Rantings and Revelations ~ TW
This is going to be my space where I can vent and rant and
put a voice knew understandings. A place where I smear my secrets on canvas so
I gain better perspective…or just have a place to go when I can’t go anywhere else,
and my brain and memories are haunting me.
…TW: Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Self – Harm, Eating Disorders, Sexual Assault...
My brain is so fuzzy and I really have to concentrate on thinking and what I am typing. It is taking so long just to type. I think , in my desperate Need to make everything go away - the anger, the pain, the gnawing at my soul - the constant triggering and emotional pain and whatever it was that was plaguing my entire being - that I took way too many anxiety meds. I got my pain meds, late last night ( thank god - the pain was at it's worst last night) and I was in so much pain, I doubled the dose - of a strength that was already upped from my usual dose. I think I took too many. I have such brain fog and my body is tired and I can't think clear like I normally can. I am hoping that this will eventually wear off - well, it has to wear off. I just don't know how long I am going to have to wait.
I did research last night, before I got my pain meds back - on the side effects of withdrawal. Turns out you are never supposed to just stop the meds, you need to taper off or the withdrawal is horrible. I can't believe they literally made me wait almost 5 days to get another script.
I think the side effects were really adding to my desperation of how I was feeling. It had said to expect anxiety, self-harm, sui/ci/d-al idea-tion, depression, confusion, seizures and on and on. Well, hell, that explains so damn much of what I was going through.
And I so scared myself during this meltdown of mine, made worse by withdrawals. I can not drinks with meds that I am on, but I was so desperate to get that feeling out, that I drank it like milk. And taking all the anxiety meds - and yes, it fucked with my lungs - and at the time, I didn't care. ( I am breathing fine now...I think). I scared myself with the pain being so bad and so beyond what I could hold, that I no longer cared if I wok/e. That I actually boiled that water in the pot to SH - but I managed to NOT SH!
So despite going through absolute hell - I realized something coming out on the other side: I am so much stronger than I give myself credit for. My resolve to not SH anymore is so damn strong because my anger is at my dad, the other he and just...all the assholes that stole my life, not me. Even in this depth of darkness ( and withdrawals) and complete and utter desperation, I held that god damn pain. I sat with it until I thought it was going to take over my very being and I would cease to ever be me again. I did that...and I am okay. I NEVER want to go through that ever again. I felt like the very core of who I was - was dissolving right in front of me and I would never be okay again.
I don't understand how healing can be so damn hard. I survived the abuse. You would think I would survive the healing...I mean, I am, but it doesn't feel like surviving. But today - even through the fog and haze of all the meds I took to cope - I feel better. I feel closer to being, ME.
I have my session today - I feel so fuzzy I do not know if I can even find the words to speak to her and say what I was going through. It feels far away and hard to grasp. Hell, I feel far away and hard to grasp. But I am going to try. I did send her like , not kidding, 7 pages of my journal. I did send her the journal with me naming him as my dad.
I have no idea what we are going to discuss because it is just so all over the place lately. I think I should tell her what I journaled about the reasons I want to keep him in my life - like, what it is I think I am getting or what I am trying to get , with keeping him in my life. And the guilt and pressure to call him back and just do whatever it is I am supposed to do. Ahhh - I think that is the child part of me thinking - the adult part knows I do NOT have to do that and my opinions and thoughts and what I want to do - matters. My feelings matter. My boundaries matter. My voice and what I have to say, matters.
It is the child part of me - that says, I HAVE to do what he says - what they all say. That I have to take care of them and make sure they are okay and their feelings are not hurt . That I have to do what I am told so I can avoid his anger - his anger : so dangerous. Life threatening. And it was. It is not now. But there were so many times growing up that I thought he was going to kill me. TW: for the section starting with TW and I will say when TW , ends. - talking about physical abuse and times I Felt and in reality, was almost kil*le/d by my dad in his rage.
TW start: He..ahhh, I am so used to saying He and not naming him. My dad was driving, so fast and so angry - raging. The family was in the car ( I was in there, too - I do not count myself as part of that family). i don't know how old I was but I kept telling him that there are signs saying he needs to go into the other lane- that this road is not finished - road ending - there is a drop - the road literally is going to stop and we are going to plummet down and drive right off the road. We are going to di*e). He just was creaming at me to shut up and drove faster and faster. They also saw the road ending and were screaming for him to stop - we were all crying. Praying, I was praying and preparing to di!e. Everything was in slow motion, I just kept praying and bracing for it. I stopped screaming and went into this still and silent mode - just preparing for it. At the Last minute - the literal last minute that before it would have been too late - he realized what he was doing and screeched the car to a halt- tires spinning, the whole car circling out of control. And we stopped. We were still alive. Tires of the car almost touching the part of the road that just ended - just became this huge drop off - no more road. He did almost kil--l us - all of us - me. Himself. Because of this rage.
Or the time I stuck up for my sister who was getting screamed at and hit for something. She didn't even do what he said she did. But he got so mad at me and I ran out the door - running for my life as he chased me holding this branch of a tree that he had earlier sawed off. Chasing me and I ran as fast as my legs could take me, terrified because he was in a rage and i knew, if he caught me, he would beat me until I died. He did catch me, and beat me pretty bad - but I didn't die. But I thought I would. So many times because his rage, and taking it out on me, us - I thought i was going to be kill**ed by my dad - I thought he hated me - THAT much.
I always stuck up for my sisters - my dad and his wife used to call me the lawyer, because I was always trying to stick up and protect them. Hahaha, spending my childhood protecting my sisters and this is how they treat me now: they hate me - they spend their time trying to hurt me as much as they can. They are fed this HATE, HATE for me , fueled by their mother who hates me so much. I spent much of my life trying to understand why she hated me so much, hurt me, abused me in so many ways. I didn't do anything to her. She still hates me and is cruel to me every damn time I am around her- so cruel still.
But I get it - I was his first wife's daughter. I was the " white" one. I didn't even look like I belonged to them. I was the physical reminder of my mother - his first wife. And he tried to keep my mom and his new wife, in his life and tried all the time to have them both around - like a fucking harem. No wonder his wife hated me so much - it wasn't me she hated, I did nothing but be born. She hated my mother because my mom was a threat to her - in her mind. I represented my dad's love for my mom, still. TW: end
Ha - love. I do not even think my dad loved my mom. He cheated on her and hit her. Treated her like complete shit. And all the whole, my mom still tried to make sure he was okay - even when he was married to that bitch. When they had no food - she brought some. When the kids needed toys - she brought some.
OMG - I get it. The guilt - even if someone treats you like absolute shit and hurts you, it is still your duty , " duty", to make sure that they are okay - care for their needs and feeling. I think THIS is where I get this sense of guilt from and this misplaced sense of taking responsibility for others feelings and if they are okay - even if they hurt you so bad. But at the same time, it's so confusing because she was always telling me to not sit and take shit from my dad. But how could I hold that when I grew up seeing her do just that - take the shit and still care for them. I am NOT my mother - I reject having to make sure my abusers are okay and making sure their needs are met - ofc , not inappropriate needs. Well, some inappropriate needs - just not sexual ones anymore.
And his anger - his rage, was so destructive, so dangerous. No wonder I feel so afraid of my own anger. And when I let my anger out - when I was a ragy, angsty teen - It was destructive for me too - I only knew the rage he showed. I never hurt anyone - but I could only get out this anger, physically. Kicking holes in the walls, destroying things, slamming doors so hard I broke them. So much anger - years of being abused - so much anger about it. But I couldn't touch why - why I had that anger. I just knew it was there. So yes, I am afraid of anger - of how all of them, my dad, his wife and my other main abuser - how they showed anger and rage - so hurtful, scary and destructive, But I have proven to myself now - that I can hold this anger, and even the gnawing - and not be destructive.
