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Relationships

Think I want to leave - am I being a bit hasty?

18 replies

FromDespairToWhere · 21/02/2011 12:30

I've had some great advice from mners on my previous two threads:

possible controlling behaviour
hurtful comments

I'm finding it very difficult to continue the relationship with DH. It has become clear during our talks and relate sessions that he is very insecure about our relationship and is convinced I am going to leave him for someone else. This seems to be what is driving his slightly controlling behaviour and desire to be with me at all times.

This behaviour has included:

Hurtful comments (see thread above) which he says he made because he is insecure and jealous of all my previous partners. He does not like the thought of anyone else having been with me.

Asking me to tell him exactly what time I will be home when I go out. After the thread on his possible controlling behaviour I have told him when I will be home but he still tries to get me to set an exact time (so if I say I'll be back by midnight, he'll want to know why I can't give a more exact time and try to push me into saying I will be home earlier).

Wanting to know where I am going when I am out. He likes to know exactly where I am going so that he knows I am safe when out. As my friends and I don't usually decide exactly where we're going until we're out this is quite difficult for me to do. I have told DH this and he thinks that we should decide where we are going in advance and stick to the plan when out. To not do this is me being unreasonable.

He has said that he doesn't want me to text my friends after 9pm as he sees this as our couple time. He doesn't like me texting my friends anyway as he feels a better way to talk would be to give them a quick call and have a 5 min chat instead. He has also said that he doesn't see what I find to talk about with my friends when I have been at work all day with them.

He doesn't like me going out in a group that includes my two single male friends. One of them has been my friend since before I met DH and there has never been even a hint of anything more than friendship between us. In fact, until recently, DH has always assumed my friend was gay. Less than a week after finding out he isn't, DH has been saying that my friend fancies me and he isn't comfortable with me being out with him. The other friend is someone I met through work after meeting DH and it has been a slow growing friendship. DH is very insecure about this one in particular and says he cannot see why a single man would want to be friends with a married woman. DH has said that he doesn't trust this friend near me as he thinks he will try it on with me (and I think it's implied that I wouldn't be able to resist if this happens so I think what he really means is that he doesn't trust me around this friend).

Telling me that I made the wrong decision in letting ExH be part of DS1s life. ExH has not been very consistent with DS1 and it has upset DS1 quite badly but things have been getting better over the past 12 months or so. Every time ExH does something that DH doesn't approve of or lets DS1 down then DH will say "well I don't want to say I told you so but...". He also doesn't like me still being in touch with ExH and I cannot text or phone him when DH is in the same room as it will set DH off on a rant about how useless ExH is and how he would like to beat the crap out of him.

We have been talking about these issues at relate and also at home but I have been finding it difficult as every time I try to tell DH how I feel he cuts me off and starts to defend and rationalise his behaviour. He has been telling me that he's going to change and try to control his insecurity and jealousy but I'm not sure I can continue like this until then.

DH seems to want to spend all his time with me and I think sees it as a rejection of him that I want to spend time with other people without him.

I still find myself cringing when he touches me and have a knot in my stomach if I do something I know he is going to have an issue with (which is surprisingly often). My feelings now are that I want out of this marriage as I can't see things will ever be right between us again.

Am I being too hasty or do I sound reasonable? I think I'm being reasonable but then I would, wouldn't I?

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EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 21/02/2011 12:34

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madonnawhore · 21/02/2011 12:36

It certainly doesn't sound like you're being hasty. It sounds like you've been very patient and accommodating of what are clearly his issues and insecurities and that you have made every reasonable effort to try to fix things. But if he's being defensive and trying to justify his unreasonable behaviour then he's not even trying to meet you half way. You can't do everything on your own and after what you've just described I don't think you should have to and I understand why you've had enough.

It sounds like you've reached the end of the road and you are perfectly entitled to end the this relationship if you don't want to be in it any more. I think it's fair enough that you want to go actually. Good luck with your decsion.

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Plumm · 21/02/2011 12:37

I haven't read your other threads, but from the info you've given here I'm not surprised you want out. I couldn't live with this level of control and mistrust.

How long have you been with him and how long has he been like this?

