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Sorry this is long but I desperately need people who understand to read it - abandonment pain triggered

I had a caseworker who was to be my support system inbetween T appointments. It's an intensive support system that means I could have a home visit daily in times of acute distress. I've only really ever needed a visits a week at most, sometimes I'd phone her during the week also. It helped just knowing 'someone' was THERE - having a safety net is so hugely important to me. we worked together for 4 months. I felt safe. When I was doing hard work in therapy, I was able to phne her for support after a T session (I hardly needed to@, because just KNOWING she was 'there' was usually enough.

But about 6-7 weeks ago it started to fall apart.

She started not turning up. I'd wait at home and she never called or txt or contacted me. The first time I thought 'no big deal, something urgent must have come up'. I felt anxious and worried. I left a phone message, no response. The next day I left another phone message; by now I was really really worried, it was so unlike her, I began to think she must have been in an accident or very sick or dead. She didn't return my message that day either. The next day I phoned head office - no answer - I kept trying. I was beside myself. Eventually I got through - she said she had txt me but the phones must not have worked. She didn't have a reason as to why she didn't return my calls when I'd expressed I was worried something had happened to her Frowner. I WAS able to tell her how badly it affected me - how it triggered flashbacks, and major abandonment trauma.

Not that made any difference Frowner why? Because....

The next week she did turn up. I thought I could begin to trust her again. But the following week - same thing - no show, no communication. I was again unable to contact anyone at head office. Turns out she had gone home sick, and 'someone' was 'meant to phone me and let me know'. When I did talk to her about it it turns out I was her ONLY client that day - why couldn't she not just make a one minute phone call to say she was really sorry but was going home sick???? WHY, when I had been able to communicate how DISTRESSING I'd found it last time for her to not turn up???

We talked it through AGAIN. I told who AGAIN the huge impact this had on me. That I couldn't see her until I talked it through with my T. That it's left me not feeling I can't trust her, that I have NO SUPPORT, that right when I need more than anything, support - my safety net has been ripped out from under me. We made a time for me to go see her at her office; I could not cope with waiting at home for her to maybe not arrive again.

But I had to cancel as I was too distressed.

She phoned me back a week later. She offered to meet but I couldn't do it - but I did accept her offer of a phone call. We agreed she'd phone me Friday 3pm - I thought 'ok this might work, a step in the right direction to trusting her again'.

We timed our call for Friday afternoon because I see my T Friday mornings, and if it's a hard session I really struggle over the weekend - I have no friends or family support. A phone call from my caseworker can help me feel supported and be the difference between coping or not over the weekend.

She never called me. Not even on Monday morning. Nothing. Frowner Frowner Frowner

I then had to make a massively difficult decision - I phoned her boss, I expressed my hurt, how much it affected me, and I just wanted to know WHY she didn't call or turn up. I asked to change caseworkers. I didn't want to because I LIKED my caseworker. I felt I had no choice, and I resented being put into this situation of having to call her boss

Long story short I got a new caseworker. We met last Friday. I deliberately didn't talk about what happened with my old caseworker because I didn't want to make my new one uncomfortable talking about her colleague (they work together). I felt hope it might work.

We made an app for yesterday morning, 9:30am, my place.

She never turned up.

Hard to believe huh?

I wish it wasn't true but it is.

I couldn't get hold of her or the head office. I left messages.

She phoned me 2 hours later. Her excuse was "so sorry I didn't phone you - we had a huge 2 hour meeting this morning that I only found out about on Monday!"

WTF - you found out about it TWO DAYS AGO AND COULDN'T FUCKING PHONE ME????? Hardly like it was just a last minute thing!!!!

I couldn't see her this week I couldn't. I put it off til next week but I'm feeling so fucked up I don't think I can see her or deal with their agency ever again Frowner

Why is this happening? What the hell is wrong with ME????

I emailed my T yesterday, but didn't get a response. She might not even have got it yet. Not that she can do anything other than write she's 'sorry I'm struggling and hopes we can talk about it on Friday'

I feel so unglued by this. It's triggered a deep abandonment pain - it's wounded me so much it doesn't even feel survivable a lot of the time. I just don't know what to do Frowner Frowner Frowner

I'm having a lot of flashbacks due to it. I get genuinely confused as to why my dog (from the present) is back in childhood with me because it feels like I'm back there. I can't do 'grounding' stuff please don't suggest it - it triggers me even more.


Worse is that next week is the anniversary of my mothers sudden death - that I witnessed, aged 10.

