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CatParticipant
Dear Anita,
You’re welcome. I think it takes a lot of strength to be able to step back from a situation/ step back from emotions and see things more clearly. I think this is something that you are really good at. Too often I get devoured by a feeling – be it panic, despair, sadness etc. I find that coming on here and explaining things to you really helps me to remember the bigger picture and to remember the positive things, even when things seem like there is no way out.
I am now currently in Bristol, sat here in my new bed, typing away. Last weekend was insanely busy. I put on a gig in Bath on the Friday, packed and moved to Bristol on the Saturday, and then played a gig in Bath on the Sunday. After that I took a few days out to catch up on sleep.
Right now, I feel quite scared/ overwhelmed. I had an occupational health appointment a few weeks ago – and t was agreed between me and the Dr that when I go back to work I’d be doing a phased return – doing 50% of my shifts, then 75%, and eventually going back to full time. My manager advised me to stay off work until after my move, so I had enough time to do that, and said that I’d still be getting full pay and not to worry about that.
I spoke to him yesterday, and he said that HR have said that when I go back, doing 50% of my shifts, I’d only be getting paid half my wage. I explained that this wasn’t enough for me to live off of. So the only option was to cut down my phasing time. Now I’m only going to be doing one week at 50%, one week at 75%, and then back to full time – just so I can make ends meet. I’m going back to work today (I was informed all of this yesterday). I got the call yesterday morning, and I nearly had a panic attack about it all. I tried calling my sister but she did not answer, then I tried calling Noel and he didn’t answer. I managed to speak to my friend Fran which made me feel better. I just needed to hear a friendly voice.
Thank you for your offer, and yes please I think I do need the guidance with Noel. There’s a lot of care there, and I encourage him and motivate him all the time and supported him to a health appointment too. When I didn’t receive any support yesterday I did feel disappointed. He messaged me in the evening but I felt too upset. I told him how I felt this morning about being disappointed. But then apologised and said its because I’m scared. This is true – I tend to procrastinate and stay in bed, or have a cigarette because the idea of showering, going to work etc. is super super scary.
I’m going to try and motivate myself to do this now.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Hi there – how have you been? Firstly I would like to say thank you for your support towards me via Tiny Buddha over the past three months. Since December you have been so consistent with following my progress and continuing to communicate with me and share your insight and experiences – it has really helped me a lot. In all of my medical assessments I have stated the fact that using Tiny Buddha has been helping me to manage my emotions and understand them better, and I think you should be really proud knowing that you help others on a daily basis.Β When I scroll through the topics, I see your name on nearly almost all of them, as the person who has last commented. To put so much time and effort in to understanding other people’s situations and lives, and taking so much time to reply in depth is so, so selfless and helps people more than you realise. Thank you so much.
In response to your last message: Yes, being a promoter/ doing the music gigs has given me a way to be able to form healthy connections and relationships with people through that. When I was at uni, up until I did the music gigs, I used to see club/ gig environments as being quite hostile environments. Whereas since doing the gigs I have been able to create a really open, friendly environment which is needed. And to approach bands, artists, promoters, venues with a respectful, open approach which has gotten me quite far. I have a lot of gigs lined up until July, and more opportunities continue to present themselves to me.
What is difficult for a child who has been betrayed, is this: (from my experience). When my emotions as a child were mistreated so ruthlessly, I began to lose hope and faith in that happiness. My parents would make me apologise profoundly for things that I hadn’t done, they would retract their love, and make me and my sister beg for their love again. It made us both feel that happiness, and love would never be returned. We grew up watching a relationship where 2 individuals were so co-dependent on each other, that they focused all of their energy and time on each other. I think this is why me and my sister struggle with interpersonal relationships and put all of our time and focus on our significant other.
Me and my sister also realised that because we grew up watching a relationship with no love whatsoever, I think deep down we had the desire to fix that and to create a relationship with an overwhelming amount of love. Which would also explain why we are so intense with our SO’s. And when we feel rejected by the SO, we return to that state we felt as a child, of feeling abandoned/ end of the world/ happiness will never return.
I am trying to learn and practice more and more to be present in every moment and to feel emotionally stable when not with a SO, or when doing things by myself etc. It is going to be hard to unlearn that not every moment needs to be lived in fear of rejection and abandonment, but I am trying my best.
In terms of my life now: I am currently on annual leave, for another week I believe. I had an occupational health appointment, and a phased return to work is going to be in place – so I work 50% of what I was doing, then 75% and then 100% again in time. This will be good for me to practice having that emotionally stability on shift, and to gradually build that up more and more.
I have a medical assessment on 4th April – to try and pinpoint a diagnosis for my mental health. I hope this to be progressive. My sister has been diagnosed with both bpd and ptsd, and I have an inclining that I experience some of those traits.
In the past month I have developed a relationship with a guy – we shall call him Noel. We talk openly about emotions and he has fast become one of my closest friends. The friendship is romantic also. Noel is very inwards, lacks self belief and is extremely humble. Sometimes I feel as though I have never met anyone with a more beautiful soul.
I hung out with Noel last weekend, Friday – Monday. It is strange, because of how much I feel when I am around him, it is almost overbearing, and sometimes I feel like a child again. I am Noels first relationship, so I guess he may find it difficult having a first relationship with someone who can be emotional unstable. We had a misunderstanding on the Monday before I left, which snowballed in to quite an emotionally extreme situation for me. I saw him yesterday and we talked through our emotions together, and got the trust back/ got things back to how they were.
He is scared because he is so used to self-doubt. Although I seem to bring out more confidence in him. It has been difficult because he tends to retreat if something happens with us, and at points he has said that he doesn’t know if he is emotionally ready (despite showing me that he is). It was a long emotional conversation, but he found the bravery to say that he loved me, and that he wanted to work through things and for things to be good with us.
I am aware that he is super sensitive and fragile. Mainly due to going through school, college, uni being extremely shy, humble and lacking in self belief/ confidence. He has said to me that he appreciates my encouragement and would like me to continue encouraging him to step outside his comfort zone. I am very aware that this relationship needs to be treated with a lot of mindfulness and consideration, and so it’s important that both of us do have a lot of space away from each other, and to treat every conversation with consideration.
