Going no contact with a parent

I have spoken to some of you about it and we share the same experience but going no contact is new to me, I didn't want to cut off my mum, but it all started with a burn out, I was living in another country and I was tying to keep a good relationship with my mum, texting her about the new things I discovered, giving her updates, basically trying to have a normal relationship. But then I got a job that was too overwhelming to me, I was on a "personal" break which I had the right to, and my boss said "what the f*ck are you doing? Get back to work now" and during that break I was asking my work mates about how to get psychological support. I spent one month without actively texting anyone, that takes a lot of energy from me, but I would reply to the messages I had. One day my mum texted me, she was clearly mad at me for not texting for a bit less than a month (that is usual of me) I explained gently that I was having a burn out, dealing with bullying at work and I wasn't able to message anyone, her reply was "you have to understand I am not your mate, I am your mother" and she didn't text me ever since, if I try to talk to her she will only reply with short answers, not trying to have a conversation at all. We did have a short break in between, but she basically blamed my partner (who she never met) for my "change of behaviour" or she brings up bad things I did when I was a kid and shame me for it. I couldn't cope, I stopped trying it's been 4 months now, but I have two little brothers and one of them is not talking to me, we have a group chat and only one of them (he is also autistic) is replying, the other one reads the messages and ignores it all, I want to be in contact with them because I am scared my mum is doing the same she's done to me, I wanna be there to support them. 

With all that happened, most days I feel guilty, some other days I accept that it's just my reality, I get a bit of support from the rest of my family, as my mum doesn't speak to my grandma, auntie, uncles, basically no one else in the family, they all tell me to let her be, but it feels wrong, I feel like I am the worst daughter in the world, I feel like I am selfish and ungrateful like she always used to say. 

If you have experienced this, how do you cope? 

Thank you do much for the attention and support, you have been lovely to me

Parents
  • Hi   

    This is a tough one. I am in a similar situation. I only realized my mum had narcissistic tendencies when I started therapy. She used to call me thick, lazy, selfish and she was extremely volatile and controlling. The worst thing is I used to believe her. It has been difficult but I've slowly reduced contact to the point where we only speak now and again.

    It was really difficult at first and it felt physically painful not to contact her. I felt so guilty, but it has got easier over time. 

    There was never any way back into the relationship when I tried to tell her how she made me feel she would get angry and defensive, she would sap any joy I had left right out of me. 

    The way I manage to cope is because I know I've tried to explain to my mum how much I am affected by her behavior but she isn't willing to adapt, so I refuse to let her continue to crush me. 

    Please don't forget who you really are, you are so much more than anyone's opinion of you. 

    I have a son who I love unconditionally and I'm learning that not all mum's are able to do this because of their unresolved issues.

    Sending a warm hug your way.༼⁠ ⁠つ⁠ ⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠ ⁠༽⁠つ

Reply
  • Hi   

    This is a tough one. I am in a similar situation. I only realized my mum had narcissistic tendencies when I started therapy. She used to call me thick, lazy, selfish and she was extremely volatile and controlling. The worst thing is I used to believe her. It has been difficult but I've slowly reduced contact to the point where we only speak now and again.

    It was really difficult at first and it felt physically painful not to contact her. I felt so guilty, but it has got easier over time. 

    There was never any way back into the relationship when I tried to tell her how she made me feel she would get angry and defensive, she would sap any joy I had left right out of me. 

    The way I manage to cope is because I know I've tried to explain to my mum how much I am affected by her behavior but she isn't willing to adapt, so I refuse to let her continue to crush me. 

    Please don't forget who you really are, you are so much more than anyone's opinion of you. 

    I have a son who I love unconditionally and I'm learning that not all mum's are able to do this because of their unresolved issues.

    Sending a warm hug your way.༼⁠ ⁠つ⁠ ⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠ ⁠༽⁠つ

Children
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