I hate her so much for bringing me into this world, hurting me, fucking me up, and then dying on me and leaving me to pick up the mess ALONE. . It's so unfair she can do all this DAMAGE to my soul and NEVER EVER have to accept responsibility or be accountable in any way. My father is dead also - same thing - they fucked up and fucked me over and they're dead and don't have to deal with the aftermath.

I'm all alone.

Sometimes I HATE life so much - I HATE how it is, how it works - it feels like one giant JOKE and I'm at the centre of the joke Frowner Frowner Frowner
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ElizaJ - I want you to know I am here and I read every word you wrote. What is happening to you is really freakin messed up. I am sooo sorry! The caseworkers really dropped on the ball on you and no matter what the reason, it totally sucks. My heart was pounding just reading your story because I can't even imagine all the stress and pain it has caused you. I can feel your unbearable pain and anguish. I want you to know you matter and what they did to you was not right. I hope you can find a competent caseworker and your T can be supportive of you during this really painful time. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Frowner

Thank you passionfruit... I just feel so stuck and alone...

My T has given me contact numbers for a couple of different peer support places I could use But if the professional agencies got it so wrong, how could I begin to trust a less formal, peer support agency???

My psych dr's office isn't open until 9am. I really don't think she will have an urgent app free. I don't even know if she can phone me to talk to me. I know I can email my T again but given how limited that communication is I don't want to risk feeling worse Frowner. To not get a reply today would devastate me further - so I feel it's better to not even 'go there'.

Although I might email her but tell her to NOT reply - that there isn't anything she can possibly say via email that won't feel like a small band aid on a major fucking surgical wound and leave me feeling worse.

I'm struggling with urges to self harm. I haven't done that in a long time - I remind myself it will only make things worse not better - I'd still feel the same pain, any relief would I feel would only be temporary. And I'd likely end u needing medical attention, and that only invokes intense SHAME - and still wouldn't fix the situation. And given I'm on probation with work? I could be stopped from working again - and any loss of income right now would be the difference between losing my house or not. I'm down $50,000 in income this year cos I was so sick last year and stopped from working Frowner

I txt my new caseworker yesterday - said how I felt, asked if my old caseworker had handed over to her or not? Surely she didn't - cos surely if my new caseworker had known - had been told - how much not turning up triggers me and affects me so badly, she would have made more of a conscious effort to make sure she didn't let me down like this???

But she never replied to my txt Frowner
My psych dr phoned me back. She then said she wanted to phone my caseworker and let her know how much this has affected me. She only go her phone message but left a message for my caseworker saying I was in need of support and to please phone me urgently.

My caseworker phoned an hour or so later. I couldn't take her call - I'm too affected to talk to her right now.


But the message she left says it all. All hope has been extinguished now, in terms of it ever working with that agency.

Her exact words?

"I just had a call from yr dr - she said you're really distressed by what happened yesterday even though I called. AND apologised and offered you an app for this week which y turned down - but she said you need a visit so if that's the case, phone me and I might be able to come see you tomorrow"


Oh I see - so my reaction, it seems is over the too because I'm still distressed EVEN THOUGH she phoned and apologised yesterday... And well, that I turned down the offer of a make up visit must make it more my fault for not feeling supported right now

If she had phoned an apologised BEFORE failing to turn up and leaving me waiting for TWO HOURS before she did call to apologise then yes, she would have a point (even then though, blaming me for having the reaction I have had isn't acceptable).

Or maybe if she had only known about the meeting THAT MORNING and had to go into it, forgetting to check her diary and cancel her appointments - that too, I would understand.

But going to a meeting at the time of our planned app when she knew TWO DAYS BEFOREHAND there was a time clash, is fucking ridiculous. Again - it's not that she needed to go to the big meeting instead of seeing me - it's that she never let me know she wasn't coming to see me that day.

There are no words right now. I guess if there is any good aspect of this it's that I've gone from severely wounded to really angry

And anger is empowering, energising, and at least will enable me to feel VINDICATED - I AM right to not trust her, I AM right that their entire stupid agency is unprofessional and severely fucked up and they seem to employ a bunch of fuckwits that refuse to take responsibility or accountability
That is a terrible way to treat a client. I'm sorry they are so inept.

Maybe write this all down and contact the manager and say you are making a formal complaint, as simply not turning up and hoping that an 'apology' afterwards is acceptable, is so far from professional that it could be dangerous. You have been given this support because it is NEEDED, it's not a take it or leave it nicety is it?

Hold on in there, you are heard in here.

sb
Thank you for the replies. It helps to know I AM heard and I AM understood.