It has been a lot. I guess there is a fear that Noel will retract and suddenly abandon me. But over the weekend that I spent with him, the number 44 kept appearing. I showed him this and he was in awe and was outstanded when it kept showing itself. At the beginning of the weekend I said “okay, so if we see the number 444 this weekend, it means that we are on the right track” – low and behold, on the Sunday, I checked my phone when I was with him and the time was “4.44”. I showed him as soon as I saw it and he couldn’t believe it.
When we had our misunderstanding, I was in 2 minds about seeing him and trying to fix things, but I kept seeing 44 that day and so I went and fixed things. During writing this explanation I looked at the time and it was 9.44 too.
I can only hope that with patience, mutual consideration and understanding, that our relationship continues to grow and blossom.
I plan on remaining true to myself/ open/ working on feeling secure by myself/ in my life and treating my relationship with Noel as secondary and with a lot of mindfulness.
I am moving to Bristol this coming Saturday.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
How are you? Life for me seems to be taking off at the moment – I am still off work but have found myself having a lot of music promotion opportunities open up, and also a lot of great new relationships being built. Lots of positive things.
Something that comes to my mind on a daily basis is something that you said before, that I do experience happiness, but then my core belief discredits that and takes it away. At the moment this is something that I am beginning to recognise more and more and attempting to overcome.
I agree with what you said about a childs innocence being betrayed and lost and I agree it is a tragedy… I have recently encountered a new friendship that is so honest, and so pure, and so respectful. That every conversation we have is mindful and respectful and understanding. In a way, it is one of the most emotionally open, honest and close relationships I’ve had, and this has allowed me to regain that emotional sacredness I once had as a child. I now realise that I hold the power of creating beautiful relationships with people, from being honest, being considerate and being confident in showing love to others.
It’s a long, long, long journey of continuous self-analysis, questioning, self-improvement etc. I can only hope that as many souls who experience this…..emotional sabotage from an early age have the opportunity to find an even greater emotional haven in their later life. I believe these souls are owed it.
A lot of…..other people’s emotions were put on to me at an early age (as you’ve seen from what my father said before my 7th birthday). So I guess that I grew up without the opportunity to explore my own emotions/ interests, but with a “duty” to be responsible for other people’s. I guess that’s just how I saw life as being, which I guess is why I continue to struggle to come to terms with the fact that that way of living is not correct. Is correct the right word here?
Cat
CatParticipantHi Rick,
I disagree with what Peter said, because at no point in your first message did you state that she had specifically told you not to contact her. I believe that yes, she is hurt by you. And I do think that subconsciously, blocking you is a way of her showing you that.
Firstly, (I’m 24) – know this: throughout your 20s, and especially if you are an open and loving person, you are going to fall in love – whether platonically, romantically etc. with a lot of different people. This will be for many different reasons – maybe they understand you better than anyone has, or maybe your soul resonates with their suffering on a level like no other. We are never taught how to manage these feelings or relationships, but I recently learnt this: if you treat the people you love/ care about as a friend, with the highest respect and create a relationship that is always honest – you can’t really go wrong.
One thing you can do in this situation, is think about how much you care about her as a friend. Write a letter, and speak to her on that caring friend level, and explain how you perceived things/ why things happened the way you did, and why you are sorry (emphasise on the apology). Tell her how much she means in your life. Then choose the best method of how to get this to her – whether through a written letter/ email/ instagram message etc. You will know which social media platform she is most likely to read.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Currently processing/ experiencing a lot of emotions. Kind of an emotional awakening I feel. Lots of crying. Lots of mood swings too – maybe cus I’m due on period as well. But yes, intense emotional time for me, so please bare with me.
I agree with everything you said.
Tracy is lovely.
The memory was when I was 5/6. I can’t remember what happened, but I remember being innocent, and then my Mum making me really really upset. I went upstairs and cried my heart out in my bedroom. Just recognised that term “cry my heart out” – as if that day was the day that I closed my heart. And the day that I found God – the strength that I found within myself. That memory.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Yes, but my mothers moments of joy are based around money. She is temporarily happy when she has something new, but at the heart of it she is not happy. I had a massive realisation recently (which I’ll explain in a bit), that I have been living life with a close/ guarded heart. Growing up I was never taught love, or how to be in touch with my heart, or how to treat people from a place of kindness and love – hence me growing up, being guarded, mistrusting, lashing out at people etc. My sister has been the same, and I feel like she still hasn’t learnt how to really open her heart – something that I wish the most for her.
I agree, no one is joyful all the time. I think that there is a lot of beauty to be found in human emotion. All of it. Even grief and sadness. People often look for the meaning of life. Through religions, science, philosophical theories. But to me it’s simple. There’s a magic of life which allows us to feel. Emotions are indescribable – how we the coldness of the winter wind makes us feel, or the rays of the summer sun, or the pain in our hearts when we allow ourselves to grieve, and then the healing of the heart when we allow ourselves to love again. To me, the meaning of life is that – the pure gift of simply being able to feel it.
I am learning to feel every moment. Physically, and allowing myself to act in accordance to what my heart is feeling.
On the topic of healing.
When I returned to work last Friday, my manager specifically advised me to give one of my colleagues, I’ll call her Hannah, time to get used to me being back, before saying anything/ apologising about Christmas. I was working with my other colleague, I’ll call her Tracy,on Saturday and we spoke about Christmas briefly and I apologised for what happened. Tracy is Christian, very kind natured and understanding, and she said very gently, “don’t worry about it, I’m sure no one is expecting you to refer to that, I’m sure everyone knows that you were going through a hard time”. I had a really lovely chat with Tracy.I went to work on Wednesday, and Hannah was already on shift. Because of what my manager said, I just tried to act normal and said morning, and asked her how her trip to India was. I could sense that there was emotionally confusion, and she did reply but left the room and didn’t want to be around me. I left it and tried to get on with my work in the office because of what my manager had said. Tracy came in to the room, and gently said “You know what we talked about at the weekend, when you apologised and said I’m sorry? Those words can go really far”. I replied to Tracy and said, “I know, and I’m planning on apologising but manager said to leave it for a while, give it a couple of shifts before saying anything”. Tracy said “I see, yes well go with what manager said”.
