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What am I to do?

What am I to do?

When my most recent trauma happened, I was left in a situation from which there was no escape, but I decided to give myself my best chance by immersing myself in the world outside of the isolation bubble my ex-psychiatrist had kept me in.
I joined a low cost educational organization. I enrolled in 6 courses and also volunteered. I was having a wonderful time and was doing well interacting in the volunteering role. Then, as usual, the fun stopped. I approached the office for an enquiring customer and after excusing myself, was deliberately ignored, shunned. I had been volunteering, providing a free service during an unimaginable trauma of my own, doing well and suddenly it was obvious that I may have been doing too well. They had obviously been discussing me among the office staff (paid? volunteers?) who had decided that I needed to be put in my place. The head, standing nearby, told me that they 'were busy' (they weren't engaged in rocket science, just looking busy) and what did I want? I explained within their earshot and they immediately jumped into action. It seems they weren't really busy, after all.


That had hurt me deeply. I am not a fragile person - quite the opposite in fact, but that was just plain rude and totally unwarranted. It also indicated clearly to me that I had been the hot subject of discussion in the office. They needed a conversation subject and others are always a juicy subject - while they are gossiping about others, their place is secure. I was scarcely able to hold back my tears when I went back to reception. After a while, I had to explain confidentially to my co-worker that I was deeply hurt, and why.


That got back to them - because, as I have said recently, if you want your secret to not be told to others - keep it to yourself.


Then I made the mistake of divulging a personal matter in one of my classes and was immediately shunned by everyone - like they had just been waiting for an excuse to not allow me to be part of the group.


I cancelled all except one enrolment soon after. Several of the staff contacted me and one rang when I was writing my suicide note. So, of course, that went viral too.
I enrolled in a term of sport with this organization and remained in it for the allowed term. Of course, that went sour too. Asking one of the higher echelon what to do about the member who was touching me when it was obvious it wasn't just a supportive, teamlike touch, exploded among the male members and one, especially, was soon going out of his way to touch me to indicate touching is normal. It isn't. Months of his touching, singing to me, calling me 'sweetheart', constantly approaching me such that I had to keep him in my peripheral vision so that I could start wandering away was becoming overwhelming distressing and after finishing discussing it with this other member, I was actually hyperventilating after finishing the call. He said his companion had had the same experience, that he was a bit of a 'jack the lad' since his wife died and that he had also noticed his conversational innuendo. Blech! The person I spoke with told us at afternoon tea that we ladies might like to man the bar on social occasions. I consider that to be his appraisal of a woman's worth and role.


After an interclub game we moved into the club room for prizes. It was not an environment I was comfortable with. Very few women and the men were just waiting for the bar to open. I don't drink and was endeavouring to make an inconspicuous exit when a man asked if he could buy me a drink. Again - Blech! I felt like he considered me a pick-up. It is customary for the opposite number of a home team to buy a drink for the visitor - but I don't think he was my opposite number and his attitude made me squirm. I wouldn't subject myself to that environment again. I haven't returned saying that I am waiting for my game to improve.


I tried to keep going anyway but the discussions the men have had is an ongoing matter among them. The toucher has been low profile lately, the toucher who tried to indicate to me that it is 'normal' said that he saw me walking to the club but didn't offer me a lift in case I thought he was trying to 'pick me up', and another said to a fellow player tripping over a bowl that he didn't want her to 'k*** herself' just yet. I had to conclude these were reflecting on my private conversations with the other educational organization and with the higher echelons within the sport club, which interconnect. It is not my imagination. They are constantly sizing me up and as I said, I feel like I am surrounded on all sides. One would think support would be the normal response to such a situation.


I will not be returning to the club and regret that I will also miss out on some worthy relationships there.


So here I am, on the verge of seeing a psychiatrist who terrifies me by his potential to cause me harm - and without any support. My situation is dire and I can't take much more of it. There is only more of this ahead and I am completely isolated.

14 replies

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In response to: What am I to do?

Re: What am I to do?