I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I severely struggled yesterday to ground myself in any way. I did achieve it for a part of the day - I managed to go to work. Just a couple hours - 3 short 20-30min appointments.

I saw my Dr. She squeezed me in. It was a life saver - literally.. I'd run out of options as how to manage the distressing thoughts and feelings Frowner.

She prescribed me some benzos. I'm scared to take them due to side effects. She said I can take half one while sitting in the waiting room.

She also said I can go SIT in the waiting room anytime they're open (min to fri 9-4:30) if I need a safe place to sit. That's pretty cool. Better than nothing.

My caseworker said in her message she is coming to see me 1pm today (Friday). I doubt I can keep it. I cannot farce her, I can't. As I explained. To my dr - if it goes badly I have no back up support plan and I don't think it's a good idea when I'm feeling so unsafe Frowner.

I'm meant to be on call this weekend - but I am so damn tempted to skive off and go up the mountain (2.5 hour trip each way). It's the only really healthy and effective escape I know. It wouldn't really be ok cos if I'm called by a client I'd have to come up with a really good excuse as to why I'm 2.5 hours away and I'd need to get a colleague into help - and if I told them whee I was it would be really really bad - they'd be extremely pissed off with me for being so irresponsible.
I don't really want to go into specifics around the exact role I have - so let's just say I'm on call and help deliver babies. So it's a job with a massive amount of responsibility and I'm usually on call 24/7 with every other weekend off call.

There are colleagues I can call on if I'm stuck (ie I'm sick / too unwell mentally to work), so it's not like my clients would be left with no one.
EJ - I've been following your story and it is horrifying to read how you are being treated by the mental health community. Or, maybe more specifically, that particular agency.

I hear your pain, the trust issues, the abandonment, the alone-ness, the neediness. I've felt that all too and have felt it was unsurvivable.

I'd like to suggest that you look at one of your options in another light.[quote]But if the professional agencies got it so wrong, how could I begin to trust a less formal, peer support agency??? [/b]This may be where you find the greatest support. Because they are all IN the struggle too. They have a personal interest, a personal need to be filled, that has brought them to the support group. Sometimes they are givers; sometimes they are takers. We all are.

I know from AA, that I've always needed to give a group six tries before I write them off. The first one, everyone is too new; the surroundings and format are unfamiliar. By the second one, you kind of know the lay of the land. At the third, you're kind of getting it. Hopefully, by the fourth you've tried to talk with some of the folks.

Everyone might not be like you, but they are all on their journey.

-RT
I also wanted to say (before I had to quick get off the computer) that I try to stay away from agencies. I always look for a T in private practice. At an agency, they are just employees. Sure, some are good, but they call in sick and change jobs and just don't seem to be as invested as someone who has her own practice.

I know it's not an option for everybody, but it's just something I've observed, both from being "in the field" and as a consumer.

-RT
My T is in private practice. The support agency was meant to provide me with support to enable me to cope with working and ongoing really hard therapy (as well as the PTSD and eating disorder).

I'm afraid of any agency now I've been leg down to this extent. My poor T spent all her spare hours today inbetween clients telephoning referrals etc for me to have some weekend support. If it goes ok with this agency it might be I can change to them.

I'm not keen on peer support because I need someone / people to rely on who I don't worry about overburdening them. And being high functioning, I need 'normal' high functioning people to support me (if that makes sense).

My psychologist also phoned the agency and spoke to both my caseworkers. Both apologised profusely. Yeah, bet they managed to convince my T how sorry they were - thing is, I heard it all before and if someone is GENUINELY sorry, doesn't that usually mean a change in behavouur.

This whole experience has really and very deeply hurt me - wounded me. As I said to my T - I feel broken.

I don't know if I can ever feel ok about it. I don't know if I can move on from it. It's really set me back big time ;(

I guess tonight, I feel spaced out, numb - but the extreme overwhelm has passed - I'd felt so overwhelmed I really was not safe inside myself. So I suppose it's ok that has changed, even if I feel like shit still.

Still trying to process all that happened today. I had a lot of interaction with my T that is very outside the norm and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
I'm trying to remind myself that my repos e to all of this is much more about my childhood abandonment than it is about the agency failing me repeatedly.

I really CANNOT face them though. I do have an app with the new caseworker on Tuesday and I will wait to see how I feel closer to then, but right now there is absolutely NO WAY I can see or talk too have ANYTHING to do with any if them there.

I woke up feeling sort of ok but now I feel like I'm spinning out of control again. I've just taken some PRN meds (despite the scary side effects).