After that, I tried to continue with my work – but I had an emotional breakthrough. I was thinking about apologising, how I’d hurt people, and being forgiven. And it hit that memory that I told you about – me being in my room and crying and crying and not being forgiven. I had an cry outburst and ran to the garden. Tracy came after me, and I spoke to her a bit about what this situation had reminded me of, and why I was going through a lot/ processing a lot. Tracy understood.
I spoke to my manager that day, and explained what had happened with the emotional breakthrough. He understood, and said it’s good that I’m realising these things. He moved my annual leave forward and sent me home, so I am off until April now.
Since being at home I have just been allowing myself to cry when I need to, think, and try and feel my heart and the emotions going on in it.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Really? I mean yes, they go out with their friends, they go drinking and stuff. But on a day-to-day basis they don’t talk that much, and when they do, it’s my Mum telling my Dad what to do and him being repressed. I’ve seen a lot of their relationship, and it really is just restricting and controlling. I think on a surface level they like to present themselves as being happy, but deep, deep down I know my Dad isn’t. He told me the day before my 7th birthday that sometimes he wishes he hadn’t married my Mum. Knowing that has stuck with me for years. So whenever I was alone with my Dad I could feel his inner pain, and his inner frustration. We never talked about it again, but yes I remember that confession clearly.
No, they hold themselves back. My Dad talks about being in a band, but never does it as he believes he can’t, or that it’s a silly idea. My parents never encouraged us to be ambitious or motivated at all. My mum doesn’t have goals or opportunities apart from going to gigs and stuff with my dad. My sister has goals, but she often lets them slip and forgets to focus on them.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Thanks for replying. I’ve had a lot of emotions going on inside of me the past few days and lots of thoughts. It’s days like this (it’s been my day off today) where I spend it doing music promotion stuff and obsessing/ worrying about things. I find it difficult to pull myself out of these mindset. The weather doesn’t help either.
Yes, I thought that’s what it meant, and I feel really sad knowing that my parents are like that, and that they never got to experience more from life – growing up, different relationships, experiences, travelling etc.
1. Those opportunities are – To be independent, to establish a sense of one’s own identity, to break free from expectations and demands from parents, to create a life of her own, to understand feminism, to have an education, to embark on different creative projects, to have a range of different jobs, to go travelling.
2. Within a week – this is a hard question. Maybe 3/4 days spent in misery. The rest in happiness. It really does depend on the day and what I’m doing. Sometimes when I’m busy thinking that I’m working towards my life changing, then I feel positive. Focusing on positive feedback from all the music and gigs stuff I’ve been doing, focusing on Bristol etc. It’s days where I’m at home that the sadness/ pain comes.
3. The opportunities – me finding myself, independence has actually been a painful journey, of looking for myself in different people. University hasn’t brought peace, due to the drama that happened. Neither has travelling due to Clarence, being sectioned etc. So I guess all of them haven’t brought my peace so far…. Apart from doing the music stuff, which brings me a sense of belonging sometimes.
4. Yes. I think that sometimes.
5. Sometimes I get angry. When I feel like I am not being seen. For ex. when I changed my name, and people kept calling me by my old name. It was very painful as I felt as though I wanted to leave my past behind and start afresh. I get angry when I feel like people can’t see what I’m trying to do, or my intentions, or when people don’t understand me.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Thank you for replying – twice. I realised that I went from posting on here 2/3 times a day to leaving it for a while. Mainly because my life has been busy the past couple weeks or so, which I’d like to talk about (if you’re still up for talking about things). I did start writing back a few days ago but was too tired to address everything fully, but I will do so tonight. I also have a bit of an unhealthy addiction to social media which I’m trying to address/ use efficiently.
I will respond to both messages, and also give you an update with what is happening in my life right now.
I don’t believe that everyone is happy all the time, but I do believe that others can be more happy than I am, yes. This is because I grew up as a child severely depressed, so when I saw all my friends having fun, I’d be the one at the back feeling really down and not joining in. My mental health has isolated me, and made me ruin, a lot of different relationships with people throughout my life. I’ve either been the depressed one that brings people down, or talks about things that aren’t really socially acceptable to discuss. Or I’ve freaked out in relationships and let my emotions, insecurities and confusion ruin them…. There have been times when I have been popular, but again, the mania has meant that I’ve been too intense and have driven people away π I worry that I will do that with my new friends in Bristol, and I really hope I don’t.
You use the term ‘adult child’ π As sad as it is I think I have always struggled and felt guilty knowing that my Mum wasn’t able to grow and learn the same way that I could. I do feel bad that she hasn’t had the opportunities that I have had, and her whole life has been dedicated to looking after her parents π It’s hard because she’s been so, so nasty to me and my sister so many times, and yet in my mind I sometimes imagine her crying about losing us, and I feel like I should go and help her. It’s hard because on a present day level, my mum and dad have blocked out all of the past, and only focus on the present. This makes it difficult for me and my sister, because we want to connect with the parents who caused all of that pain, and make peace with them. My parents refuse to admit that they did anything wrong, which is why it makes it very difficult for me and my sister to ever find peace with it all. I did try and relate to my parents about a year ago, but it was too much. As nice as they were being, I really needed to feel like I connected with their true selves, and I would’ve loved it if they had turned around and tried to make up with my sister too. But they don’t. they just always insist that me and my sister are wrong. This is something I struggle with a lot, as in my perfect world, my family would be at peace, but that peace and forgiveness just hasn’t happened.
Question – what do you classify as an ‘adult child’ and what do you classify as an ‘adult’?
I understand what you are saying about comparing experiences, I guess it is impossible to say which experience is more scary when they haven’t both been experienced by the same person. I guess that does mean that all abuse is equally as scary and equally as valid. It is a retroactive comparison, but it does have grounds in the reality of my childhood as I do remember feeling depressed throughout my childhood and the times I was crying in despair/ isolated/ scared etc.
