Hi Anita

I’m really sorry to hear that it is possible you may be removed from the forums. I really appreciate you having taken the time to read and reply to my messages, and the help and support  you have given me.

I shall indeed continue to move forward and reclaim my life, just the few steps I have made in the last week have opened my eyes to what is possible if I claim back my power so to speak.

Thank you again for your time and understanding and wishing you all the best in your adventures to come.

Thank you Anita 🙂

I shall have a look at the website you mentioned, but I would be most grateful if could share the worksheets with me as I’m finding it quite difficult to work out what my values are.

Thank you again

Hi Anita

Much as I would love to be in the position whereby I could get counselling, I’m unfortunately not in the financial position not to be able to do so. And accessing free counselling here in the UK is very difficult due to waiting lists, so I am trying to do my best to work through things myself 🙂

I have been reading through some of the blog articles on Tiny Budda and there were a couple that resonated with me..

4 Fears That Create People-Pleasers and How to Ease Them

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/the-power-of-saying-no-even-to-people-you-love/?fromterm=5194

I resonated with the story each told of their past behaviour. I think I’ve mentioned previously that I find it difficult to say no and I’m aware of an inate need to please and give to others from a young age.

I’m have become more acutely aware of feeling angry on many occasions in the past and have suppressed it, not allowed it to speak. However, more recently I am finding it really difficult to suppress, and I guess I have become more aware that its been trying to tell me something very important. I have found myself wanting to know what it’s been wanting to say and I now understand.

I’ve have been thinking a lot over the past week about how to go about changing things so that I prioritise myself, show myself self compassion, self care. The blog posts are helpful and help increase awareness of where I’m at at present and what I need to consider doing to change things and feel more at peace with myself and my life. I need to learn to say no, and to set boundaries as these a two things I just don’t do at all right now. I feel I need to learn about unnecessary guilt too.. learn to let go of it. And I need to remain aware of my inner child, and ask the right questions of myself when things feel off balance, when my gut instinct kicks in.

I felt I took a step, all be it a very very tiny step in the right direction on Sunday by saying ‘No’. A texted me Sunday morning ‘Do you still want an early cuppa?’. I wrestled with saying yes/no.. after sitting with it for for 20 min or so, I texted him and said, ‘No thanks. I’ve got my climbing course today (which I had) and I want to visit the coast for a walk beforehand and enjoy the sunshine. Hope you have a good day’. I enjoyed my wall and had a great time climbing and chatting to the other people in the group I was climbing with 🙂

I know I’m capable of relaxing, of enjoying my own company.. But when a big event happens, we’ll one that rocks my boat a bit, sometimes something simple such as when my youngest sons behaviour changes due to to the difficulties he experiences, or the long running fight to secure him his education (long story), flares up, my frustration with work.. then I struggle to relax and focus all my efforts on the matter in hand, and totally forgetting about myself.

I feel that I’m quite a quiet as opposed to shy person, feel others pain, and I guess I can be quite intense as opposed to full on if that makes sense. I feel my emotions. I overthink/overanalyse a lot, which is possibly because I don’t always feel that I fit in more than anything.

Hi Anita

Thank you for sharing your story with me, it is thought provoking.

Returning to the aspect of guilt for a moment.. regarding the more recent event of my father becoming unwell..

In the preceeding 6 months or so leading up to his mental health breaking down, I had noticed him becoming a little less motivated, a little withdrawn even. At the time I was also in a position where I had become increasingly frustrated of running around after and looking after everyone, work included. I’d stopped from support work to working in a special needs school supporting children with considerable needs, the class I was in the children were all non verbal, had mobility needs, had behavioural issues etc. It was very full on and I thought it would be a good role for me. The people I worked with were great, apart from the class teacher, who I found very frustrating as he always felt unwell, was injured, or was just leaving us to everything and sitting back doing ‘admin’ in the main office. I was finding the role quite difficult as it was so intense and I became just as upset and frustrated with work as I felt at home.. Going back to where I mention above of feeling frustrated, upset, angry even of lofe at home. For as long as I can remember my parents have always visited for the day 2 to 3 days each week. When my boys were younger it was a great help and support as it enabled me to be able to work a few days a week, and gave my boys a kind of father figure (in my dad) as their dad only saw them one weekend every few weeks (his choice). In the last few years, and now my boys are that much older, my parents have continued to visit 2 or 3 days a week (and have continued to join us when we go on days trips or on holiday). They’d stay for several hours at a time and I’d provide lunch and evening meal, and try to think of something, anything we could do whilst they were here as my boys were in their rooms or out with friends/at college etc. I was frustrated about the time they spent round at mine, I tried to change it, but it fell on deaf ears. My dad would say, ‘Well you’ve got the boys, so it’s easier if we come see you’, ‘I’ve arranged it so your mum and I didn’t do anything on the days we come to see you’ etc.. I tried expressing my frustrating in as calm and kind a manner as I could to my mum in the hope that she would be able to help my dad to understand. But she just agreed with me saying she ‘knows they come round too much, but that’s just the way you’re dad is, I get cross with him too’. She never said anything to him.