Yes, some destruction came out - trashing the kitchen, throwing shit against the wall - but I claimed it, I got myself back really quick. I made sure to apologize and fix everything. I think I need to learn how to hold this anger and the gnawing and bubbling beneath the surface - the clawing - and express it to get the energy OUT of me. And in safe way that is not destructive to things or myself. I have a right to be angry and a lot to be angry about. And I have a right to express it. I just never learned how. I feel like a child - or so stupid. But I do not know how to let it out...then it sits in me and eats me alive.
I am scared about this therapy appointment today. I am scared I will not be able to stop crying. I am scared because I named one of the he's as my dad - she knows - it's out. I know. I have accepted. I am afraid the anger will blow and show up and I will not know how to hold it in. Maybe she can teach me what to do with it - idk. At the same time - I am so damn happy I have a session today because I need it so bad - I can't keep going on like this. I really was afraid of what I would do to myself and hw the anger would come out. But I refused to let it out - and it was tearing me apart.
But, somehow - I survived the past few days of pure hell. I went into the complete darkness and made it to the other side :) Fuck, I am resilient.
I have this...sense of self back that has been lost for so long in this deep, dark muck of the aftermath of abuse and trying to work through it and heal. I was really nervous my session today. I gave her my journal - seven damn pages of memories of abuse. And with naming him as my father. I didn't put everything down - I did hold back some that I just couldn't write out.
But she didn't look at me like I am damaged, she didn't hate me and leave or look at me with pity. She offered compassion and stood up for me. She gave me a few things to do in order to give a voice to little me - or to...honor, little me, and all she/me went through. And I did one of them - and it felt so damn good.
I have, on my bedroom wall , a collage of portraits I had collected from National Geographic magazines. Pictures that were so moving, poignant and had touched my soul. Mostly portraits, faces - all that had so much emotion and expression - they had a story to tell. And it is kind of like honoring those emotions and their stories, on my wall. Like, I saw them - not looking past them - I stopped and SAW them.
She sees this on my wall during our telehealth sessions. She asked me about them today and I told her what I just explained. She suggested that I too, have something to say - a story - emotions that need to be held and honored. She suggested I put a picture of me when I was little - little me should be up there with them. She too has a story. She too, needs to be honored. And after the session, I felt really empowered. I wanted to do just that - with the little me picture.
So , I did. I went through - painful as it is to look at old family photos because it is so damn triggering plus there are so many damn pictures of my abusers and my abusers with me in the pics and you can just see it in my face, the fear and pain. But I found a few pictures of me, little me. Pictures that captured different emotions and aspects of her/me. And I lovingly taped them up - intertwined in this sacred collage of honoring. And it felt so damn good.
She also was telling me about how this is grieving - grieving the loss of my childhood, of safety, of not having a family that could keep me safe. She suggested taking 24 hours to just self care and allow myself to cry - to grieve - to honor her pain and what she went through. To connect with her, in a way. And I think I am going to do this. Not today or anything - but I AM going to be doing this. Even though I do feel some guilt for doing that - taking that time for her/me - like I so not deserve it. Ugh, back to the guilt.
I decided to NOT call my dad back today. I decided to NOT listen to his voicemail. I decided NOT to even read my sisters text or respond. I am going to - maybe tomorrow or some time before my next session ( so I can process that with her) ... unless I change my mind. lol. I just do not want to call him or talk to him with all this pain and abuse memories from him so fresh in my mind. And after naming him, my dad, as one of the abusers - things are so real that I can never lie to myself again.
I also decided that I am going to name the other he. I am taking my power back, one small step ( huge step) at a time. I decided that since I am going to read, out loud ( ugh, might take like 2 or 3 sessions to even get all that out and read it - with multiple breakdowns in-between sentences) the journal entry that she already read - about my abuse....I am going to re-write it...add ( maybe) the things I left out because they were too painful to look at and too fearful. And I am going to write the other he's name in there. No more he and he and she. But again, this is off in the near future - but not so near - lol. I need to work up to that. Well, work up to READING that out loud .
I might work on writing some of this tonight - maybe just writing his name and relation instead of he...in the journal. I think I will hold off on writing more of the abuse stuff for tonight. I am feeling good and in a safe place. I think id like to sit in this for a while before stirring shit up . Plus - these pain meds are AWESOME. bwahhahah - I feel great. And makes me super calm, anxiety is gone - and makes me so comfy that I just want to sleep. And helps with the major pain I have - there is always pain, constantly. But these really help. I am so looking forward to a calm, comfy and safe sleep :)
I remembered parts of myself today, that I thought I lost. But I didn't. I just couldn't see them anymore. Good stuff about me. Passions, interests, talents, ideas...I cannot express how good this feels. It is a reunion of myself, in a way.
I think I am going to take the rest of tonight to just, get in touch with those parts of me. To remember...me. To self care. To listen to music that reminds me of who I am. Speaking of! I want to share a song here in my journal. And every time I think I've lost myself again - I am going to come in here and look at this, and click my link and listen to who I am and the direction I am heading. The real and untainted me. Not me without my past or the abuse - but me despite all of that.
https://youtu.be/13Q_GYN9RMU?list=PLy3uZXtZjRmGMyPrT-j3__jjZowqspUh4
^^^^ - click this link bliss, when you forget who you are. :)
I think I am going to go name the other he in my journal that I will eventually share with her, out loud. And eventually share here, in my journal. And then take some me time - to just enjoy the rest of the night . Go look at little me in the collage. To rest in this feeling of things are okay right now - despite everything. Hang onto this while I can, LOL! Perhaps maybe do some artwork - I have not done any of that in so long. But then get some good sleep - I have SO much sleep I need to catch up on. And not get up at 5 am. My usual. Allow myself to rest.
Well, so much for this great empowerment I had and this sense of reconnection and freedom. That was short lived. Woke up today to my bitch ass sister texting me cruel things because I didn't text her back right away or answer her calls or my dads calls. She kept saying, why do you despise me so much and have so much ill will against me. OMG - all I did was not return texts for 2 days and didn't answer her call. On and on about what a horrible person I am and how great she is for even trying to be nice to me.
Them THEN, she throws arrows of guilt at my heart by saying, dad thinks you hate him and doesn't want to talk to him. WTF???? I can not do this anymore, I can't! But I am a dumb stupid piece of shit fuck - and I know I will just continue to give in. They find my weak spots and dig in and dig in until there is nothing left of me. They will not stop until I d/i/e.
So then, I rushed to the phone to call him. Gotta make sure he doesn't feel unloved or I don't want to talk to him. And he talks AT me for almost 2 hours! He did not hear One damn word I said. I asked questions about what he was talking about, brought up stuff to talk about, made comments - all of them ignored - like he didn't even HEAR a word I said to him. I honestly start questioning myself to see if I even Have a voice - if people can actually Hear me! Its no fucking wonder I struggle so damn much with speaking out loud.
He didn't want to talk to me, he was not hurt - it didn't even matter that I was on the other end of the phone. I didn't exist. Then he says, after all I endured for almost 2 hours - oh, I got a call - or you do, gotta go. click. WTF? WTF? WTF?
I am so angry! I am so angry! I am so angry! He doesn't Deserve to have me in his life. But I have so much guilt and am given so much god damned guilt - I always go back. And it is ALWAYS the same. ALWAYS. There is no hope things will get better. I know they won't. They can't. And I feel so god damned trapped there.
I am debating on telling them I can't afford a phone, and getting a new number and not giving it to them. I know I won't...but I Want to. I feel I can not exist and still have them in my life. And even knowing this - that it is ki//ll/ing me from the inside out, I still chose to stay out of this god damned guilt. They do not even Deserve my compassion!
I don't know if I should scream or cry - tbh, I have been doing both today. I can't heal with them in my life. I guess I am choosing to not heal. And that makes me so damn sad. And I know I am going to SH over this...over and over and over. FUCK!