Again, with my grandad – I guess part of me feels guilty there too. My mum always made me feel guilty, “he’s getting old” which meant, “you owe him all your attention”. As a teen I grew up despising him because I realised how he was treated so great, and everyone else treated so badly. Again, its a conflict. I feel guilty that he is old, and he is my grandad. But at the same time really resentful of how he talks about himself, doesn’t know me or my sister at all, and thrives off the attention etc. I really don’t know how I’m going to feel when he dies. Or if I should get back in contact before he does. Will I feel guilt? I really am not sure. I am conflicted between being in contact with family being too hard, and then also worrying that I will have a lot of guilt over my head if something did happen to them.
In regards to the manic episodes – yes, I would take the pill and feel good. I feel good generally, before the guilt of it all comes again, and the belief that I’m a bad person (which my parents made me feel from a young age), and before the worry for the future kicks in. I sometimes feel like I am a repulsive person, who repels people π Or that I am not to be trusted with people π mainly because my mum and dad were so manipulative, untrusting and always thought horrible things about people – I worry that deep down I’m going to be the same, and that’s the last thing that I want to be like.
I cannot hear the name of my old town, or see a picture of it without seeing all the sadness and grief that I felt there. I say that because I just saw someone upload photo’s of it, and that’s how I felt towards it. It’s such a small town, and everyone else loves the small towns and villages, but to me it was just so much…..heaviness.
Now, I really do want to feel good and have a life that I love. But before, I really didn’t have any idea of what that could be like. I was just too engulfed by the heaviness and sadness to comprehend what a life of stable relationships, independence, wellbeing and happiness could be like. But I am at the point now where I can see it more and more in sight.
In terms of the core beliefs: True, but what if the guilt I feel is too strong/ heavy for me to let go of those core beliefs?? I had a psychotherapist before but he didn’t help that much, so I was considering CBT instead. Although sometimes I find that I try and help other people – such as my sister and my friends, who are going through hard times – I try and help them first, which again makes me feel like the problem isn’t me, but is outside of me, and so if I fix things outside of me, then I will be able to fix things in me. Like, if I was able to help my sister have the happiest life she can (will update later), and if I managed to bring peace and happiness to my parents. To me, those things would fix the problems in my constant thinking mind because that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
It’s extremely difficult for me to see my parents view as being wrong. Mainly because they are the people I’ve been around the most, and they both believed that their opinion was God’s Truth. It’s difficult for me to really accept that they are abusive, because of how well they present themselves to others – family members, my old school friends etc. So I have a lot of people saying to me, “But your parents are so nice”. Which makes me question whether it was me that was the problem, and really upsets me. I asked my friends for help at the time but no one wanted to get involved, as I don’t think anyone really believed me π I still don’t think people do. Even though me and my sister have no contact, and both of us have had so many breakdowns and intense life situations. It’s been hard to get support from family or friends, to say the least.
My mum and dad are weird ones, because as much as I love and care about them and want to see them happy… It seems like that isn’t returned at all. They can happily ignore what’s going on and go out and drink with their friends etc. To them it was all about keeping up appearances, rather than actually respecting their children. They care more about what other people think, than their own children – sad but true. It’s so strange because I would’ve given my heart to see my parents happy, as a little girl I loved them to bits. I would cry every night because I didn’t want them to die… It’s strange now thinking of how the parents I was so loyal to, would happily not check to see if I was okay/ but a convertible with the money they stopped giving me/ go out drinking with friends when one of their daughters is suicidal etc.Β I guess this inequality is something that I need to come to terms with this – especially as they continue to claim to be the good guys after all of this.
You’re right – the manic breaks happen because I’m not used to feeling so, light-headed/ like a weight has been lifted. So when it does happen, it’s like a took an ecstasy pill, and I feel like that feeling is heaven. Therefore I go manic.
You’re right, I do need therapy of some sort to work through these core beliefs, and to give myself space to cry. So far I haven’t been able to have a proper break through because I have blocked so much out. Another thing with addressing my issues/ going to therapy etc. is that it makes me feel like I am – heavier? Darker? Than other people. Or, like I am not worthy to have friendships or relationships with people who do not have similar issues. Mainly because I feel like them being around me means that I will be a burden, or that I will bring them down π
The only problem that I have with psychotherapy, is trust. It takes me ALOT to open up to people about what happened in my childhood. I found a sense of salvation on Tiny Buddha (and also at Skanda Vale – multi faith ashram) because through these means I have connected with people who have experienced similar things. I trust people who have experienced similar things, and who understand me and where I am coming from. I found it really difficult to trust my psychotherapist and feel like he understood like the same way that I did.
Okay so update:
The gig on the 22nd went really well π I am still looking forward to the move to Bristol, so that has given me hope and a strive towards building the life that I want.
My sister called me the day after the gig, and said she had been out walking all night π π She said that things between her and wife had become violent again π It’s really hard to support her π She won’t leave her wife because it would mean parting from her dog for a while, and she won’t do that. It’s so sad to see my sister stay in that relationship – where they just stay in, don’t do anything and trap each other π They are repeating the behaviour that my parents did, and sometimes my sister knows this. Sometimes she is rational and can see this, but other times she can’t. I spoke to the Domestic Violence Helpline and they gave me a lot of options, i wrote them down and told them to her/ emailed them. But she said she wouldn’t do anything if it means she’s separated from her dog π Her situation makes me sad, because when she calls me, she is crying so much, so much like a little girl. I’ve seen her cry so so much throughout her life, and I hate it everytime. Again, I wish I could give the freedom that I have to my sister. I really wish I could. I offered for her to come and stay with me but she said about the dog etc. I am offering her solutions but she is refusing them…Is there anything more I can do?!I returned to work on Friday 2nd – thank you for remembering π It was okay, it’s been quite chilled. I haven’t seen all of the team yet. My manager said that everyone is a bit anxious because of how things were left at Christmas and because I blocked everyone on facebook (I was worrying way too much about what they thought, and really needed the space to just grow and be myself). Again, it would be nice if they could see the severity of why I had to do it, but ah well. Oftentimes my actions are perceived as me being…vindictive or that I did things on purpose, my innocence goes amiss a lot of the time.