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FromDespairToWhere · 21/02/2011 13:05

Englebert - I still have feelings for him but I'm not sure that I'm in love with him anymore tbh. You're right about the couples therapy focussing on compromise. Dh has been busy talking about the compromises he will make and has been critical of me for not doing the same. I've been honest with him and said that I don't think the compromises he is talking about will leave either of us happy. I feel very much under pressure to change my behaviour and he has made me feel that I am being very unreasonable both in my behaviour and my views on things.

Plumm - we've been together for 5 years now and he's been like this pretty much the whole time. At first I thought it was sweet that he was so protective and it made me feel very secure. As time has gone on I've started to get annoyed by it and now I feel a bit suffocated.

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EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 21/02/2011 13:31

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

perfumedlife · 21/02/2011 13:35

Not hasty enough.

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realrabbit · 21/02/2011 13:37

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SpringchickenGoldBrass · 21/02/2011 13:40

Not nearly hasty enough, tell this dickhead to grow up or fuck off.
Honestly, there is no reason at all to put up with a man like this. I would have smothered him in his sleep by now.

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gettingeasier · 21/02/2011 13:42

ditto Perfumedlife but I know its not easy

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PeterAndreForPM · 21/02/2011 13:43

5 years is too long to be in a suffocating relationship like this

You are not being hasty

You know it, now let your actions do the talking

he won't listen to anything else, obviously

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perfumedlife · 21/02/2011 13:46

I didn't mean to be flippant op, I can see that you are in agonies over this, and totally understand. It's just that, five years, since the beginning, it is not going to get any better and you are on your third thread. Do you think he is agonising over how to stop being jealous and controlling? No, he is thinking up ever more creative ways of pinning you down and changing your behaviour, until he wears you down and you stop living your life, for a quiet one.

Five years in and dh and I were still talking with starry eyes to each other. This is not right.Sad

As for calling you a slapper Shock

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FromDespairToWhere · 21/02/2011 14:16

Thanks for all your comments and support. It's going to be so hard to end the marriage and I know that DH will do everything to try and get me to stay. Knowing that you think I'm being reasonable will help me to stay strong and not keep giving in to him.

I know that I should leave and I know that things aren't going to get any better but I feel like such a failure for walking away from marriage number 2 Sad

Think I need to get myself sorted and improve my self esteem considerably before I go near another man. Time to work on being happy with myself and becoming strong enough not to get into another doomed relationship.

perfumedlife - you made me Grin with your flippant comment so don't worry.

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MigratingCoconuts · 21/02/2011 16:03

Hi there..I do remember your controlling thread!

I have nothing further to say really except good luck. Smile

Seems to me that this is your relationship to decide when it has ended and no-one elses, so it is hard to advise.

I also think you probably know what you have decided already.

The issue also is that, no matter what you say or do, your H will be convince he was right all along. It certainly is a self forfilling prophecy.

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Anniegetyourgun · 21/02/2011 18:54

25 years with one of those here. In the end I started trying to have an affair just so I couldn't be unfairly accused of it. Messes with yer head, it does.

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SpringchickenGoldBrass · 21/02/2011 20:15

He's definitely not going to get any better, and I would like to strongly advise you to have your exit strategy all planned out before you tell him he's dumped. WHile you're planning it, be Good Little Wifey as much as you can stand to, because men who are insecure and jealous may become dangerous when they suspect you are actually planning to get rid of them.
If there is, or ever has been, any suggestion of physical violence then you may need to have a friend or relative present when you tell him he's dumped.

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perfumedlife · 21/02/2011 20:23

Don't feel a failure op, you are anything but. You are walking away from a deeply troubling individual, that shows strength.

Anyway, if I married all my ex'es I would have a lot more than two failed relationships behind me Blush

Agree you need a good plan, an exit strategy.

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FromDespairToWhere · 21/02/2011 20:54

No suggestion of physical violence thankfully SGB. I think you're right in saying I need an exit strategy though. He can get quite nasty when he's really upset (vocally, not physically) and previously threatened to take DSs away and make my life hell when things first came to a head last month. He was very petty and spiteful and showed a side of himself that I'd never seen before.

I'm typing this and realising that my decision to leave is definitely the right one Smile

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SpringchickenGoldBrass · 21/02/2011 22:27

It sure is FDTW. This man basically wants everything his own way and you to obey him, and tantrums if you don't. This sort of mindset doesn't change so it's time to dump and move on.

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