@blissedNblessed Hey let's take a moment ok? You did the best you could - the best anyone could with what was coming at You first thing in the morning and there's alot of things to consider. She guilt tripped you and manipulated you. You were fuzzy headed. They do know the right things to say - they allways do and when they see it's not working they move to other tactics. Or they push harder with the guilt I just realized it's alittle like war. They are the enemy and they will do anything they can to infiltrate - to get what they want
You made it two days. Two! That's pretty good in my opinion. Next time it'll be three days or four. I know it might not seem like much but these are steps forward and as sad and sick as it might sound - sometimes these moments help stiffen our resolve to make that break. I know you're tired Bliss and I know you're angry - but you really are doing your best and I know you just want it done with but - little steps ❤
*sitting with you*
@mytwistedsoul
Yes - it IS a war. It is them against me, it always has been. And its gorilla warfare - using my weakness as their strengths. And how sad it is, that I made it 2 days. They let me have two days of peace without bombarding me with insults and manipulation, cruelty and guilt.
I have no power with them. They have ALL of it. They HATE me so damn much and all I ever did was be born. And I never even Asked to be b/orn. I wish I wasn't.
And none of this will EVER stop, ever. They will continue on like this forever. And I am forever trapped - at their mercy - and they never show any mercy. They don't have that ability. Or they choose to not show any. There is no love - at all. I have been lying to myself for so long. That they have to love me - somewhere in them, some tiny little crumb of it. But they don't. And no matter how much I do for them and be for them and jump when they say jump and ask how high, it's still never enough to make them stop hating me or even be nice to me.
If they actually loved me - they wouldn't treat me like this - relentlessly. My dad would listen to my voice .. hear me..see me as a human being. Worth of respect or decency or compassion. I have spent my whole life, being abused in some way or another by that entire family. Always. And I still held onto hope...that if I was good enough or did enough or pacified them enough...they would just...accept me or love me or at least not hate me so much. What a pathetic joke.
And if I even Try to get free - to live a life worth living - away from them , away from the abuse...they will spend their lives retaliating to make sure I do not get that. I know this sounds so crazy but omg, this is just what they do. There is no escape.
Why does my dad even want me in his life? I seriously do not even think he cares. There is no love, I get it, I get that now, fully. I am Only a thing - still a thing - to meet his needs. And still there is that part of me, begging, on the inside..for them to just love me and accept me and just stop hurting me. Why am I just not worthy of that. Why was I never worthy if that? And there is nothing I can do to be good enough in their eyes, for them to just stop. If my dad ever did love me - he would just let me go. And stand up for me with his family.
I want to bad to just get them out of my life. But how can I when my sister manipulates and gives me so much guilt for the slightest thing. She is just like her mother - her mom was mad once because I didn't answer the phone when she called to tell me my dad was in the hospital ( it was a minor thing). I couldn't answer her call - I was Literally in the middle of a meditation retreat day. I called back and she said, ohhhh, yr father is in the hospital and he's dyi/ng. He thinks you do not love him. Hes going to di/e thinking that. And you will never know when he di/es because no one will tell you - this is all your fault.
this shit. this shit right here - i just cant anymore. But what am I supposed to do with this? How do I even escape this? Freedom and escape is not 2 days of not returning calls and texts - just to get harassed and have to give in - and apologize on top of all of this.
I fully Know that I can never fully heal or live a authentic and good life or even be free to be me , with them in my life. I can not do that - they will not let me. I will have to get them out of my life - completely. And I do not know how I can even escape them. I feel like my life and all my energy is taken my trying to heal from my dad and his wife and the other he's abuse - and - now, just trying to pacify my dad and his family so I can reduce the amount of toxic crap I have to take from them. There is NO energy left for me or trying to have a life that is even wo/rth liv/ing. The life I have now is not wo/rth liv/ing.
I just don't know how to escape. I know one day when I move out - I will change my number and not give them my address and they will not be able to ever find me. But I do not know how to make it until then...and its not fucking fair I have to wait to move so far away from them in order to be free. And omg - this is my Family. Hell, I have enemies that treat me better - seriously.
@blissedNblessed
LOL - I got that error 404 message like 6 times! I hate this stupid cups bullshit censor.
I hate my family.
I hate my life.
I hate being powerless.
I hate Choosing to stay powerless because I am so focused on not hurting them that I sacrifice myself.
I hate my dad.
I hate his wife.
I hate my sisters.
I hate my uncle.
I hate every god damned person that hurt me.
I even hate - no, not hate, im so angry 0 angry at my mother for even bringing me into this world and bringing me into this world with him
I hate her for leaving.
I hate her for not protecting me then and not being here now to protect me from this shit with him and his family right now.
I hate that my response to them hurting me is to hurt me.
I hate that they get all the power and take mine away,.
I hate myself for allowing them in my life as they are choking the li/fe out of me,
I hate that I was never good enough and am still not good enough to eve get a tiny crumb of love from them.
I hate my fucking family.
....sorry - this reply and my post reply to you was - ahhhh, venting. Sorry, I guess I just had to get it out .
@blissedNblessed Idk - it wasn't really two days of peace. I think alot of the times they're quiet it's because they're plotting - which sounds suspicious but tbh - it probably is what they're doing. You figure he called and said about being sick - he expected you to come over even though he was sick. And during that time - you didn't trip all over your self to check on him - do the whole omg are you ok thing
There are some people who I think are incapable of love - they like control and I caught myself wondering - do they know you're in therapy? Could they maybe fear what you're telling and they're doing what they're doing to see if they still have control over you? I guess - well - you have to ask yourself - why. Why do you have to pacify him and them? Other than calling and texting - do they come to the house? Do they ever just show up? How is their relationship with your aunt? Do they go to her for information? Do she ever talk to them at all?
It's not fair - none of it is. It's not fair that all you went through - all you're working for is being held back by them and their actions. God I understand that wanting to be loved and accepted by them I really do but I know for me - that's never going to happen. My family is never going to apologize for the things they've done - the hell we went through because they're deluded - they - Idk if they just have no conscience or if they've just believed their own lies so long that they're blind to the truth. Maybe - they justify to themselves the things they do - I really wish I knew the answers
@mytwistedsoul
No, they don't know much about me or my life, at all. Both me and my aunt are Very tight lipped about it. My aunt is always telling me, warning me, not to tell my sister anything about me or my life when I talk to her because she will use it against me.
And she does. Like today, she texted again. Asked me to have a duo call smoke sesh with her. I told her I was out of weed ( stupid on my part) and i can't and that I am broke as shit ( stupid on my part) and won't be getting any for a long time. So what does she talk about then? How much her pay check was today and how much weed she has and how she is going to go buy even more today. And threw in there that she smoking right now out of her bubbler. The ONLY reason she mentioned her bubbler ( and has been) is because I told her a little while back, how upset I was that I dropped and broke my bubbler). See? IT's this shit right here, relentless.
My aunt tells me/warns me too, not to tell my dad anything about me or my life, either - especially if I have something good going on. Because he will tell his wife and my sister and again, they will find a way to use it against me. And if it is a good thing, my sister ( she always does this) she will make sure I know that she is also doing/having whatever that good thing in my life is, and how much more of it she has. Like, a stupid crazy example is, I got this really good Christmas coffee - and I told her to look for it. It was expensive so I only got the sample bags - she knew this. So what does she do? She gets the Full size bags of Every Damn flavor they have. And tells me this and how much money she spend o it - gloating. And sends Pictures! God - what is wrong with her!? And this kind of shit - its CONSTANT!
My aunt is Definitely on My side. But then - she told me last night to NOT change my phone number - I was almost all set to change my phone number last night. She said she doesn't want them calling Her number for me or harassing her. I don't blame her for that though. Then she says, you'll probably give in at some point and call them, then they will have your number - so don't bother.