I’m not too bothered, because going back I feel that it is not right for me. I don’t feel like I am working with people that get me, or in an enthusiastic environment, so I will be looking for new jobs. Mentally, it was a challenge to get through this weekend, as we just end up watching films and my mind begins to wonder. I do need a job that keeps my mind busy. I am back for a week, and then I have 3 weeks of annual leave off after that.
Hope you are well,
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
Thank you for writing that message. I’ve been asking so many people for years the same question, and no one has ever been able to answer me in a way that really addresses that monumental confusion/ tragedy that is placed upon someone who has had to go through so much abuse with people who make them believe that they love them. It’s such a conflict in the mind, and one that I might never really come to terms with. But I am trying.
It’s funny that you started with the manic part – because I’ve been feeling manic since Thursday, being obsessed with keeping a positive energy (which can feel like ecstasy) and be a drug. Literally, I haven’t been able to sleep because I’ve been so positive. But then something happened with someone yesterday which brought my mood down a bit. I woke up today and realised that I had just been manic since Thursday. So today I thought,Β “Right, I’m ready to go on Tinybuddha and tell Anita about it”, because when I’m manic/ fixated on something, it’s difficult for me to get to a place where I am rational, I tend to just get fixated on what it is that is making me manic, and staying in my pjamas being obsessed (for real).
I’ve been manic since the gig on Thursday, just from all the positive vibes that was there. Everyone was really happy, and I was really confident. I guess I wanted to keep that going, and I realised how much I haven’t been in control of my own vibration, and instead have been allowing outside circumstances dictate how I feel. I’ve been super confident this week, again, as I said it felt like I was on ecstasy with how much confidence and positivity I was feeling. I went to another gig on Monday, to see my friend play, and it’s funny seeing how since I’ve given myself more confidence and respect, other people are starting too as well. I can see people actually noticing me now, which is strange.
At the Monday gig (at the same venue), there was a guy sat next to me as I was watching my friend and recording. A guy sat down next to me, and he accidentally spilt his drink, he looked at me and said really loudly “WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR” so that people could hear, to try and humiliate me, so I said back “DON’T BE A TWAT”. I went to the bar, asked for roll, went back and handed it to him and said “Do you want to clear it up then?” And he instantly shot up and started scrubbing it from the floor xD He moved away from me after that. I saw him later on in the evening – I was talking to a homeless person and he walked past with a group of friends, he looked at me and looked really scared/ shocked/ embarrassed. It was a great moment.
Since then I’ve been really quite high. And haven’t been able to sleep properly as too excited – like a child at christmas. It was only until yesterday, when I was talking to my friend on webcam, and we were both tired and he said something which offended me, that I began to come down again. I guess in my head, the world was fixed, everyone was happy and positive, and I needed to maintain that energy. It was like, I felt like I had become like everyone else who is also happy all the time. It was a strange feeling, I can’t really explain it well.
The lack of empathy and love that my parents had for my and my sister has been very…..challenging to work through. It’s given us both the impression that our personalities were not worth investing in, it made us so dissociate from ourselves when we were young, we never really knew ourselves at all or were allowed to explore that or express ourselves. It has made us feel that life is pain, and that you owe it to other people to suffer. It taught us that Love is money, Love is suffering for someone else, and that Love is prioritising someone else over . It taught us that self love was selfish, and that it was bad if someone loved themselves. It taught us that being gay was wrong (they were homophobic) π and that not being white was a peculiar thing to be (they’re racist too – from lack of world experience).
My grandad said that gay people should be shot. I don’t like him at all. But my sister still talks to him even though she’s gay. He refused to say the word wife when he referred to her wife for ages, but at christmas he wrote them both a card and wrote my sisters wifes name in it. Which I think shows that he kind of understands, but still refuses to accept it. Does this show that people can change?? Does this mean that I should tolerate the bad traits of his behaviour? Should I endure the negativity and criticism that I get by being around my family, just because they aren’t as bad as they were?
Again, with my grandad, I have no idea how to relate to him at all. He’s my mums dad, and obviously I couldn’t relate to my mum. She was always so focused on taking care of him, and was mean to us all of the time, it was awful. She’s help him, but then tell us to shutup etc. She forced us to go and visit him everyday, and most of the time he would just talk about himself. He would give me and my sister money everytime we left, and when I said I didn’t want it he’d be like “Go on, just take it” and making out that he’s such a good person π When I became a teenager I started refusing to go up to my grandads because I wasn’t gaining anything from doing it. It was boring and pointless. My mum would go up everyday because she looks after him and cares for him – it’s sad because I think this really dictates her life. My family don’t have much money and so in a way I feel sorry for them and pity them (as I do my grandad) but at the same time they took this all out on me and my sister when we were young, and made it clear that they regretted having kids. (My mum told my sister that she wish she’d never been born – to this day my sister still feels like she isn’t worthy to be here). Before I went to uni my mum and dad said it would be a struggle for them so I felt bad (think I mentioned this before), so I said I wouldn’t go. As soon as I stopped taking their money, my mum bought a convertible car from it. The last time I saw my parents before we stopped talking, was when I was sat outside with my friend in my garden (I was going through a break up – I was 18), my Mum came out and told me to not sit on the grass because it was wet. I told her it was dry. Next thing, my dad comes storming out, grabs be violently and drags me back in to the house. Very embarassing and heart breaking, and then they were screaming and shouting at me about my appearance and how I’d never get a job. I said I was going back to Bath, and then in the car I was sobbing my eyes out in the back seat. And what was my Dad trying to talk to me about??? Money.
I got out at the train station, and then my Dad tried to give me a hug – ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! – mental. And he said “You’ve got some things you need to work through”, and I said “Yeah, without you” and walked to my train. That was the point where I no longer wanted to be treated like that anymore. It was so hard to do as I’d always been taught that they were right about everything. From that day onwards I didn’t speak to them for 5 years – until I got sectioned in Amsterdam (which I’ve mentioned before).