I became a but snappy and sought to escape the house for walks alone when they visited. Each time my dad said ‘oh I’m really sorry we can’t come over on Tues next week’ I respond saying, that’s okay, you don’t have to come over, one day a week is plenty and we could always pop and see you instead of you always coming here’ to which he’d never reply with anything more than an ‘hmm’.

I return to the mention of guilt.. when my dad fell unwell and the deterioration of his mental health picked up pace, I partially blamed myself for not wanting him and my mum to come round as much as they were, I felt guilty that I’d pushed him away and it was my fault. That guilt still floats in and out of my mind, I know it was a combination of things that led to his breakdown, but a small part of me feels I was part of it.

I did everything I could to support him whilst he was at his worst, and in the early days of him being home. I’ve let go a bit now that I know he has psychological support on board each week now, and that he is making small steps to recovery. But that sense of loss for me is great, and the guilt sits right beside it.

With me being in a vulnerable place, I latched onto A. I knew from day one, probably as I did with all my partners I was with before, that he wasn’t right for me, he spoke as the others did, all about himself, his work, his alcoholic dad leaving him when he was young, his partners cheating on him or leaving him.. the ‘poor old me’ scenario, the ‘I need to be needed’ scenario.. the victim.. and I step into care/support/mother mode.. If I care/support/meet their needs, then they’ll do the same for me.. but they can’t. I attract the wrong guys because I’m attracted to those that ‘need’ me.

Thank you Anita.. I must admit I felt quite emotional writing it all down and seeing it laid out bare in front of me.

It would feel great to put myself first whilst behaving with respect and kindness towards others and parenting my sons as best I can. I’m just not quite sure where to start to be able to do that and how to keep doing it without falling back into old habits.

Hello Anita..

There are a few things that come to mind when reading through..

In all my relationships, these were/are men that wanted only what they wanted.. and for me to slot into that equation. My husband just did his own thing, in the form of seeing other women behind my back, hanging out with his mates with me in tow, moto-x with his father whilst i cheered on the sidelines. I looked after him and our house, listened when he felt troubled, supported him with very little in return, he wasn’t there for me when i really needed him.. I like I wasn’t enough, I felt alone.

My next partner.. he was very full on to start with, we’d go out to eat, for days and evenings out, we’d take all the kids out, hang out at each others houses. I’d calm him when he was angry, listen when he was frustrated, I tried my best to compromise on matters that were important only to be told that I just wanted everything my way or no way, or I was being silly. I helped him find and take part in new activities – golf, working out because he’d said he felt his social life had closed in on him. I encouraged and taught him to cook when he said he couldn’t do it. Again, when I really needed him, he wasn’t there for me, I felt unimportant, and alone.

Number 3.. he was very cruel.. I’d cooked dinner for us once, only for him to berate it and he said he’d cook for us in future because he was really good at it. He dissed my style saying I needed to dress better. On the flip side he’d say how I was great at cooking deserts, and looked good I the dress he picked.. he was volatile. I listened and I did.. he ‘supported’, ‘cared for’ me although that’s not what it felt like. I couldn’t do anything but listen and do.. I felt worthless and alone. I guess because I could support/care for him etc.. I ended the relationship pretty swiftly in comparrison to all my other relationships.

No. 4 with Bipolar.. I supported, I cared, I listened, I helped him with all sorts of difficulties he was having over the time we were together. But I’m aware I also enabled him to rely on me which was probably the worst thing I could have done. There was nothing at all in return from him, apart from demands for more from me and I continued to enable. I felt emotionally drained, worthless and very alone.

