Please help:)

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#1 Aug 7 - 2PM
Steph
Steph's picture

Please help:)

Hi all.

I posted in a previous thread about a fight I had with 2 good friends the other day during drinks together:(

We met yesterday, and another friend - who was one of my big supporters- was the mediator.

I just need to vent what happened and ask for some insight.....sorry this is long! lol

First off, I had plans with another friend before I was informed that my other friends wanted to meet up and talk about our fight. I asked if we could meet at 530 so I'd still have an hour or so and could keep my other plans. I was told that it had to be no later than 5pm. So I cancelled with my one friend, which was fine, this was more important.

But then, no one showed up at my place for the meeting until 530 anyways!

The three of them walk in together, late, and I was annoyed. I said so, in a nice way. The mediator friend spoke to me in a very condescending tone saying "are you serious" "this is the tone you want to set?" and asked the others if they still even wanted to do this. I explained I just felt disrespected....anyways, another friend immediately said she was glad I wanted to meet and thought it was important and she did still want to discuss things and sorry they were late.

So, I will try and make this short.

I apologized for saying things about my friends fiancee that were harsh. I said that I do believe her relationship is unhealthy and potentially abusive (based on things she has told me) and that my concerns were only for her well being and given that I have been in 2 unhealthy/abusive relationships, I felt I needed to say something. I admitted I approached it wrong and sincerely apologized for that. Long and short of it....it was resolved.

Next subject was how I told them that I did feel unsupported and judged by them during the immediate aftermath of my breakup. I was told again last night that they thought I was not being healthy with things I was doing ie) reading about narcissim - they said was "obsessive", and joining support groups online etc. and talking about things over and over. I said well, my psychologist with a PhD adviced me to do those things and said my reactions to the relationship I was in was NORMAL....so who are you guys to judge me. If you haven't been through it and don't understand that's one thing, but don't tell me how I am handling things isn't normal then.

The real pisser here is that the "mediator" who "supported" me previously told me herself that my other friends weren't supportive, that it was ok EVERYTHING I WAS DOING. Do you think she once chimed in and defended me or had my back. Not once. But she had NO problem telling the other 2 that they didn't need to defend themselves with anything.

Next issue, again sorry guys if you're still with me.....

The night of the fight I had 3 drinks, and was definately feeling it. When the fight happened I left and they were following me around the parking lot. I just wanted to be left alone and nothing they could say was calming me down, i wanted to be alone. I understand now they just didn't want to leave me and make sure I was safe. I eventually hopped in a cab alone, texted them I was safe when I got home.

So because of that, my one friend said that maybe that is why my ex called the cops on me. She said there is 2 sides to every story and that maybe my therapists blamed him when there should be blame on me too. and that maybe I felt guilty because i did do something wrong. OK. This hit hard. It was not the same situation AT ALL. I was never drunk enough on any of these occassions that i don't remember the way it happened. I have never left anything out.
He was not trying to calm me down or resolve anything. He was flipped into a rage because I was CRYING over stuff he had done and I WAS TYING TO CALM HIM DOWN! he pushed me and called the cops. and the second time he did it was when I confronted him on thinking he was cheating and he wouldn't let me look at his phone. He called me f'in nuts, dumped me, and left me at my curb. I cried, I called him an SOB for treating me so badly and hit his chest. I got back in his car (which was dumb)crying, just wanting to talk about things, and he was pulling me out and then called the cops.

I have taken MORE than my share of blame for those incidents. I even thought I was the abuser for hitting his chest. I've come along way with therapy and with getting over feeling this was my fault. I have been honest with every detail of what happened and my therapist still says what he did was WRONG, not a normal response from him, and definately NOT how you treat a loved one.

Finally both friends said they believe me 100%. But again, I had to justify and explain everything. I am exhausted. My 2 friends and I felt resolved, hugged and sayed i luv you's.....and now the mediator is mad at me.

She is mad that I was upset at them being late.

So after a 3 and a half hour conversation that ended respectfully and on good terms....that's what she brings it back to.

I have had that girls back on soooo many occassions and she not once backed me up last night.

I had doubting feelings about her starting a few months ago....questioning her sincerity. She has lost many friends due to being "self involved" and I have helped her through...thinking she was just misunderstood.

Now, I think self involved fits better.

I guess I am just feeling like how do you stop feeling like you have to defend yourself.

I have come a long way and I know deep down what I went through and that I'm not crazy, why can't I just stop trying to gain the approval of my friends?

And was I perhaps wrong with being mad at the "mediator"?