My mum was incredibly controlling. Really controlling. OCD controlling. She’d look through my bags, move things around in my room when I wasn’t in. I felt invaded all the time, like I never really had my own space. I wasn’t allowed to do much growing up and had to ask to do everything. When I had friends home from school she’d make us sit with her in the kitchen and give us crisps, chocolate. This was when I was like 9. And then I got bullied cus my Mum was like that and everyone talked about it.
It was an extremely extremely repressed household. I realise now, after writing about this, that I’ve never really been able to talk to people about this – not even my psychotherapist. Because the shame/ humiliation has always felt like too much… Thank you for providing me with a safe dialogue/ responses where I feel like I am able to.
I should probably say now that I’ve heard from my sister that other members of the family have experienced abuse as well, such as being locked in closets and stuff π When I heard that I thought :O that’s awful, that’s terrible. I feel like that experience is more terrible than the experiences that I’ve had…. Whether I am right or not, I cannot say. But part of me is starting to wonder whether that’s because I have been desensitised to abuse and so fail to recognise it as such – even though I talk about my experiences on here and how I have struggled with them.
When I was born to my parents, I do remember a time where they were nice, and my mum being loving. It was short moments but fleeting, a time when both of them were more creative, and didn’t care about what people thought. Although I was talking to my sister the other day, and she said that she can still remember times when my mum was selfish. Like my sister was allergic to facepaint, and she’d tell my mum that it was hurting, but my mum would continue, as she wanted to look like she was doing something in front of the other mums. It was all about appearances with my mum, and worrying what other people thought in public whereas when we were on our own as a family we were deeply miserable. I remember the term “You don’t tell anyone what goes on in this house” used π I think that my mum and dad were both extremely paranoid people. I think both of their parents never really encouraged them to care for themselves properly or encourage them to follow their dreams etc.
As we grew up my parents became worse and worse, mainly towards my sister. I always stayed the quiet one.Β The one that hid away (maybe thats why I still stay in my room so much now).
I do feel sorry for the children, who didn’t get a happy life… But was that because of their upbringing? Or do you think they had a choice in how they behaved?
What if people have been desensitised to abuse and genuinely cant see anything wrong in their actions….How would you view them then?
Thank you for taking the time again to reply so in depth,
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
I am a ball of emotions today, literally a ball of emotions. Lots of thoughts about everything. So much good, but then there’s also a lot of bad as well. I shall explain, I’ll try and reply to your previous messages and then fill you in on what’s been happening. Your analysis, questions and talking things through with me on here is really helping me – I really appreciate it, thank you.
Yes, it’s true. This is why I don’t eat or do things to benefit myself. It’s easier for me to focus on other people, like spending all my time making sure my friends are okay rather than getting on with my day. They definitely instilled that idea that I’m a bad person if I don’t suffer too, that I’m a bad person if I focus on myself or did things that I loved etc. I always had to be doing something to please them. There was always a massive pressure on me to be perfect. Yet at the same time even when I was perfect, I still wasn’t good enough. I made my dad a rolling stones clock, and I gave it to him, and never saw it again – I think it got thrown away. I got so used to being disappointed and let down, that I didn’t feel it anymore. All I knew growing up was this monumental sadness and just being snapped at by my mother. I don’t think I knew what happiness was for ages, or humour which made it difficult for me going through school. I’m better nowadays though, I can take things with a pinch of salt and laugh at myself.
It’s weird, but on those same lines. It’s like, I hold myself back from having friends, because I feel like if I try and get close to people or be nice then they’ll think that I’m trying to hurt them or something. I am aware that in my mind I hold myself back from doing things, like showering n eating sometimes. Literally like I’m holding myself captive (!!) It’s ridiculous. I need to start changing the way that I see myself (which is happening), slowly!
It’s hard for me to imagine feeling like I deserve things, yknow?
My sister is suffering a lot right now π π a lot, a lot – which I will explain a bit further on. This core belief is so hard to change it’s ridiculous. Can it be changed?
I think that the purpose of me punishing myself, is so that it helps others. For some reason, if I stopped listening to music, then maybe my gran would have that pleasure up in heaven. (what I thought then). Same as, well if I’m not confident, it means I won’t make other people feel insecure. (in the past I’ve had people who cried n had a go at me cus I was confident n they said it made them feel insecure). I’m worried about starting a band n being confident n pushing myself out there cus I don’t want other girls to be jealous (which has happened before). Whereas I fully support my girl friends 100%.
You made a very good point – I tell my sister to focus on herself, but then I don’t focus on myself. You’re so right when you say that. I feel like it’s different though because she genuinely does need support and help, I feel like it would be selfish of me to not put her first when at the moment she really does need a lot of help.
You are very right. My parents had no empathy at all for us, and never tried to relate to us. Yes, you’re right about my mum too, and that being her goal. I think my dilemma, is that I don’t know how to view it. I’d like to think that deep down at the heart, that everyone has a good heart and wants peace and love, but some people’s actions do the exact opposite. I’ve struggled with finding a grasp of reality on the situation: do I pity them? Feel sorry for them? Should I see both of them as good people who are both just hurting? Or should I see them as being abusive individuals who aren’t good people?
It’s a catch 22 Anita – because the core belief is the thing that is stopping me from doing the things that I need to heal!! such as aerobics, meditation, cooking etc. !! I guess it’s gradually going “I’m worth this”. Yknow?
As for an update – good things – I put on a gig at the Pig n Fiddle on Thursday n it went really really well and everyone loved it π I feel like Iβm connecting with my Bristol friends, as theyβre on my same vibe, and feeling more confident in that aspect.
Not so good things – yesterday (day after gig). I spoke to my sister on the phone, and she said that things had gotten physical between her and her wife again, and that she had been out walking all night π π obviously I am worried, and I said to her to come and stay with me. But she said that she canβt because sheβs on benefits/ has her dog etc. She has gone back to the house with the wife. I called the DV helpline and got loads of suggestions and links. I am waiting to talk to my sister to talk to her about these options – itβs so hard because I wish she could see what I see, but she doesnβt. The woman on the phone said that it takes people a while to be ready to leave sometimes. I am in contact with my sister everyday, and she knows I love her.