She , my aunt, doesn't know about the abuse by my dad or his wife, at all. But she knows how he has never been there for me as a father should and how he lets them treat me and all this shit that goes on now, as I am an adult.
So, no, they don't know I am in therapy. They know nothing about me, really. And when I am there - I am so dissociated the whole time that I must just look like a shell of a human being. Actually, there have been many times my anxiety was so bad over there and them talking shit - that I know I must have looked insane because he tells me to relax or look at him not them . Seriously- omg, he sees what they and he Do to me, the effect it has on me. And doesn't ...do anything to make things right - just offers a way to endure it. Endure it. I am always enduring it. Back as a child from him and her and now as an adult from that whole family. And from the other he. And from all the thems. Just endure it.
Why do I pacify them? I will have to journal about that, I am not sure all of the reasons. But off the top of my head, it's bc I am so afraid of the retaliation I have to Endure. So, pacifying them - it hurts so much less then them retaliating against me. Yet, I get the retaliation anyways - so, what's the point of anything, really? I guess just the amount of retaliation is less when I pacify them.
They do come over - but not unannounced- but sometimes they do not even tell me they are coming over until they are almost here. I HATE that. They used to come unannounced. That was the worst. I would have to drop everything to be there for them. Or - saying they are coming - but never do - and I wait...all damn day and night - doing nothing in case they are still going to come. But don't. But that was back when my dad had his own car - he doesn't know.
Now since he doesn't have a car - he relies on my sister driving. ( He gave her a car - ever gave me one? never). But she doesn't want to use her gas or time to drive all the way here - its 45 min away - one way. So now that he doesn't have a car now, it is mostly just me, me ALWAYS having to go there - 45 min each way. And in the summer - he was making me come over every fucking week - every fucking Wednesday because he needed a ride to pick up food that was offered on Wednesdays.
But yeah, they have NO relationship with my aunt. Sometimes she used to ask him to come help around the house to fix things or help do what we can't do ..he's my dad - he should want to help, right? But no, she has to PAY him for anything and everything he does. But - sometimes he will just say - keep it and doesn't take it - its so weird - no rhyme or reason.
But this one time, she asked him to help paint my room - it was going to be his birthday gift to me. But she was paying for the paint. And what does he tell me? We will tell her to buy the most expensive paint, and really get the cheapest and only use one coat - then we can spilt the money. WTF??? That was my birthday gift. That was MY room, This is my aunt - the one damn person that is treating me - semi like real family. The one who lets me stay here or I would be homeless. The person he said about : " you know you have to take care of her and treat her nice, right? Because she is the Only one you have. You know that , right?" - Literally telling me he can't or won't be there for me - ever.
My aunt despises them all. For the way they treat me - what she knows about. I have tried telling her, some of the cruel things that his wife has done - but I don't think she believes me - she says something like, I think your exaggerating a little bit. But exaggerating ??? Shit, I was Holding Back on the real truth. But I don't blame her for not believing me , I really don't. Because the shit she has said and done is so crazy, so hard to grasp or believe because it is so cruel, crazy and pure chaos. It is hard to grasp as something anyone would do. But she did.
Yes, I do know they don't or can't love me. I know his wife fuels the hate for me to my sisters and brother. She ALWAYS has - always. She turned them against me when they were very little kids. My one sister, we disowned each other. My brother and I have nothing to do with each other. My sister that is in my life - she is only in it to make me feel like shit and throws that guilt and manipulation at me. And this sense of competition my sister has with me - that's fueled by both my dad and his wife.
I think, maybe, I pacify them too, because I am holding onto this shred of desperate hope, that my dad loves me. That the little scraps he shows me, that must mean he loves me - or maybe I am only worthy of scraps. I don't have a mother anymore, she passed away. So, if I don't have a father - then I have no one. I am all alone.
I have my aunt, but she ...I don't think she means to be mean to me - well, she used to be horrible and cruel - always kicking me out, making me live in my car or kick me out for the night and I had to sleep in my car ...sometimes in parking lots because she wouldn't allow me to have my car on her driveway or even street.
I think now she understands all I am doing for her - and I didn't always do much for her at all. But I was so much younger - and she was so mean to me - why would I want to do anything for her? But now she is old - shes 84. She NEEDS me to do so much - I cook and do dishes and put them away - constantly...some days i feel that is all I am even doing with my whole day. Before I got sick, I would do all her grocery shopping and errands, too. I do so much and she still acts like, and tells me, I am a burden on her. That this is Her house. I am not even allowed to put much of my things i her home, to her than my room - because she says it looks like I am taking over her house. I am always well aware this is not my home, not my house and I am a burden.
She stopped being as mean now - but she is still telling me I am a burden, but now she says financial burden. And I am. I can't work so I don't bring in money. But I fucking WORK for her. My entire days are doing things for her. And all I get is a place to stay, money to buy food each week and helps me buy my medicine . I am so thankful for all of that - don't get me wrong. But I work for her - it's not like she is just giving me these thigs out of the goodness of her heart. And when I need something - not like a want - but a need. I do not get my wants - I get nothing other than basic needs met. But for things I need - she says, work extra for me around the house, cleaning or doing things for her , above and beyond my daily stuff, and she will pay me. But then I ask and she says, no.
And even when she gives me help with medicine and food - or the money I earned extra ( back when she let me do that) - it's Always a big show - and like at least 10 minutes of her yelling at me for being a burden and taking her money. And she does this, in public - too. Making me feel like complete shit. ...but she is nice too - sometimes. She is. I do not mean to mar her reputation at all. I feel so guilty even complaining because she can be nice and she does give me room and board and food and medicine. But damn, it comes with a price and I work for it.
Fuck - I am so sorry I rambled on so much - I didn't realize all I have wrote. I am sorry it is so much bullshit to read.
@blissedNblessed I'm not sure why I said that tbh - I guess maybe I get frustrated with myself because I feel like I should be able to say - go this route and it will get you where you want to be. Lol - Idk
They sound like a bunch of narcissists tbh. And It doesn't sound as though your father loves anyone but himself and he's allways out to make some easy money. Like people are disposible to him. He get's what he needs from them and then puts them aside until he needs something from them again. If that's the case - well - chances are he feels that way towards your sister and who he's married to too and anyone else he keeps around. But OMG to say that to you - for you to hear that from him - God Bliss - I'm so sorry. That makes my heart hurt. Your sister well - if I'm honest - she's using things you tell her against you because it makes her feel better about herself - I mean I'm just guessing but that's what it seems like. Like a bully - they're bullies other places because they get bullied at home usually - not allways - some people are just assholes. Like with the money - they spend it on things and then tell you just to make you feel bad because they know you struggle. It makes them feel better about themselves. It's sick to do that to you and I'm sorry you have to deal with it because - not helpful - ya know?
Your aunt sounds like a semi typical grouchy old person. Sort of set in her ways and maybe angry? Not really so much at you but the situation and the way your father is such a well - asshole. Another name had come to mind but I deleted that one. It's like she doesn't really know how to come right out and show love - Idk but yet she lets you stay there. Allthough not cool to kick you out. Maybe she worries you'll take advantage of her? Not that you would but maybe in her mind she worries someone would because she's older? So she has to kind of keep you in a certain place in her heart? Like she sort of veiws you just as help? I had other thoughts but they're kind of stupid. Like - maybe she knows more than you think or has/had some suspicions and she's angry that she didn't do anything - so she's kind of mean but yet kind of nice? Nah - that is stupid. It shouldn't come with a price. It sounds like you're doing more than your fair share to stay there. She could be a complete saint and it's still ok to complain about things that bother you about her. It's safe here
And it's not bullshit - it's ok to get it out
And vent ok? Vent as much as you want - get it out ok? It's actually good that you're allowing yourself to feel hate towards them - Try not to hate yourself too much though - because you're only doing what you know - you're trying to unlearn those things but it's hard. It took years to learn and unfortunately it takes years to unlearn
It's ok too to get angry and upset with me ok? I don't take offense to it - I know you're hurting right now - so it's ok to come right out and say something like that's really f*cking stupid Soul - ok?
