reading about others on the spectrum, and my own experiences, I have concluded that we are very vulnerable, in that we don't easily see when people have an agenda as we take everyone at face value. We can be easily manipulated and taken advantage of as it's so hard for us to comprehend that people can possibly enjoy fucking with our heads. The point I'm leading to is that your dh is the only person in possession of all the private information that has ended up online. Is it possible that he is not the kind man you thought? That he may enjoy messing with your head, making you vulnerable and dependant and the sense of power he gets from it?

user1487941567 · 15/04/2017 23:43

Was your cat not microchipped?