Thanks so much for reading this long story:)
Feels better even writing it out:)
xoxo

Aug 9 - 9AM
NinjaGirl
NinjaGirl's picture

This "mediator" sounds like

This "mediator" sounds like an annoying drama queen who I would drop in a heartbeat with absolutely no notice whatsoever. I would say that you're still trying to make people happy, and that's part of the reason you feel crappy. You broke a "date" with another friend to appease these people who had been rude to you. I would say stand your ground. If you have plans until 5:30, don't change it just so you can accommodate your other friends. If they can't wait until 5:30, too bad for them. Your plans are just as important as theirs, right? And them being late on top of that is just rude. I understand you wanting to stay friends with two of them, as they do seem to have redeeming qualities, but yeah, dump the "mediator" one. You don't even have to say anything to her. If it means anything, I still think you're awesome, babe.
Aug 9 - 3PM (Reply to #19)
Steph
Steph's picture

NinjaGirl

Thank you so much:) It does mean alot to me! I have been feeling really strong since meeting with them. Some of the things that were said to me about maybe I am to blame too, well if that was said to me several months ago, I don't know what I would have done. It would have really set me back. Now, when it was said and I stepped in and defended myself, I really believed in myself. I'm am just NOT going to fight for approval anymore. The "mediator"....I am done there. I saw her at work last night and did not make eye contact with her. I have had nagging feelings about her starting to get to me before this, and this has just confirmed to me what I need to do. And...I feel a huge weight off of my shoulder after deciding to no longer be friends with her. Says alot I think. Thanks again for your comments! You still rock! xoxo
Aug 8 - 10PM
brightside_ella
brightside_ella's picture

I think it's hard for anyone

I think it's hard for anyone that has not been in a relationship with an N to completely understand the Hell they put us through. Your friends most likely have good intentions, but they are basing their advice on their own Personal experiences. I have found that to be true in my own life as well, my friends and family can't quite grasp the severity of what someone with NPD is capable of.
Aug 8 - 7AM
helldweller
helldweller's picture

stayingstrong

Ugh. "Two sides to every story." PLease. The times I heard THAT about the n, including from the cops. "Well, I realize he battered you and you are covered in bruises and he sleeps with his five year old and after four years together you aren't allowed to see his phone, but have you been drinking?" Arrrrgggghhhh! Yea, I've been F*CKING drinking! You would be drinking too, as*hole!"
Aug 8 - 1PM (Reply to #14)
Steph
Steph's picture

Thank you,

Thank you, helldweller! People just really do not get it. Blame the victim mentality. I wish I could go back in time to those incidents with xN and NOT have had drinks in me. Then what would they say? "Well, you really shouldn't have been crying for hours over his treatment of you" "Well, you really should not have questioned if he was cheating even though you had valid reasons or asked to look at his phone. And when he told you you were f'ing nuts and it's over and dumped you off so coldly, you should have smiled and said, thank you N, you are right".
Aug 8 - 8PM (Reply to #15)
helldweller
helldweller's picture

stayingstrong

I have some more for you, just now: So if you remember, the narc's older brother is sleeping with the narc's fifty-five year old babysitter and living with a thirty year old professional shopper for a high end store, making 150K a year. Beautiful, smart, witty, speaks four languages, hunts and fishes, plays piano --but her boyfriend is sleeping with his brother's babysitter. He crawls into bed with the young woman when he's not in Europe, alone; in Vegas, alone; or in Florida, alone, sometimes months at a time. So, the woman has been my ally, sort of, through this. I called her when he lied about his "trip," called when he left town while I was miscarrying, called when he beat the crap out of me over his phone. She was always sweet to a point, but never to the point where she would interfere and threaten her relationship with her alleged boyfriend. That meant never actually saying anythingto any of them. She is also the one who, last week, texted: "I'm highly offended that you have a problem with my posting photos of my "nephew"--the narc's foster kid-- and me on facebook. I love him and all of my family." Well you already heard THAT tirade, about the joke of "her family" and "her nephew." Today she emailed me, "I'm so glad you're moving, sweetie, it will be so much better for you and your girls." Translation: "We are so f*cking relieved you and your daughters are moving so our family narc can sleep with and abuse his child, new women, and everyone else without you making trouble about it. Finally we will be able to just get him drunk again every Sunday afternoon and pretend he is wonderful and selfless!" Poor, blind little girl. I can't imagine what's in store for her, except that she is so willfully set against realizing her own situation is the same. I honestly think she purposely steels herself against it just to be with him, and I might too if he actually bought a house with me, like they did. It's scary, because they actually go on a couple of trips together each year, and have decorated their house together. I sometimes wish that was me, but then I realize that she is being totally screwed over. When the two of THEM met, he was divorced and said he would get an anullment and they woudl get married and have kids. She claimed that, one weekend, the three brothers went away for a night and, when they came back, she wasn't allowed to speak about marriage or children again. She hasn't. HOrrible.
Aug 9 - 3PM (Reply to #16)
Steph
Steph's picture