*leaving a safe hug*
@mytwistedsoul
I am not mad at you, soul . Why would I be mad? You have not said anything or done anything hurtful to me at all - you have been a great support for me.
...I am trying to not hate myself, I am. It's just so hard not to when i am just treated like shit and I feel that there has to be something hateful about me to deserve all of this shit my whole life. But I know I do not deserve it. I know it was not my fault and it is not my fault, now. ..but it makes me always wonder - Is there something about me that makes ppl treat me like this? Am I asking for it? Have I done something? Is there something so bad about me - or within me?
And the anger , yes, I am trying to hold onto that though. Not at myself , but at them. Because anger is such am empowering feeling , and a motivator. Hopefully if I allow myself to feel the anger at them - I can start to free myself. Maybe this anger can show me that there is a way out if I get sick enough of this shit. A lifetime of shit - you would think it would have worked already - the anger. But I think, I have Just started feeling and acknowledging this anger as towards my dad, the other and my dad's wife and family and all of my fucking abusers.
@blissedNblessed No. There's nothing wrong with you inside or out. It's them - they're the original damaged ones. You are the one who suffered from their damage. You're trying to fix and her yourself because of their abuse - their neglect. It's nothing you did - you're just the casualty
It take time - yeah I know lol - time sucks- but it takes time for the anger - because at first you're afraid to feel it - so you push it away - it's not a safe emotion at first. But the anger is a way of acknowledging that what was done wasn't right - the anger is just - and you ARE allowed to be angry
I have had my mother's divorce notes and official papers, for over a year. I don't know why, but today I decided to read them. And I learned very disturbing things about my father that I didn't know.
I knew he beat her. I didn't know the extend of it - she never really told me. She talked about - only twice with me. She never told me the extent.
I remember him beating her, the physical fights, the screaming, throwing things. The anger - the rage.
I don't know how in the world I remember this - I was so little. But there was this bouncy chair I had that my mom would put me in when she was in the kitchen. And I remember being in it - not a new memory , I have always remembered this. And they were fighting, I was scared. I don't have words to put to this memory - just feelings and hearing it and watching it.
Him holding a pot in the air, at her. Hitting her with it. Them fighting and screaming. Him hitting her, over and over again. The yelling. How it was in the kitchen and moved down the hall - and then he left. It is so hard to put to words- but its like a movie I can watch at any time. I can still see everything that happened.
I learned from reading this that he beat the living shit out of her all the time. He strangled her. He tried to kill her. He threatened her life - they were still married.
I am literally shaking as I write this.
That he vacillated between spending time with me and complete neglect; Ignoring me like I didn't exist. That when he had the baby ( my first half sister that I have no contact with anymore - back in the day of MySpace, she put my picture and phone number and address on there - and had people harass me all the time. A;; the time. Sent baby formula and pampers to my house - saying I am a slut. Hacked my computer and told my gf at the time that I was cheating on her - emailed my friends as me and broke friendships - on and on). ..so when she was born, he stopped visiting me and gave all his attention to his new family. He Still doesn't treat me like I AM PART OF HIS FAMILY.
I learned that I had said, I didn't want to l/iv.e with him. That I didn't even want to be around him.
And the sexual abuse she knew about - she didn't even state Any of that in the custody and divorce papers. She kept that secret.
That I had behavioral problems and developmental delays because of my father and what he put me and she , through.
That my timeline of understanding how old I was with the abuse - it was all off! I was wrong. I remember, in detail - with feelings only - no words and no understanding of what was happening, the very first time he raped me. He was living with us still. They got divorced when I was 4. Separated when I was 3, I wasn't 4 when he first raped me, he was still living in the house. I had to have been 3. I am hoping 3 and not 2. But either way - who would DO that to such a small child? To their flesh and blood? 3. 3 or 2. I can not wrap my head around this. Not at all.
And that made me remember - not a memory that was lost, but one I have always held: being at my dad's girlfriend's house ( his wife, now) and she told me that she was going to have a baby - but I had to not tell my mom, I had to keep it a secret. And that my mom was sick and going to di/e, so I better be nice to her bc she was going to be my mom. And my father was there, right there when she said that and he didn't stop her or comfort me...I think that was the day she was sexually abusing me, too. or first started.
My father was never a father to me. He never loved me. He is still not a father and he is never going to be. I don't know if he eve loves me. I do not know if he even knows how. He is there for his other family, his kids, his wife - thought they treat him like complete shit. I kiss his ass - and he is still not there for me in any way.
I was so ready to tell my aunt this morning what I had read. I know she knew something was wrong from the way she was looking at me, hanging around me - talking to me. But, I couldn't get the words out. I couldn't tell her he had strangled her, tried to kill her, beat her every damn day. I think she might know some of it and is not telling me , thinking I do not know and she is saving me from this.
So many damn family secrets.
@blissedNblessed
I was wrong - I reread it - what he did to me - the sexual abuse - was in there.
proof: she knew.
But she said, " simulated intercourse"
WTF???
The she it was not " simulated" - she walked in on it - she took me into the bathroom and cleaned me up - Down there - In there.
But she was constantly asking me what and if he did - I said no. Maybe because I said no. Maybe she believed all my lies? Maybe it is my fault she never saved me. My own god damned fault I had to endure so may god damn years.
My fault.
...I can't get over this...my fault. Years of abuse from my father and from the other he. It Was my fault. Even thought she walked in on it - with both of them...i always said nothing happened - every damn time she asked. It was my fault she didn't know - didn't stop them. My fault . omg, I am so so fucking sorry. If I just would have said something - I could have been saved. My worst fears - true. My fault.
I can't - I just can't . How am I supposed to get up every day and face myself???? My fault.
I am losing my shit - I am. I can't hold this - my fault.
This is just how it was , last night. its all too much to hold. I can't hold this. This is just growing and growing and i am losing myself in it - too big to hold but i cant not hold it. But i have no choice - i think i am going to break - my fault.
I don't know what to do. i will never be okay. my fault. i could have stopped all of this. my fault, not hers.
...and last night, i was so upset, so overwhelmed - that I took my pain meds with my anxiety meds - just so i could sleep. I assumed I would be okay. I know I was not supposed to do that bc it decreases my lung function. I was so upset I took that risk.
Then about 2 hours later - they both kicked in at the same time. And It was so damn hard to breathe. i took my inhaler, i used my oxygen. I emailed my best friend who i was talking to about what i read - some of it, not all of it. She doesn't know my secrets. I texted her that the meds were an accident and if something happened - to know it was not a s/ui-cide. I Really thought i was going to d/i*e. Then I passed out . Just woke up half an hour ago.
She never texted me back. I think, maybe she is mad at me? Maybe i said something wrong? maybe this is what happens when you tell??... my fault.
I am so upset with myself that i told her and now she doesnt want to talk to me. I am so upset that i was so damn upset that I almost didn't wak/ke up because of how stupid i was taking those pills. I am so upset with myself that that I always lied and never told my mom.
I cant hold this - this guilt, this pain. I cant get through today. Why the hell am i even up - i am so grogggy.
I want to text my therapist today - i think i need to. how do i hold this info - that i never told - i could have saved myself. not my moms fault for not saving me - MY FAULT.
im going the fuck back to sleep - i can barley even see. eyes are so blurry. too much medicine.
Maybe it just should have taken me out - soi didnt have to live with the realization thtat it IS my fault - not hers for not saving me.