Hello @Historylover it sounds like a miserable situation. I'm sorry you're so alone and misunderstood. I hear you and feel for you and want to reassure you you'll always belong in the forums. Sending you hugs. I've just signed up for classes after years of isolation and dread the possibility of having experiences like yours.

Licorice and butterscotch are some of my favourites too but I haven't had them for ages. Thinking of them makes me nostalgic.

You might not have fixed your family but what matters is that you wanted to and I'm sure you left an open doorway in your heart. Your kindness to others and your volunteering and openness shine through.

I don't have any particular solutions to offer but I've appreciated our interactions and look forward to more when you're feeling better. I think we may face some similar issues.

My cat is sitting on the back of my chair and resting his paws on my head, but I'm going to wake him when I get up for a cuppa. Talk soon.

Love and strength @Historylover

Dimity

In response to: Re: What am I to do?

Re: What am I to do?

Hello @Dimity. So nice to read your post. I'm feeling considerably lighter in spirit today, thank you.

I'm pleased to hear you have enrolled in classes. I hope your experience there is a very pleasant one. Learning new things is very important to me, but at the moment, I'm giving my over-taxed brain a break. I will get back to more self-education - hopefully in the not too distant future.

I went through many years of not eating any sweets, but I think absence has made my heart grow fonder and currently I am over-indulging. But, I have to admit that not having a kitchen has also temporarily changed my eating habits - not for the better - and diet. Normality is still a little way off.

As for my family - in my darkest moment I am thoroughly beaten, but when the light starts to again shine through the end of the tunnel - I am not beaten at all. Down - but not out. I'll just continue on with my 'mission' and continue to expand my horizons and abilities, and leave them to do similarly.

We humans are very resilient. We have enormous capability for recovery - even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it.

If I am to achieve my objective re my family, there is no advice anyone can offer. I just have to let whatever will happen, happen. I'm still hopeful. More than hopeful. Optimistic even. My family aren't stupid, after all. Just 'temporarily' intractable. But we all have to learn life's lessons in our own time.

Love and strength to you too, @Dimity. Have a wonderful day.

In response to: Re: What am I to do?

Re: What am I to do?

Hello @Historylover

I hope you had a good day.

Having your living spaces renovated must be quite inconvenient and disruptive - I've been considering it but so far haven't had the courage. I hope you're not without a kitchen for too long.

I just completed the census and felt very insignificant. It struck me too that some of the things that matter to me weren't surveyed - nothing on culture, environment, the biodiversity where I live. I guess at present they're not commodities with a $ value.

Families can be tricky. Mine is. I'm still grappling with my late parents' attitudes and expectations and the very difficult relationships with my siblings. Finding my own way and trying to help the younger generations are probably all I can hope for.

@Historylover the unpleasantness you've experienced reflects on those who've been responsible for it, not on you. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Cheers

Dimity

In response to: Re: What am I to do?

Re: What am I to do?

Hello @Dimity Another day. I hope you are doing alright. 'Well' would be better, but as long as you are doing 'alright'.

Families are a nightmare for so many of us. I see others' who 'seem' to be functional and supportive, and had just wanted the same for mine. That had been my goal. It's hard to imagine that the sibs who grew up in the same household and played together would grow up to not speak to each other. As for my own, it will never reconcile. Deep down, I know that, but that is a reality which is as hard to accept and understand as the betrayal of the ex-psychiatrist in whom I had placed all of my trust. I guess I swing from one perception of my situation to the other because the reality is too dreadful and I need a break from dealing with it from time to time. On a bad day I understand the reality completely. On another day, I am hopeful that all of this is just a bad nightmare - but it isn't.

I did my census online as soon as I received it. So quick. A much better system for those who are internet savvy and connected.

I know the unpleasantness I have experienced reflects on others - not on me, Dimity. There is absolutely nothing I could have done differently. And the same goes for what you have experienced. I don't know what the answer is. I wish I did.

Have a good day @Dimity. I hope it is a good one for you. Sending best wishes.

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