Hi Mark,
Thank you for saying that π I am getting better! At the moment I have learnt the skill of positive thinking. Iβm on a bit of a manic one at the moment as I have started to attract loads of friends, good vibes etc. in to my life – all from self-love and positive thinking, and thinking βyour vibe attracts your tribeβ. If I am positive, it emanates. It needs to start with me first!
At the moment tiny buddha is helping, positive thinking, and attracting a good support network, and also putting on the gigs and knowing that I will be in Bristol soon π Sometimes I can be a bit manic, and that can be too intense – because Iβm not used to all the positivity, and I get overwhelmed thinking about how much opportunity there is for me etc. I am trying to get a balance so I can remain calm but still be positive in life.
Cat
- This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Cat.
CatParticipantDear Anita,
That is exactly it.Β Being told I’m lucky by all 3 of them just makes me feel so guilty for having the opportunities that I do. Especially because my parents never supported my sister at all, or made her feel like she was worthy of love or anything. It’s such a horrible feeling π Sometimes I wish I hadn’t gone, just so they wouldn’t see it that way. I feel like saying that makes them put me on a pedal stool, whereas all I’ve ever wanted is just a loving accepting family, it doesn’t matter what education we have or what we do for a job.
My sister does not think that way about Wales. I don’t think she likes it very much because she feels trapped where she lives :/ I wish I could make her see the beauty in what she does have, and the opportunities available to her. I try to encourage her to follow through with her hobbies/ interests/ goals but she doesn’t π And then complains when her and her wife falls out, and I tell her that she needs to focus on herself.
Exactly. My parents used to do it all the time. They said they’d support me to go to University, but then shouted at me because they were finding it hard financially π really blamed and shouted at me, which is why I chose to go independent and make money myself. My parents are very manipulative people – they try and come across as being hard done by/ pitied, but then they are really abusive to me and my sister. When I stopped talking to them at University, they did not try and get in contact or apologise, and I soon found out that my Mum had bought a new convertible, even though they were “really struggling” to help me through Uni. Not to mention having the kitchen completely re-done.
A great example of what my parents are like is this: My sister tried to overdose when she was 15. What did my parents do? They had a go at her for “ruining their night”. Seriously. This is the type of attitude/ behaviour from them that I have grown up with. Two people who could never relate to their children at all. Who used to bully and belittle their children, and take all their anger out on them. The amount of times my dad put the fear of God in to me and my sister is disgusting.
About the cake metaphor. Yes, exactly. My mum used to play the pity card everyday. Even though she only went to work for 3 hours. She’d come back and complain that I hadn’t done anything around the house π Or that I hadn’t made her a coffee for when she got home. Seriously. Even though I was just a young girl, and everyone else was allowed to be a kid. We weren’t allowed to. We were driven in the importance of money from a young age, and were never really allowed a childhood. I had a playstation for my 13 birthday – I sprained my ankle, when I was out on a day trip with my friend and her family (think I’ve mentioned them before? the family that I loved). That was the only time my Mum allowed me to chill out and play on my playstation, when I was injured. As soon as I was better, she would say that I was lazy, and that I spent too much time on it, and that I was selfish.
Selfish. Yes. Selfish. I used to get called Selfish all the time, just for doing fun things that made me happy π Even when I tried to help my mum would be like “no it’s fine, I’ll do it”. So I could never win. It’s really weird, like her mind was just programmed to be negative, and to make us feel…guilty.
I was always made to feel guilty for living my life. But my parents were so negative, and non-supportive etc. which is why they didn’t do anything with their lives. I still think about it now. As sometimes I still see myself as being the bad one, or the reason why everything is messed up in my family. My heart does hurt a lot, just from all of it. Just from all that pain, negativity and drama I’ve been exposed to growing up. Sometimes I can’t even cry. Sometimes I just feel this heavy feeling in my heart that stays with me for a few days. I am trying to find ways of releasing it, and letting it go.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Anita,
I had a productive weekend and Monday, but the past few days I’ve been in bed. My head really hurts, so I’m going to the Doctors tomorrow to see if I can increase my medication. I’ve been talking to my girl friends who remind me of why I should be positive in my life and remind me of the good times ahead.
If my sister didn’t suffer, yes my suffering would end. I would feel at peace knowing that she was living a happy life. It’s the same as, when you start looking in to animal abuse etc. the thought of an animal being abused as we speak – that used to make me so upset and depressed π just thinking about it. It’s that feeling of knowing how much pain someone or something is going through and being powerless to stop it, and fix it.
That is exactly what my brain does!! At work all the staff were complaining about the cuts to the service, the changes etc. And I couldn’t deal with the fact that there was a problem but no action was being taken to fix it. Therefore, I ended up going through a very long complaint procedure, which took months etc etc. At the time it seemed to me like the only thing I could do to make my mind feel at peace with everything that was happening. I cannot stand being around people that complain, with no limit – like, where is the solution??
If she is not the reason I suffer, what is the reason why I suffer? I have guilt from the past, from the person I couldn’t be for my parents. I was sorting out my room the other day, and doing so is forcing me to face myself, and I start to cry, because I remember the feeling growing up, of not being good enough for them, not being worthy of love like other children were π And always made to feel like I had a problem with me which meant that I wasn’t worthy of love. Because it was my parents who made me feel that way, it’s like their opinion was God’s Truth…. So it’s still so hard for me to comprehend that they were wrong.
How do I remove myself from the trap?