No. I'm sorry but NO. It is NOT your fault. You were so young. A baby. How could you talk about what you didn't understand? How could you explain what you didn't have the words to explain? She had to know whether you said NO or not she had to have known. Simulation or not it was still wrong. She washed you up afterwards so she knew. She put it in the paperwork so she knew it was wrong. She probably phrased it that way to keep him out of jail. To keep him out of trouble. It's just sick. But she was probably afraid of him because of what he did to her. Not that its a good excuse but it's understandable?
I'm sorry. I don't mean to intrude all the time on your thoughts or invalidate anything but I desperately want you to see what I see. That it's not your fault. It's NOT your fault!
@mytwistedsoul. I agree with @mytwistedsoul. There is no way that you can be at fault for any of this. My mother saw things happening also and would pretend that they didn’t happen. I can’t explain why some people seem to prefer to live in denial. But you are definitely not at fault.
@adventurousBranch3786
Thank you for saying that and sharing with me about your mom.
You and twisted are right, it's not my fault - it just FEELS like it - like.. what if...
And I just can't fathom - at all, how people , PARENTS! Mothers - can KNOW yet stay in denial - it's their kid, their baby! And something so horrid is happening . Where is that urge to protect - fully?
I am sorry your mother knew and was in denial and did not help you either. It is so hard to wrap our minds around it, let alone struggling with the feelings.
Did you feel...this guilt? This guilt that just never seems to go away - it just reforms itself into something else, another excuse, another reason to feel, that guilt?
I do not even know WHY the guilt is Always there.
@blissedNblessed I did have a lot of guilt for many years. Even though intellectually I knew that I didn’t do anything wrong it was hard not to feel guilty. When I feel guilty I like to tell myself that I forgive myself. I’ve been telling myself that a lot for the last few years.
@adventurousBranch3786
I might try that - what you do: saying to yourself that you forgive yourself. Maybe this will help me too.
Something has to eventually help, right?
@blissedNblessed I’ve actually said that I forgive myself hundreds if not thousands of times. It took a long time for it to make a dent in my guilty feelings. Some things may help, others won’t. I like to try and see what helps.
@adventurousBranch3786 ❤️
@mytwistedsoul
Thank you. And you didn't intrude on my thoughts or invalidate anything. Thank you for pointing this out - I was in a spot where I could NOT see, understand or feel this - what you are saying, that it is not my fault. I appreciate you pointing this out.
Yeah, I think you are onto something. She might have phrased it in a way to keep him out of jail - I know she must have still loved him and definitely has like , battered spouse syndrome...or however you say it.
She knew it was wrong, yes, or she wouldn't have put it in there. But I am so angry at how she phrased that now. I have been thinking about it since I woke up. Well, once thoughts were more clear in this foggy medicine hangover .
She knew then and chose to phrase it to make it less than it was ( it still is bad, even how she phrased it, still wrong and still sexual abuse and just as wrong...but she knew it was more than how she phrased it).
Plus, I can't discount how she saw so much evidence - so much, not just walking in on things - indisputable, evidence.
I guess maybe it is not my fault - but, I still feel like, if I just would have Told - then maybe all of this wouldn't have happened. Maybe not my Fault per say - but ... no, its not responsibility - but - idk - something. I feel something ;(
I do not know how much more of this I can handle. I really don't. Every night all the shit hits the fan. It all comes tumbling inward. And every day I struggle. There is NO relief - ever. I can't sleep anymore. I get maybe - an hour, maybe 2 a night, max - on a good night. - for so damn long ( except if I just drug myself to damn near de/a/th). Just up all night so UPSET that I fear these emotions and memories might k/i/ll me. Sometimes, wishing they would. Then when I get sleep - nightmares. There is no escape. ..And speaking of no escape - my sister is texting me atm . fuck that - i am not even reading it.
I can not sit with this all the time - it taints everything. It is so huge - these massive feelings and every day I fight to endure the day so I can just try to sleep. And every night I am up all night thinking, I can not CANNOT - hold all of this anymore.
It feels like it is going to destroy me. It is so big. Overwhelming. Nothing helps.
I do not even know what I am saying or thinking or feeling at this point. I just pray, yes, at this desperate point, I Pray - pray that I can make it through this and that I can find , somewhere out there or within me - a damn fucking break - just for a bit - from all this shit bc i really dot think i can do this 24-7 anymore.
Ahhhhh! I am so damn angry!
I have had this seething anger for so so long. It is seeping out everywhere and I do not know how to express it. Suppressing it has just made it so much worse. I found this stupid plate my dad bought me...gave it to me from the salvation army thrift store as a present, with price still on: 3.00. lol. Just some crap he picked up for me - nothing I liked - it is something he liked at the time - collecting these stupid plates. I almost took it out tonight, in the middle of the night - to the street and smashed it on the ground into a million pieces. I didn't though.
I guess my anger has been coming out without me even knowing it. My aunt got all pissed about it and started yelling at me. All because I put a spatula on the counter too loud. It's a fucking plastic spatula - how LOUD can that be? She basically told me...no, she Did tell me, not to express my anger in her home or around her . and I have to smile more. basically, fake happy and choke and d/i/e on my anger. But oh, it's fine and dandy for her to yell at me when she's mad at me - throw her fits...take it out on me. But god forbid I EXPRESS mY ANGER.
So I have been trying to shove it down and its getting bigger. I have had insomnia for days and days. I can't sleep. I am so angry at night. I am so angry at everyone and everything and myself. I have no way of getting this out. I cant take this anymore.
And just below this anger is this deep sorrow and this intense need to just...sob. For hours and hours - it might last the rest of my life. I might never stop. But I can't express That either. Not here, not in her home.
It is like she is taking away any right I have to my emotions or expressing them - even in a correct way. I can't be angry, I can't cry. Nothing.
My anger is getting so much worse - and it is taking its toll me on. The anger, the sorrow, the pain - its CONSTANT. So much so that unless I overmedicate myself to the point of my lungs not working even worse than they do not function now - I cannot sleep. Ever it feels like. I do not know how many days it has been. Even overmedicated I only got a few hours of sleep.
I am so close to popping so many pills right now just so I can sleep. Get some god damn peace .
I just endure each day - filling it with pointless activities to pass the time - so I can go to bed and endure the next day. I am literally, just wasting each day...waiting to the day I d/i/e. I am just waiting for de/ath. I do not even feel human anymore. I do not feel alive. There is NO joy in my days and there has been no joy for so long , I do not remember what joy feels like.
And I feel like I do not even have human status - I never have. I work for my aunt - all damn day - Literally, All day: I cook all the meals, I clean, I bring in all the groceries and put then away - I do dishes all damn day and then put them away - and then do more dishes. My entire day is devoted to HER. I get up ...well, back when I was sleeping, I got up every day at 3 or 5 am - Just to have time away from this constant work for her, away from her - some alone time in this house...trying to find some peace.
I work for her . I devote my day to doing everything she wants. Yesterday I broke down and just cried because all I do is cook and clean and dishes and groceries and all this shit she wants me to do - and I have nothing in my life. I do not get all of my needs met and I never have any of my wants met. I am so broke. I have 0 income, 0 money. In return for all I do, she helps pay for my medicine ( its expensive) and a little allowance of money for for each week - which I use most of to buy thigs I need that are more important than food.
But she said, finally - that if she had a personal chef and someone to do all I do for her - she would pay them. So, today she said she is going to offer me some pay for all I do - but here's the catch - she is adding so much more to my to do list, daily. And she will " inspect" all I do to make sure it meets her standards. I am not kidding. God, so - I do not do Enough for her- wtf wtf wtf.
And she is so obsessed with running out of money and fear and she is the cheapest person I have ever met in my life. We did not have tomatoes in the house for over a year, because she said they were too expensive - she would not pay the price. Ummmm, they are TOMATOES. They did Not cost too much - she was just mad they went up a few cents in price. Its crazy.
