Just gave notice after 1.5 years, my therapist called it severe emotional abuse and I still feel like the bad guy
Im leaving my live in caregiving job that I've worked at for over a year and a half in 3 weeks and I dont feel peace. The cause of this transition is due to a therapist telling me that im being severely emotionally and psychologically abused. I have a contract written by his daughter telling me what my duties are. I got into this work because the daughter is a family friend.
She keeps changing the narrative on what my duties are to whatever is convenient and to guilt me into feeling like a bad caregiver (I am not). I thought with her being the one to hire me and make the contract, she would be involved in supporting me as I take care of her dad. This started out as someone just needing to be there incase he had a fall or something. Meaning that besides morning and night, the middle of the day was mine. She even said I could pick up a part time job if I wanted. I just gave her my notice and am so sick of being abused by this family. I guess I am just screaming into the void here and wanting validation that im not crazy about this kind of treatment. Therapist said both she and her dad are coping narcissists.
So anyways, my husband and I called her a few days ago to give our notice. We have always been nice and polite with her. She took this as an opportunity to rip into us about how awful we've been. How she is upset that we arent using the front door (has a camera) and are using the garage instead. She is angry that im not spending more time with her dad or being as friendly as I should be. None of this had anything to do with my actual work which is all being done. She said that she and her family have noticed that im not happy and have been waiting for the "shoe to drop" and me to give my notice. Im angry because none of her concerns or anger towards me was addressed earlier and am livid that the whole family knew I was unhappy and did nothing to address it or help me to continue caring for their dad.
Anytime something has come up for me, i am offered no leniency or support. I always end up bending to make them happy. I feel like a used condom being used ultimately be thrown out when I stop conforming. The dad has never been without care despite my unhappiness in this job. I do not shurk my duties. Trying my best to condense this there is so much more to it than I can write here. I was confident that I don't deserve this. But her gaslighting me has made me feel like crap. I just feel like the world wasnt made for people like me. People who have empathy and would give anyone in need the shirt off my back. I feel punished for trying to use my good heart to help this man. I resent my compassion for others. I used to love people and now I hate them. I am not appreciated for all my hard work for him. Will my peace only come with distance and time? I feel like my efforts were so wasted here. Im sick of being screwed by this family. Does anyone have a similar situation? How did you rise above it? I feel so much like a big fat caregiving failure.