Parent of an estranged Adult daughter

[magiore]

I need to connect with other parents who are going through what I am going through.

I will be brief for now, but will discuss further once I connect with others who are going through the same crisis as mine.

It's been six weeks now our daughter left the family, she eloped and we don't know where she is. she left us suddenly, our lives changed practically overnight.

We cannot believe that she could such a thing, the guy and his family have brainwashed her and stolen her from us. I heard that she is already engaged to this guy and the family will marry her off as soon as possible. We cannot believe that she could do such a thing behind our back.

I need help, I have no one around me who is approaching me to help.

If there is anyone out there who is in a similar case to mine please reach out to me so we can come close to discuss our precious loss together.

Thank you

[Hayfa]

Hello Magiore

I am really so sorry to hear what is happening with you at the moment, you have pulled through and done so well this far.
James offers some very important and relevant advice when he says these things are not always permanent. You do need to be surrounded by family and friends at the moment so that you can process all that has happened and what should come next for you in terms of positive life and wellbeing.
Has your daughter actually said she doesn't want a relationship with you? Has something happened between you both since her wedding?
Perhaps she is moving on with her life and her perception of engagement with you may not be constant as you might be expecting.
Magiore, your situation from the very beginning with your daughter's decision to marry and the fallout over that is a normal occurrence unfortunately in many culturally diverse communities. Is it an option to now have another conversation with your husband and son about what has happened? Does your husband and son really want nothing to do with you over your decision?

I know what I am about to say next will be viewed differently from anyone reading who does not understand the ways of some culturally diverse communities, but it could be an option to try to find a way to mend your relationship with your husband and son. Is the abuse you faced something that happened as a result of your daughter's situation or has it always been present? If it has always been present then you may not want to rethink mending the relationship with your husband and son.
Have a think about what you want, are you better off alone, with your parents or your own family? What type of conversation do you think you can have with either about you moving forward with your life. You need to now start looking at proper strategies for moving forward instead of dwelling on who said and did what. Did your husband and son know that your daughter will always remain disengaged and was so from the beginning, if so would it really be so bad if you admitted that they were right and now you want to be back with them and start mending the relationship?

Let your daughter do what she needs to do, you did what you needed to do as her mother and now there is a son and husband that need you as much as you may need them. Is there a community elder that can bridge this gap and help you fix?
What you need and want to see lies with you making decisions and taking stands on it, start exploring these options now.

Hayfa

[magiore]

Please help me..my situation is worse...its gonna be nearly one year soon my estranged daughter left her family....im going through hell...

I lost her...i lost my marriage...my husband and son have sided together against me...they show no sensitivity towards me...

I am separated...all alone

My daughter doesn't contact me at all...i tried many times to contact her but she is not the same....she has been stolen by her 'new' family abd brainwashed

Please help me....

Im in hell.....

[james1]

Hello magiore,

I'm so sad to hear you feel like you are in hell. It sounds awful for you right now to feel like you have no family around you.

I hope this is not too hard, but may I ask if you feel like it is possible at all to take some steps to live independently away from your immediate family for a while? It is very difficult, but from what you have said, there is a very significant rift in the family at the moment and sometimes people need space and time apart to learn to accept each other again when their emotions are running too hot.

Do you feel like this is something you could manage to do temporarily? It may help to bridge the gap in the family in the long run, while also giving you something to focus on in the short term.

James

[magiore]

Hello James

Thank you for noticing me and your message.

I have been separated from my family now for 2 years...

Its not helping...im the only forgiving person in all of this....

My daughter is stubborn...

My separated husband and my son (who are together) are both stubborn also...

I am left alone....nobody cares about me...

Im going through continual psychological and emotional hell...

I refuse to seek counselling...i tried it...it doesnt work for me...

I dont know what will happen to me....i just live day by day...with no one by my side...

[james1]

Hello magiore,

Two years is such a long time. I hope the holiday period was not too tough on you, but it sounds like you've been having a really rough time.

Sometimes counselling doesn't work for people, but that is often due to a mismatch between the counsellor and ourselves. Often, when we look elsewhere for another counsellor, we are able to find someone who does understand us.

For the time being, I hope you can accept my support here. It may not be much, but I'd like to keep talking to you if that is okay. Would you mind telling me what happened with the previous counsellor which was unhelpful and, if you know, what you would have liked to have happened instead?

James

[MischaB]

Sorry to hear about your difficult situation Margoire.

Would it be possible to call your daughter and see if she wants to meet up in a coffee shop with you? You could try to keep the conversation lighthearted (and not discuss past grievances). It may be that your relationship won't be the same as in the past but it would still be good to maintain some connection if you can.

I hope things work out for you.

[magiore]

Its not possible to see or contact my daughter...its a lost case...she doesn't want to return to me...im her mother...

Im suffering everyday...its so sad and i dont know what to do...

I want my daughter vavk...they stole her and she allowed that to happen...

I have no one in my life anymore....

[magiore]

I dont want to see a counsellor...

I want real people in my life that have a future and relationship with me...

I want my daughter back...she belongs to me...

I have no one in my life....

[Sophie_M]

Hi magiore,

We're sorry this situation hasn't resolved any further for you since your last post.  Estrangement from family members is a distressing and unique experience - you might find it helpful to read through some other threads here on the forum to see how others have coped in similar situations.

Some of these threads have not been active for quite some time, but the discussions themselves may still be valuable:

Estranged from my daughter

Estranged from daughter

Estranged mum

You may also find some more recent threads in our Relationships and family issues section.

Take care.

[magiore]

Please help me...

It will be my daughter 1st year anniversary and i haven't been in contact with her since her wedding last year... she's gone...out of my life...its unbearable...

Please help me....please