I just have a burning desire to ESCAPE. I can't even out it into words what I do feel. I just feel like I'm being sucked back in time and straight back into childhood and I'm so scared I'm running as fact as I can in the other direction but it's still happening.

Frowner
Last edited by eva
FUCK!!!! my caseworker turned up to my house - she hadn't received ANY of my txts including the one CANCELLING today's app with her. Fuck!!!!

I 'did the right thing' - my wise mind I guess knew it was probably better to 'face my fear' and talk and explain what's going on and why - I invited her in and talked.

I'll admit - part of that was because I am scared of hurting other people's feelings AND want to pleas other people Frowner.

I couldn't tell her I don't want to see her again. I was able to (eventually) explain what happened with my previous caseworker (who conveniently had just told her new one I was unhappy cos she got sick and couldn't make an app - yeah fucking right!!! Miss out the whole story why don't you - and make it seem she was the victim cos it's not her fault she got sick ).

The caseworker seemed understanding. She applied - AND MEANT IT - as to forgetting to phone me and cancel our app. She seemed to UNDERSTAND how all of this triggered my trauma and She didn't turn it around by being highly defensive - she understood I wasn't saying it's all her fault and that I do acknowledge while I was triggered by the events on their part, I KNOW my intense response is much more to do with my past trauma than the current events.

In the end I said I need time and space. That I cannot cope with making an appointment and facing the huge anxiety of will she turn up or not - I was honest and said that I feel it's escalated to the point where if she had to cancel AND SHE DID tell me in advance, I might still respond to it like it was a trauma Frowner.

So - left it as I will contact her when I'm ready - she said if it's a couple of months she may need to discharge me; I said it will be before then.

Now I don't know what to do - I've asked my T to refer me to another agency - but now I've talked to this caseworker I feel I will probably struggle with trusting ANY new caseworker, regardless of if they belonged to another agency or not. I'm really afraid of starting with someone new.

But I'm just as afraid of staying with the current caseworker - facing her and feeling triggered by the abandonment trigger - since it was 'her' that triggered the most intense response I. The past week.

But I worry if I have another support worker from a different agency, maybe they won't GET IT - whereas this worker seemed to 'get' why I had a trauma response to what happened.

Please help me know what to do Frowner
Hi ElizaJ -

One of the things that happens with PTSD is that in order to protect from panic, flashbacks, or distressing feelings, people go into avoidance mode. Avoidance can sometimes protect us, but not always by any means - not only do the feelings often come anyway, it has costs that can be as high or higher than the feelings themselves. We miss out on stuff, including on the experience of emotional efficacy - that we can have our true feelings, survive them, cope and be well.

You are faced with a situation where every option feels scary because every option really does carry some emotional risk. That's also the truth of all human connection. But you faced that risk today and it worked out okay. You survived your shock that she turned up, your anger at what had happened, your fear that she would hurt you again and you were okay. You communicated really really well and she responded with understanding and empathy, by the sound of it. Seems like she's fallible but willing and able to listen and hear. That's worth something. Maybe you will have strong feelings if you continue with her - but maybe, with a little support, they will turn out to be survivable too.
Thank you for yr reply Jones.

I do understand what you mean - and I did have that in the very back of my mind when she knocked on the door (I could have pretended not to be home - it briefly crossed my mind).

The thing is - I'm already working very hard on this with my T - and so I'm looking for a supportive relationship where I can just be supported - and not have to work so hard with all the emotional attachment stuff.

The major downside of continuing on with the current caseworker is that it could take weeks (or longer) to work through the huge breach in trust - and I'm really wanting the back up support NOW.

The last few weeks when my 1st caseworker was faking to turn up and not call me when promised, I had no back up support. The reason why I had a caseworker is to support me inbetween therapy sessions as I'm not able to call my T to talk to her when I'm really struggling.

So when it fell apart with my caseworker(s), not only did I have the huge upset from therapy and the hard work I'm doing with my T, I ALSO had huge emotional upheaval from the caseworker - end result being I had no one.

That's my concern. The whole reason for the caseworker / support person was so I'd have someone to talk to / see inbetween T sessions.

So I guess the difficult choice is - start with someone new - that would mean starting over BUT it wouldn't have the baggage to sort through; staying with the current agency, it will be a lot of emotional work for me to get to the place of trust that I'd likely more quickly have with. New person

I definitely do ow what you mean - I 'could' see it as an opportunity to work through the trauma it triggered - but I'm wondering if it's best to just focus in that work with my T, not make it too hard for me right now.

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