So, although I am grateful for getting scraps from her ( that's all i am worth and i know it), I know that the money I will be getting at the end of the week of working all day and into the night for her - it will be such a small tiny amount - that I still will not be able to buy anything unless i save for months and months. It Is that bad, yes. And she feels like she is doing me a huge favor. But guaranteed - it will be way below minimum wage because she does not value me or the work I do.
And right now - i am so fucking pissed! This anger will not go away - its nearing 5 am now, too late to go outside and break the plate. so another day of stuffing all my anger in. But bright side - I am not self harming - not on my skin anyways.
But I think I am still self harming - just in different ways. Taking too many meds- not taking my meds at all - I've stopped taking my inhaler for my lungs, i started smoking cigarettes - taking risks with mixing meds in order to knock me out so i do not have to feel all the pain - on and on. But I do not think I am mad at myself. I just do not know how to get the anger out - so I turn it inwards and hurt myself.
God - I am so tired yet so wide awake. How many days can a person go without sleep before something horrible happens to them? I know I can not go to bed. It's morning. Im up. Drinking my coffee. starting my stupid day. Another stupid lifeless day.
This anger is going to roar its ragefull head soon. I can feel it. I go 45mph down a 25mph roads - road rage is kicking in. Tiny things are making so angry - I do not know where to put this anger or where it is coming from. I researched trauma and anger and there is a huge link. I just wish I could put my finger on why I am so mad and just get this out - but how can I in a house where I am not to express any emotions that are not " happy".
fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!
I am not looking forward to the work"" talk with my aunt - I am worried about how much more she is going to add to my daily to do list. She says i have to be busy all day and afternoon, possibly night - just like i would a job - 9 to 5 or more. Do nothing but her stuff until I am " off". I already spend my days like this for her. What the fuck else is she going to make me do???? Why is my time worth nothing to her?
i hate my life
i hate myself
I HATE EVRYTHINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
@blissedNblessed Hey :) *safe hugs* This might sound really stupid but I wonder if she's trying to help in her severely harsh and harmful way. Like she thinks that keeping you busy will be helpful because if you're busy you maybe won't think as much? She see's how angry you are and this is her way to give you an outlet for it?Not that it's really all that helpful when you're allready doing so much for her - guess I'm just trying to find some reason's for why she wants to add more to your list of things you have to do. I know here we do try to keep very busy - because of the thinking reason. Thinking seems to start trouble here :/
Speaking of tomatoes - I was thinking you could maybe grow some tomatoes of your own? Seeds aren't that expensive and you could even get them from a store bought tomato. They do really nice in flower pots and they're easy to grow and then you could have fresh tomatoes until winter. The excess can be frozen pretty easy. And well - gardening is really relaxing and somewhat therapeutic
With your earlier post - where you said not your fault and not responsibility - but didn't know what to call it. It's kind of like a what if - what if I would have done this - or what if I would have done that. The problem with what if's is that it applies to other people too - what if they would have done this or what if they would have done that - doesn't make it any easier though and Idk how to stop it - other than to try and accept that what's done is done - some things just are what they are and there's nothing we can do to change those what if's - which is brutal I know. Because so many of our what if's involve people other than us. I wonder *just thinking outloud here* If the anger you're dealing with is because you know who you're angry with but it's hard to give it to the person or people that deserve it? But it causes just internal chaos - that war between what you know and what you need to do. The war between loyalty and cutting ties - the anger knowing the repercussions of what cutting ties would bring
@mytwistedsoul
Awww, twisted, thank you for popping up in my journal with what I needed to hear :) You have such good insights.
About my aunt, adding things to do to my daily tasks/work/"job" of caring for her so that she feels it is enough to actually give me money is sadly not about helping me feel less or stay busy and think less. It is honestly that is doesn't value what I do for her - I know she appreciates it - and depends on it - but she is Very Weird with money.
I do not want to say cheap ( she is) because it is more than that - she is Very fear based in all things but especially obssesively fear based with spending money and fearing she will not have enough. She is pained and angered by spending money - i have to hear these long bitch sessions after she spends any money about prices and how much she had to spend - no mater the amount...and all this commentary after she has grocery shopped about the exact amount of cents she saved per item - I kinda have to glaze over and not listen in order to cope :/ Sort of just dissociate - but on purpose.
I like your idea about growing tomatoes! And how gardening can be healing! I do plant flowers and herbs every summer ( i try to find really unique flowers - i once found black pansies! it was awesome - goth flowers!) We get a lawn service that puts chemicals into the yard so I cannot freely plant - but I do have a large collection of every sized pot imaginable. I am going to grow tomatoes in addition to my herbs this spring/summer :) I do love tomatoes and that's so crazy that she refused to buy any for a year. It is not that she doesn't have the money - I have lived in situations where there was no money so I totally understand if it were - but it is not. It is her weirs - her, ummm, whatever it is, her issues with money and fear. It is not like we have to live on ketchup sandwiches ( I have had to do that before - or, hahhah, live on ramen noodles).
YES! The what-ifs are Endless! And you make a good point - what if THEY didn't do this or that, not just me. Why am I blaming Myself all the damn time? Why is it my fault they hurt me? This doesnt even ,ake rational sense - but thb, its is so scary to think, they did wrong, they were the ones to blame, it is their fault - because then comes tumbling into my reality - i had a father ( and yes, I am going to just name and out the other main abuser bc I just don't care enough anymore to try to save him and keep his secrets and his shame i took on:), I had an uncle - family that was supposed to love me, protect me, care for me - but they didn't - they did the opposite. I do not have a safe family and I never did ( except for my mom - but then issues of her not keeping me safe ) ( and expect for my aunt now - but then again - the way she treats me ) .
I had family incapable of loving me. I had family that allowed other family members to hurt me in the most insidious ways. I was abused - in every damn way - and then I have to accept that happened. And ALL the lies I told myself to keep myself safe and all that at bay - they come tumbling down - and all the feels come out and I am so afraid of these overwhelming feelings because i do not know how to hold them or express them and let them go.
Yes, yes yes - right on about the ANGER! I DO know who I am mad at! I am mad at my abusers - all of them, but right now - forefront, I am SO ANGRY at my father. For his past abuse and actions and his current. I am angry that I did not have a father capable of loving me. I am angry that he is still hurting me and doesn't care. I am angry that i have kissed his as my whole life- kept his secrets, stood up for him, dropped everything i am doing and everything that i am or could be - to fill HIS god damned needs - endlessly. Until I became a shell of a human being. Not even finding ways to meet My needs because they are nothing and do not matter - i am something that does not matter.
It does not feel safe to put the anger on him - where it belongs. It makes everything so much more real. Like, I have been going through layers of REAL lately - like the rings of hell - each one worse. I am AFRAID of the emotions that come from putting the blame and responsibility and anger at him. I am afraid of each new level of real because it brings even Stronger emotions that seem trapped in me and I do not know how to hold them because they are too much - too big, too threatening. I do not know how to express and release them. What if they , the emotions, never leave? Never cease? What if they ki/ll me? What if I can't handle them. I am honestly afraid of my emotions. I am afraid they might k/ill me - I have always felt that way.
Maybe that is how little me felt ? Maybe that is how I felt about the actions - the abuse - and I just am thinking the same way about the emotions because they are connected to them. I think I have really hit on something here!
It is that crossroads - yes. I am in this internal chaos of knowing/feeling that I want and NEED to cut ties vs toxic loyalty and fear and guilt. Healing and moving foreword and creating a life - an uncharted path - or staying in the familiar filled with endless harm and pain. I am so damn sick of chaos - i lived in chaos my whole childhood - actually, no, most of my life bc chaos is all I knew. I do no want to live in chaos in my head anymore or in my life.
