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wnylib

(25,183 posts)
35. If her mother abused you sexually,
Thu Mar 2, 2023, 08:50 PM
Mar 2023

it's very likely that your grandmother also abused your mother. Doesn't change the fact that your mother is a difficult, abusive person, but it might help you in coping to know where it comes from.

Detachment from toxic people is a good thing. It doesn't mean totally shutting them out of your life, although that is an option. Detachment can mean minimal contact, which you have already established. Kudos for doing that.

Another part of detachment is to maintain emotional boundaries and the ability to care about her from your side of the boundary, without crossing over it into getting caught up in her emotional manipulations. Not easy to do, but possible and necessary for your own well being. You cannot control what she says and does, but you can control how you react emotionally, how you feel about what she says and does. You can train yourself to stop feeling guilt, anxiety, pain, etc. as a reaction to her. Let your thoughts and feelings go to a better place in response to her toxic space. Remind yourself of these things: "That's her life, not mine." "Sad that she's not happy, but I choose to be happy."

When not in touch with her and the negative memories and feelings about her toxicity pop into you mind, let go and say to yourself, "That's her life, not mine anymore. I choose my own path." Maybe it would help to have a peaceful, happy mental picture of something or someone that you care about that you can turn to as an alternative to negative memories and feelings. Perhaps it could be a mental picture of yourself at a happy moment in your life to reinforce that your path and choices are your own and not hers. Being unhappy yourself will not help her in any way or make her into a different person. So why shouldn't at least one of you be happy?

Hang in there and hang onto your own life and peace. You deserve it.

Happy birthday.






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I was always her mother. [View all] debm55 Mar 2023 OP
I'm sorry and belated happy birthday 🎈 questionseverything Mar 2023 #1
Are you ok? kozar Mar 2023 #2
Kozar, I don't ever feel okay. I try as hard as I can to make it one day at a time. I do have a debm55 Mar 2023 #5
But you can train yourself to stop thinking all thoughts. For periods of time Maraya1969 Mar 2023 #11
I will try your suggestion. Thank you. debm55 Mar 2023 #12
I'm so happy you have a wonderful husband. That's amazing, considering everything. pnwmom Mar 2023 #29
I was engaged at 18 to an abuser. Sent him back his ring in the mail, as I was afraid of what he debm55 Mar 2023 #34
You don't have to do any of that if you don't want to. Your primary obligation pnwmom Mar 2023 #38
I hope sharing this helps you some. KarenS Mar 2023 #3
why do you put up with her Skittles Mar 2023 #4
Skittles, I stopped contact. When I was 18, I moved 100 miles away and went to Penn State. She debm55 Mar 2023 #6
I can sympathize Skittles Mar 2023 #7
I have always been her emotional go to person. She has told me, I took her husband away from her as debm55 Mar 2023 #8
try to realize she is mentally ill Skittles Mar 2023 #15
If her mother abused you sexually, wnylib Mar 2023 #35
Sending you hugs MLAA Mar 2023 #9
I would stop talking to her. Karadeniz Mar 2023 #10
Happy belated birthday! Sending you good wishes for some personal peace. Lonestarblue Mar 2023 #13
Hugggggs. Wishing you a belated Happy Birthday, and the gift of peace. niyad Mar 2023 #14
Wishing you a belated Happy Birthday Rhiannon12866 Mar 2023 #16
Happy SpamWyzer Mar 2023 #17
I'm truly sorry that you are putting yourself through this neglect judesedit Mar 2023 #18
Happy Birthday to you debm55. MontanaMama Mar 2023 #19
They don't separate the categories of personality disorder out the way they used to. pnwmom Mar 2023 #24
Yes, it's sometimes a long journey. Joinfortmill Mar 2023 #28
Wishing you gademocrat7 Mar 2023 #20
Happy birthday 🎁🎂🎊 live love laugh Mar 2023 #21
Damn, I hope you take care of yourself n/t hibbing Mar 2023 #22
I am so sorry you had to deal with a lifetime of abuse. It cannot be minimized. It takes a toll that Evolve Dammit Mar 2023 #23
You are an amazing person people Mar 2023 #25
I guess it worked differently for me. As I went to Penn State for 2 years and switched to teaching. debm55 Mar 2023 #36
Sending you prayers and hugs. Joinfortmill Mar 2023 #26
Having had a parent who was a narcissist, I understand the guilt they can inspire. pnwmom Mar 2023 #27
I've broken free of this kind of craziness a few times in my life... hunter Mar 2023 #30
I totally understand. Duppers Mar 2023 #31
I feel your pain. Hang tough debm55, take care of YOURSELF. LoisB Mar 2023 #32
Ah, but you write such beautiful posts over in the Lounge, asking us lovely questions. NNadir Mar 2023 #33
Happy belated Birthday. 🎉🎂 onecaliberal Mar 2023 #37
I completely empathize with your situation. virgdem Mar 2023 #39
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