yuck. that is horrible. She

yuck. that is horrible. She is so brainwashed it is sad. I am glad you see that you DON"T wish that was you! You are in a much better place than she:)
Aug 8 - 7AM (Reply to #13)
helldweller
helldweller's picture

stayingstrong

People also said the same sh*t about my ex husband after he SET A FIRE AT A CHURCH! "Two sides to every story" they said about our divorce afterwards. A friend told a reporter that he lost it because of MY ADULTERY! We had been separated for four years, I had filed for divorce twice, he was a raging alcoholic, had admitted to sleeping with other women that he'd met in bars, had lost his job and I was singlehandedly supporting everyone, and then I dated someone else for two months who absolutely treated my girls and me like gold. But yep, it was my fault he committed arson and my fault our marriage fell abpart: because of my "adultery." (Sorry for the yelling; sore subject)
Aug 7 - 7PM
gigi9
gigi9's picture

Sounds like these "friends"

Sounds like these "friends" may also hold some narcisstic traits!
Aug 7 - 3PM
Bodhi
Bodhi's picture

Ugh

This sounds like a lot of drama to me, rather than friendship. It sounds like your gut knows this already, but you're holding on for some reason...
Aug 7 - 7PM (Reply to #9)
Steph
Steph's picture

I think you are so right. I

I think you are so right. I have spent the entire day alone and thinking. I will continue my friendship with 2 of the girls. I do think they are good friends, they just don't understand. So I need to stop seeking their approval and just approve of myself. As far as the mediator....I am going with me gut on her and ending that relationship.
Aug 7 - 8PM (Reply to #10)
NancyM
NancyM's picture

staying strong

I think this statement says it all for your current situation. "So I need to stop seeking their approval and just approve of myself." There is only one person's approval you need to take notice of, and that is your own. Friends get it, don't get it, it does not matter. Your approval is all that matters. Sounds like the mediator was trying to exert her own superiority to me. Of course, we are still here to understand and validate you.

Nevergoback

Aug 7 - 3PM
Used
Used's picture

stayingstrong78

i aint going to mince word,s here.GET RID OF THE MEDIATOR, or should i say agitator, or stirrer, or wind up, or ms aint i important, everybody listen to me my word is law, she is a controlling trouble maker, and as for anyone, anyone at all taking the narc,s side, get ridxx
Aug 7 - 7PM (Reply to #7)
Steph
Steph's picture

lol! Thanks:) xoxo

lol! Thanks:) xoxo
Aug 7 - 3PM
wholeagain
wholeagain's picture

Sometimes

I think it just comes down to not saying anymore, except maybe to say "you had to be there". The endless explaining is just reminiscent of what we had to do with the Ns in our lives, and stopping it and stopping the self-defense takes as much willpower probably. Talk and vent where you know it will be understood and let the friendships in your life find their own level. If you're feeling vulnerable and low, that's the time to come here or journal, not be with those who you know don't get what happened to you. A lot of friendships won't be able to stand the weight of this crazy mindf**k stuff. The mediator...some mediator she is, if she can't stay neutral for even one minute. She knew she was walking into conflict and doesn't have the skill to deal with that.
Aug 7 - 7PM (Reply to #2)
Steph
Steph's picture

Thank you. I am going to

Thank you. I am going to really try and stop explaining and justifying anything anymore. Some people just don't get it and I have to accept that.
Aug 8 - 12PM (Reply to #3)
almostlydia
almostlydia's picture

That's right. I found that

That's right. I found that when I try to explain or justify, I am only making it possible for some people to assume some sort of superiority over me and treat me this way. When I took on a much more calm and rational stance, by doing my explaining and ranting here instead, and not out there I noticed a huge difference both in my own confidence but in others behavior towards me. I also cut loose two friends and won't be around them anymore. Cut the mediator agitator. She sounds like she has issues that will not be in your best interest.

almostlydia

Aug 8 - 5PM (Reply to #4)
better off
better off's picture

I used to be on a marriage

I used to be on a marriage support forum and I was very open and honest about my emotional affair (with the N) and was trying to work thru that. At some point some N's had really kind of taken over the board, and some that were just "scorned men" (scorned women have NOTHING on a scorned man!)... and when I would try to talk to someone about their wife's infidelity and possibly what was going on in her head (these were guys who were looking from help from women to understand what was going on), these other clowns would pile on and ALWAYS someone would say, "how can you JUSTIFY what you did" or more like "you are just TRYING to JUSTIFY what you did" blah blah And I had healed to the point that I would always say, I don't HAVE to justify myself to you or to anyone else on this planet! I have no interest in justifying myself! That implies I owe them some kind of explanation for my actual being and life. Screw those people. It's between me and God, and we have worked it out. :-) He forgives me and loves me and I am now justified. The end.
Aug 8 - 10PM (Reply to #5)
almostlydia
almostlydia's picture

Betteroff

hallelujah sister, That's what I'm talking about!

almostlydia