Yes. Me too. When I was young, my great gran died and I stopped listening to music, as a punishment. Because in my head, she couldn’t have the joy of listening to music anymore, wherever she was, which meant that I didn’t deserve to. I guess it’s like that in my life with my parents – when I go to the city centre – they never lived in a big city with so many opportunities, so why should i?? This is something that was really hard growing up, as they used to remind me how lucky I was all the time that I was going to uni, that I was going to live in a city etc. This didn’t do anything apart from make me feel really sad and guilty that they didn’t π π π I don’t know what they were trying to achieve by saying that, but all it did was make me think about how much my parents didn’t do what I’m doing. It’s the same with my sister, sometimes I’ll be talking to her, and she’ll be like, “I wish I did that” etc etc. and then brings up the fact that I was supported to go to uni, where she wasn’t, and says that I was given a lot more opportunities than her π Which is true, my parents forced her to be a hairdresser when she was 17. So I do feel bad about the unjust treatment. But at the same time I tell her, well that makes me feel crap because I didn’t ask for special treatment, and I do explain to her that I’ve worked really hard to get my qualifications as well, and that I went five years doing uni completely off of my own back, and working for money etc. So I have done loads of it by myself without any support. It’s very hard situation π
Cat
CatParticipantHi Mark,
Have I maintained boundaries? I’m not too sure how to handle the situation, or what boundaries there should be or not. In so many ways she is still the lost little girl from our childhood and I really want her to be able to see herself in her highest regard. She has a lot to give but cannot see it. I feel such a deep….sadness/ guilt/ duty to her and I really wish I could make her life better and take her pain anyway π
I guess it’s the same as Clarence. With or without me in the picture, he continues the same self destructive, hateful behaviour. I guess people are going to do what they’re going to, whether I’m in their life or not. I’d like to think of a way that I feel like I have those relationships under control. I have my parents one under control by not being in contact, as they don’t make me feel good about myself, and instead make me feel opposite. My relationship with my sister is kind of under control as it’s all through messages, so can easily not reply for a while etc. Although I do still feel a sense of duty to her, which I’m not sure is normal.
Dear Anita,
I am trying the foot cramp method with everything at the moment – every thought and every feeling. And I am learning to be at peace with whatever it is I’m doing, whether it’s relaxing, to cleaning my room, to going to the shop etc. I guess my self-belief is wavering. Some days I’ll have a clear view of the positive future and the potential of the stable relationships I can have with people. And at other times, the self-doubt kicks in and I retreat…. I am being mindful of this of course.
Regarding my sister – please see what I wrote to Mark above. The more I learn, the more I try and pass my wisdom on to her, however I don’t think it works the same. Sometimes my sister can be really really ignorant which is really frustrating, and be really stuck in her ways π π π Which makes me really upset. I know she wants to heal, but at the same time she doesn’t realise that she needs to believe that she will heal, in order to. Sometimes she does use her BPD as excuses, and she nitpicks on other peoples behaviour π It’s times like those when I don’t know what advice to give, or how to handle that situation π It’s hard seeing her struggle so much when I am progressing, and I guess I don’t really know how to deal with it.
Cat
CatParticipantDear Mark.
Thank you, I am definitely in a better place than I was a few weeks ago π Very good sign. I have found that my focus has shifted, from focusing on the rejection from others, to focusing on the self-love in myself, and being wary of my mood changes throughout the day – what thoughts make me feel certain things etc etc. I am going more easy on myself, and I am beating myself up in my mind less and less ( π ) I am due to go back to work on the 2nd March, so I have a bit more time to use my freedom to really practice this mindfulness.
Dear Anita,
Sorry, what does the ‘foot cramp’ method mean? These waves of emotions come to me on a daily basis, but I have gotten better at realising them, and I think of your advice when they come – to simply endure them, and to allow myself to feel what I feel. They have been going away, and I am now seeing the light on the other side of them/ I am now seeing a more positive future π π
I am trying to focus on me an my life, rather than feeling likeΒ I need to reply to messages right away etc. I feel so much healtheir from when I was with Clarence, as I was unhealthily obsessed with him. A combination of my co-dependence/ too much focus on others, and a combination of his manipulation too. I went to send a message on fb messenger yesterday, and his name appeared, and I saw he had his profile back. (He always used to get it and delete it because he was so unstable). I did have a look and he’d made a new page, and it looked very manic and intense and like he was trying to prove something. It made me feel better, knowing that his problems are with him, and aren’t really my fault. He is continuing with life the same, whereas I have really grown and changed from all of it. That has made me feel a lot better realising this growth.
I’ve been meaning to talk about my sister. As it’s a very complex and emotionally challenging relationship for me. She is the only family member who I am in contact with. I haven’t seen her for 5 years, since I was 19. The last time I saw her she was in a bad way and she was snapping at me constantly, I couldn’t do anything right, and even when I cried she had a go at me. It was quite abusive.
She is married now and living in Wales. We are in contact via facebook, messaging, calls etc. Sometimes yes, if I say something she doesn’t like, or if we have a small argument she’ll say, “Well, we never got on anyway”, “We’re just too different”, “Well don’t talk to me then”. Etc. I try and stay calm and talk through it, and explain where the disagreement occurred etc. We have gotten better at calmly talking through disagreements, rather than both being defensive and completely abandoning our relationship.
It is extremely difficult though. She is up and down with her emotions. Some days I will text her and she is really low, feeling suicidal etc. I try and be there for her. She is married, and her wife has depression. Sometimes they can be really toxic for each other, and they’ve been abusive to each other in the past π π They seem good together at the moment. It makes me sad knowing that their relationship has the potential to be like that, and in the past I sent them a serious message saying they both need to wake up and realise the seriousness of the situation. Since then, there has been no more physical abuse. My sister has started removing herself from the situation when she feels triggered etc.
My sister feels triggered on a daily basis. And sometimes it’s difficult to know how to make her be positive again. In a way I do feel responsible for her too. I worry sometimes, that if I progress and overcome my mental health issues, that she will not like me for doing so/ having a happy life. It sounds silly, because on the phone she says that she wants me to be happy. But sometimes I get the feeling that she is resentful of me because I was the parents favourite π and because I went to uni and she didn’t π etc etc. Although I always remind her of her great qualities too. She has really low self esteem, and when she sees me with high self esteem, I just really worry that she is going to hate me, or try and put me down – which she used to do when we were young.
I wish I could have a healthy relationship with my sister, but I know it would only work if she had good self esteem too. Otherwise I can imagine meeting up and for her to be nitpicking at me again, which is really, really damaging to be around.
Cat
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