Being easily manipulated

Hello, this is my first time posting on here, hope everyone is well. 

I am a 34 year old man with AuDHD. I am really struggling at the moment with a lot of things but a big thing I've realised is that I have been being manipulated, used and exploited by people I thought were 'friends'.

One of them used me for almost 2 years until somebody else recognised it and put a stop to it about 6 months ago. I had done so many favours, spent so much money, been drawn into so much drama, had so much responsibility put on me that I completely isolated myself from anyone and anything else.

Over the past few months, having reflected on the situation and spoken to people, I realised I was scared of her, unable to set boundaries and thought that it was how friendship was. 

Then the past week I have stupidly been drawn into a situation that has now really made me realise just how easily manipulated and vulnerable I am when it comes to others, because I've stupidly sent over £150 to someone I've never met who I now know was only pretending to be my friend and was coercing me, guilt tripping me and trying to bribe me. 

I've had to contact my bank, PayPal and a company he had me buy cards from today and I'm so ashamed. There isn't much they can do and my bank have blocked my card and sent a new one - and also marked me as vulnerable... But I just feel so stupid as I didn't even have that money to give, it was out of my overdraft. 

Sorry for the rant, just I can't tell anyone else in my life because they'll be angry at my stupidity. 

Parents
  • Hello  

    Welcome to the community.

    I’m sorry that you feel so bad but you are not to blame and the intent of your actions were good. You were the victim of a horrible, horrible thing and your feelings reflect the impact that unfortunately many people experience every day, because tricksters and fraudsters are getting more sophisticated. 

    Something similar happened years ago to someone I know and they described feelings similar to you. They kept talking about being gullible and being stupid. Also, I have seen some of those TV shows about scams in which the police describe the feelings of those who have been scammed by people; feeling ‘stupid’ is common, but it doesn’t reflect the reality of you as a person, even though you feel it. 

Reply
  • Hello  

    Welcome to the community.

    I’m sorry that you feel so bad but you are not to blame and the intent of your actions were good. You were the victim of a horrible, horrible thing and your feelings reflect the impact that unfortunately many people experience every day, because tricksters and fraudsters are getting more sophisticated. 

    Something similar happened years ago to someone I know and they described feelings similar to you. They kept talking about being gullible and being stupid. Also, I have seen some of those TV shows about scams in which the police describe the feelings of those who have been scammed by people; feeling ‘stupid’ is common, but it doesn’t reflect the reality of you as a person, even though you feel it. 

Children
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