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AIBU?

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Family reported my husband to Adult Social Services

409 replies

LucyLoo1972 · 02/08/2024 05:02

Its a long story but eight years ago I suffered an absolutely devastating psychotic breakdown after I submitted my PhD. Before this time I had what a thought was an amazing and near perfect marriage. I love my husband very very much. Over the time I have been unwell things have been very difficult. We had never really had a row before my breakdown (at the time I thought this was good but now I see it was a sign of lack of honesty and communication). Since being unwell I have seen a lot of things that were putting a serious strain on me which have come out in therapy. My doctors have been fairly certain though that at root the extreme and total breakdown is rooted in childhood trauma. My father, mother and sister were all abusive especially my father.

I have spoken to my sister about some of the issues that are difficult in my marriage as my husband has not responded well to my illness. I am a totally changed person and having never said a word about anything before, after the breakdown it was like a volcano of rage and anger and frustration coming out for my husbands neglect of me and my needs.

I spoke to my sister about the difficulties which have included my husband's hoarding, verbal abuse (in response though to my anger which has been out of control at times of which I am not proud), him not transferring money into my account on time sometimes so I don't have access to money, him not wanting to eat in the same room as me or be with me, him not engaging with my therapy and my abusive family with whom we have had little interaction on a regular basis are frustrated that he refuses to answer phonically.

Yesterday Adult Social Services phones me to say my father and my sister had made a report of concern for my wellbeing and safety at home. This morning I had to go to a meeting and explain the concerns to them.

AIBU in feeling this is an overreach by the state? I was there for two hours explaining everything to them and my husband os devastated as for eight years he has tried to care for me when I have been seriously unwell and devastated and angry that my whole life has been taken from me and Im not really getting better. Im especially angry that the report came from my original abuser.my life is in utter and complete ruins.

OP posts:
Avidreader12 · 02/08/2024 06:00

You said your husband was verbally abusive to you to your sister, financially controlling, acting not as a family unit (eating separately) not supporting you in therapy. Surely adult social services are just checking you are safe in your home. It might feel like an overreaction but if social services didn’t act and something happened then they can lose their jobs. How did the meeting go what’s the outcome?

Avidreader12 · 02/08/2024 05:54

Your family reported concerns the state acted on them because they have a duty of care. Yes it might feel like an overreach but it sounds like it was done from a place of kindness. You

ElliesNextNameChange · 02/08/2024 05:51

This is confusing. It sounds like you feel your husband is abusive (no comment on whether he is or not, no way to tell from thes posts) but also object to safeguarding? What is that you want?

LucyLoo1972 · 02/08/2024 05:40

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 02/08/2024 05:23

in response though to my anger which has been out of control at times of which I am not proud
What's happened on these occasion?

Before this breakdown I was the most placid and gentle person. My husband and I had never ever had raised voices between us in 20 years of marriage. The breakdown took away so much form me, not just my joy of life but any connection with my past self. it took my career id worked so hard for, changed all my friendships and even took my faith in God because my religious delusions about being condemned to hell were so so severe.

there are times when I am so overcome I'm like a volcano of rage because this devastated the happiness we had and the dafe and successful happy life id managed to build despite severe child abuse and trauma from my father. Id be yelling and shouting at him for the things he did or didn't do to make my mental health suffer like the hoarding and me not having adequate space to work or keep my books and things despite asking repeatedly.

OP posts:
LucyLoo1972 · 02/08/2024 05:36

Oblomov24 · 02/08/2024 05:34

You told them and are then upset that they had concerns, which they reported. Not only are you your own worst enemy, but sure still you are not blaming others in an attempt to not be held accountable.

I agree I am my own worst enemy. I am so desperate and I know I've made things worse. I didn't understand the second sentence sorry.

OP posts:
LucyLoo1972 · 02/08/2024 05:34

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 02/08/2024 05:22

Have they told lies or what you've told them?
If you've told them he stops you having access to money=financial abuse
If you've told them he's verbally abusive?
What therapy isn't he engaging with?

They are not outright lies but the reality is more nuanced than how they have made it sound. I don't have income at the moment so he transfers money to my account. There have been occasions when he hasn't done this in a timely fashion (which was also a problem in our marriage not with finances but with doing anything when I asked him too). So I have borrowed like 30 quid off a friend until he paid it in.

a longer backstory though is that his extreme extreme frugality led to extreme stress on me in our marriage and my therapists things was a factor in my breakdown (long story nut can explain more0

He shouts and swears at me when Ive been angry and full of rage that he didn't take my cross for help seriously before the breakdown and heaped a lot of stress on.

my therapist has asked to talk with him and he refuses. He refuses any therapy for his issues which my doctor says are concerning mental health issues especially the hoarding ad stonewalling. He refuses couples counselling.

OP posts:
Oblomov24 · 02/08/2024 05:34

You told them and are then upset that they had concerns, which they reported. Not only are you your own worst enemy, but sure still you are not blaming others in an attempt to not be held accountable.

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 02/08/2024 05:23

in response though to my anger which has been out of control at times of which I am not proud
What's happened on these occasion?

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 02/08/2024 05:22

Have they told lies or what you've told them?
If you've told them he stops you having access to money=financial abuse
If you've told them he's verbally abusive?
What therapy isn't he engaging with?