Oh yes - anger, too at the retaliation and repercussions that Will happen when ( its a matter now of when not if 👍) I cut the ties - permanently, with my dad and his entire family. Such DEEP and agonizing fear! All the pain - and omg, the guilt thrown at me - the harassment - the calls on my aunt's phone - the showing up with no notice - all the crazy shit that will happen - the harassment!
Te other times they have seriously harassed me like that - I thought i was NOT GOING TO SURVIVE IT, IT WAS TOO MUCH - SO MUCH AND WOULDNT STOP. sorry - caps locked :p .....I am scared to go through that again. so scared. Like a little helpless child scared - maybe that is little me thinking/feeling.
But this time, when I do it - I know I am supported. I am supported here. my aunt will support me in some way - i think. I have my adult self to care for me. I have the support of the damn police! I have had to make reports before - but I never followed through. This time I will. I always told myself - i can't do that to family - but wtf - they are family and they are doing that to ME! So no, i will not back off, i will not take it. I will not accept it. But at the same time - i know it will hurt like hell and i am so tired of always hurting. But cutting ties and healing and having my own life - free, finally - from the abuse - cutting those ties will hurt less than staying in that family and being treated how I AM. bECAUSE i KNOW IT CANOT AND WILL NOT CHANGE OR GET BETTER. cap locked again, lol.
My dad is a sociopath, without a doubt Even my therapist called that right away. . I know my sister is a narcissist and very well - possibly a sociopath as well - she has 0 empathy - she doesn't feel the pain of others or feel remorse. I honestly think the whole family is : I know my step bitch ( his wife) is one too - it's funny how they found each other - and then made a lil family of sociopaths. They will never get help. They see nothing wrong.
...ending this with a great Labyrinth quote: ( Directed at my family): " You have no power over me." ❤️
@blissedNblessed I know you said she's 84 right? My grandparents were the same way. The constant worry about money - even though they had enough money but they counted every penny I'm sure. I know they used to have talks about expenses and I'm sure I was involved in them. But I also know they tried to be careful that they weren't over heard - so I mean it was different here than it is for you and your aunt. I know they grew up in families with alot of kids and not enough money I guess - so they heard it too and it carries over into the next generations. Lol - I had to laugh because I love ramans :)
I love that you grow flowers and try to find unique ones! I do that here too lol! You can get seeds from them when the blooms die - in case you didn't know. If they're a cross which is how they get the unique colors - the new plants might not have the same coloring as the parent plants but they're still pretty
It makes sense that little you would have those thoughts and feelings - the anger may even be because of that. Because you're still enduring some forms of the abuse. The thing now is that as an adult you have more power than little you did but the fear remains. How can it not? FOr as long as you can remember fear has been a big part of daily life. Those kinds of people - can't be fixed. And I guess maybe you could try and look at it as - nothing will ever be good enough. You could be a world renowned brain surgeon and they would still find fault. Some of my family is the same way. Nothing I ever do will be good enough. Like you said - they see nothing wrong. But - like you also said - While it will hurt to cut ties and you might go back and forth on how you feel but it is the only way to get peace and healing in your life. This is something you can control - because the power to say yay or nay is with in you and you will eventually find peace with cutting ties - because good things will start to happen. Less stress - less anger - less depression. You'll eventually get better sleep - which will help your mind and body heal too
Lol - I'm glad my insights are good - you should know I have a hard time applying them to my life :P
@mytwistedsoul
Yes - the money fear is carried through generations - passed down. But , guess what? I had my first ever, adult heart to heart with my aunt about her family and her upbringing. I have tried as an adult before - but was always shot down so fast - too many family secrets. I explained to her I needed to know because that effected my mother, her choices, her life, her choice in husband - my father - my life and I am trying to heal and move on and forward with my life.
She absolutely opened up - I am so going to write a whole journal entry on this because I learned so much - and made huge strides with her being able to accept my trauma whereas before - because this is the other he , fuck it - my uncle - her brother, so she shot me down and said she didn't believe and cut me off before I could say anything when I tried many many years ago to tell her about him and what he did. ( Around the time his daughter came out and said she was molested and raped by him - and the whole family turned on her.
Anyways..she told me that her dad was this way with money as he got older and she picked this up from him. Which I understood because she relates so much to her dad - even sits in the chair and place setting at the table her father had sat at. Its kinda weird in all the ways she almost created her life to be so similar to his. She said something like - this is just what people do when they get older.
I gently and compassionately reminded her of my old career before my lung issue - a caregiver and companion for the elderly . And what she said is not the case - getting older doesn't imply looking at money in this way that she holds so tight. And let her know, there is freedom in knowing this - because it frees her to act more in accordance to what feels true to her and not having to just follow what she saw her father become. She teared up.
BTW- the talk with her about money she would pay me for all the work I Constantly and daily do for her. . . and have done, for years. I was accepting a near pittance, nothing really. It was a lot more than I thought she would ever do. I mean, its not a lot , for all I do - but it is a nice amount so that I can now start meeting my own needs and every so often, some wants, too. yay! I feel so much better - like, more of a human being! And so much ore hope for the future and caring for myself.
I am actually really impressed with her newfound compassion and getting out of her box of thought. I really think she sees me going through hell about my past ( she doesn't know about the abuse - but she does. She...either remembers and is not saying things she knew, that the whole family knew - or thinks it is just about my dad). She can see how much I am struggling and still sticking to therapy and working on things. . . she even was open to listening to abuse from her brother! She asked and gave me this look - when I said I know something is off about him and I believe his daughter that he did those things - i know he did. She asked why and was open to knowing the truth - I am just not ready to tell her. I have not processed it myself yet. But wow - growth, impressive!
sorry this is so long, lol.....
I didn't know about the seed collection when the flower bloom dies! I am going to collect the seeds to replant for the next unique flower I find! I think its so cool that you do this too - both finding unique flowers and collecting seeds to replant! What has been your most unique flower?? Mine are the black pansies, for sure!
You are so very right about even though I have little me's feelings, I am a adult and I can feel little me's feelings and still act as an adult with the power I do have now. But yes, gets confusing and triggering because some form of abuse is still going on - constantly triggering little me's ears and feelings.
Oh yeah - definitely, there is nothing that will ever be good enough - I was the first one in his family ( he grew up on a farm in Spain) to graduate from college - and I did so cum laude! He never even bothered to show up to my graduation! Wasn't even good enough for him to show up or acknowledge it. No I am proud of you, nothing. Just wasn't even there.
Hey - it is Always easier to offer insights when we look at someone else's life because we are not stuck in our own memories and feelings - we can look at the situation objectively. Makes sense you have trouble with these insights and acting on them with your own life and situation. Hmmm, maybe try to read what you wrote to me, but substitute the word, " you" with the word, "me" while you read it??? Just a thought :)
@blissedNblessed Hey you :) I can't even begin to tell you how awesome this is to hear! I am so glad you had a heart to heart with her! That she was open to it! And that she's going to give you more for the work you do for her. That's a big morale and self esteem booster in its self! Just to have spending cash to save up for extra things you want or need. *hugs* I am so happy for you! This is just so awesome!
I think the most unique flower was night sky petunias. They were beautiful! Pansy's are awesome too and they come in some of the best colors. I'm gonna have to find some black ones to plant with the apple cider mix we usually plant. I think the colors will go nice together! Happy planting lol!
Cum laude! Good for you! I'm sorry he didn't even show up - that sucks. And its his loss - you did it for you and showed how smart you are on top of it. He's probably jealous - he should have been proud. Heck I'm proud of you! :)
That's a good idea! :) I'll have to try that with changing the words. Youre right - it is allways easier offering insight. That outside view when we're not stuck in our own thoughts and feelings
I'm glad this was a good day for you - I am so glad that Things are looking up! And yay for tea! :) I hope you get some sleep tonight!
Maybe little you would like some fairy lights for your room :) we have gold wire lights in the bedroom for nights when the dark is too deep :)