No. 5.. the nice guy.. he was very full on to start with, we’d go out to eat, for days and evenings out, hang out at each others houses with and without our kids (all un their teens by now). I listened to him poor out his feelings of loneliness (guess that’s why I tried so hard to find time to spend with him??). I joined him and his mates for nights out where I’d be left at the table practically ignored whilst he socialised, but when he joined me with my friends I’d be by his side, introduce him to people etc. I joined him at some of the footy matches he’d go to watch, but he never joined me on the things I enjoyed, apart from walking. I supported him through some tough moments, but he wasn’t there when I really needed him. Yet again, I felt like I wasn’t enough, and alone.

And A.. same story, different guy..

When I look at my family dynamics in comparison to my relationships.. I see a similar pattern.. I listened, helped, supported, calmed, looked after.. Mum couldn’t do the same for me because she relied on me.. Dad was working, he was there for in the sense that he would listen when i needed to talk, he supported me with my studies and leisure activities.. my brother was unable to be there for me.. I don’t remember feelings of loneliness growing up, I guess I had school and my friends though and my clubs and activities, hanging out with the kids round my area.. always busy  never a chance to feel alone. Around the age of 11, or 12, when I moved from primary school into high school I remember the feeling of not really fitting in and feeling alone, but despite that would try my best to do so. I always felt like I had to prove my worth throughout my teenage years though, because of not feeling like I fitted in.

If I look at my work life it has always revolved around helping and supporting others to achieve things – I worked as a personal trainer/fitness coach, in a hospital, in a nursery looking after babies and toddlers, in a school for one to one support, and as a support worker and carer over the last several years.. its where I feel most comfortable I guess.. its what I know and I know I’m good at it in that context.. but very obviously not within the context of a relationship. I’ve not intentionally meant to behave in the way I have/do in my relationships, I just do it instinctively. And even when I know the relationship is not right for me, I override my gut instinct and plough on believing if I just do a bit more, of I am a bit more then things will change. Its not changed within my family relationship, so goodness knows why I think it will be any different within my relationships. I allow them to be one sided, I allow myself to stay when it’s not right for me. I couldn’t say no to my mum, dad and brother, I can’t now.. and in my relationships I was the same, I am the same.

And then at the bottom of the pile, after everyone else is okay.. I put myself.. I guess its no wonder I feel alone, especially within a relationship.. and feel worthless when nothing comes back..

Thank you Anita

My brother is dyslexic, potentially ASD but never diagnosed, lives at home with my parents, has no friends,  no job, no benefits. His only outing is to the shops to by food with my parents money. He’s socially anxious and anxious in general. He was most helpful when my dad was unwell at home in trying to help him to manage his anxiety have g dfound ways to try to manage his own if that makes sense. Helping with the shopping is about all he is able to offer other than that he shuts himself in his room and is nocturnal, being awake all night, and asleep most of the day.

My mother is also dyslexic. However, she is a social butterfly, loves to meet with her friends for coffee and chatter. My dad’s anxiety frustrates her. When he was unwell at home she backed away saying she couldn’t deal with it, saying she just felt cross with him. The most she is able to help with is again food shopping, household chores, food prep/cooking. She’s doesn’t understand maths/finance neither does my brother and neither of them drive. My mum also has mobility issues.

I just sought to be independent when younger, its the only thing I knew how to do.

Over the years my dad has expressed his frustration and overwhelm at having to do everything, all the driving, running about, finances, maintaining the house and garden etc etc.. He’s let off steam with me, he’s shouted in exasperation at my mum, more so when I was younger, as I remember trying to calm them both by making them laugh.

I am doing my best to support him in his recovery.

Life has felt quite lonely. I’ve not always felt like I fitted in at times. I’ve always been active and bust. As a youngster it was sports and hobbies and helping others.. and not much has changed I that respect.

I think I understand where you’re coming from with regards to the together feeling with A, and the loneliness after. I think a lot of the time my relationships have felt that way, I’ve put so much in, given so much of myself but it feels so lonely.. not sure that really makes any sense though?? However, I do crave that together feeling, even though my gut instinct may be telling me, as it has in the past, that something isn’t sitting right.

A wants me when it suits him.. which stirs up memories of most of my relationships being similar. I always seem to be seeking to please, seeking to prove my worth? I don’t know

I tried so hard to remain single, just over 3 years was good for me, and the majority of the time that was okay, i thought about dating occasionally, but having made so many mistakes/wrong choices, i chose not to date which led to feeling lonely at times. Then I hit a rough spot last year when my dad became unwell and met A at a vulnerable time. Maybe he could sense that? x