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AIBU?

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Partner maybe having mental break down ?

113 replies

strugglingtbh · 17/08/2026 23:58

I don’t know what to do.
my partner is 49, he works full time Monday - Friday
he leaves for work at 6.30am and is home around 3.30pm
i have older children from previous relationship & we have a 2 year old together. I’m stay at home mum. Will be going back to work next year. we’re ok for money. Not rich but fine.

I keep the house nice, look after all children, school runs, days out I do all the cooking the food shopping. All the mum / house wife duties. He always comes home to his dinner ready, clean home, the kids are all good & very chill. I’m moving towards him he’s not neglected at all.

weekends we do family things, his mum visits, go out for dinner, we put things up round the house just normal family weekends. Date nights are little because we have a young family.

for a few months he’s moaned about everything. He’s called me some awful things. Loser, fat, crap mum, I need to better my life, called me horrible things in the bedroom.
he doesn’t sleep, he’s up & down all night long pacing the house. Tonight I went to him and he was looking out the window crying? I cuddled him, spoke to him, asked questions, he quickly snapped and stormed off and told me to make it into something it’s not?? All I did was care.
he says he gets no time to himself & there’s always something that needs doing like mowing the grass!???

I said that’s a normal homely job this is not normal that’s when he flipped.
if he hears a slight noise outside or neighbours he’s up and flips. He shouted out the window to neighbours the other night to shut the F up. I’m embarrassed.
if our 18 month old wakes up he’s annoyed. Everything annoys him. I’m so low. This is only a few things mentioned. I’m his emotional punch bag.
he’s started smoking weed which I don’t think is helping. But if I mention that he flips. He use to smoke it years ago. Gave up for ages now back on it.
he tells me I don’t love him or fancy him???? He has no reason behind this I can promise you. He refuses to see a GP.
he often texts me abuse when he’s at work & it ruins my day. I’m riddled with anxiety because of him.
ive told him nobody’s stopping you going out & doing as you please. I’ve even told him if family life is too much for you go live your life ill raise I’ll son. I’ve given him every option.
he’s really not mentally all there. Road rage, snappy, low.
he said he feels like he’s drowning.
what do I do :(

OP posts:
Evaka · 18/08/2026 00:54

This is horrible. You poor thing. He sounds depressed and also like a real dickhead. Both things can be true.

Blodyneighbour · 18/08/2026 00:51

Is this new behaviour? And I know I may get slated for saying this but my EXH acted like this when he was having an affair. I too thought he was hhaving a mental breakdown. Has his routine changed with work hours etc?
My EXH would be awake all hours, drinking more, calling me and his kids awful names then crying that he is overwhelmed with everything. That was guilt.

Sensiblesal · 18/08/2026 00:40

time to give him an ultimatum, see a GP or he leaves. (Or you leave and go somewhere safe)

It sounds like he is using the drugs to try and eacape himself. But he is being abusive towards you, it sounds like prior to all this he wasn’t abusive towards you so maybe he can work on whatever is causing this.

but you may need to be prepared to step away, if he won’t be helped, do not stay & be abused like that. Leave and raise your little boy in a happy home

DallazMajor · 18/08/2026 00:17

If you can’t have a rational conversation with him I’d tell him to leave.

Do not allow another person to make you feel like this. It’s abuse.

BibbityBoppityTwo · 18/08/2026 00:11

You really only have two options here: you leave or you give him an ultimatum and tell him that he either sees a GP or the relationship ends.

If he’s not sleeping and smoking weed he is a ticking timebomb and this situation will not resolve itself.

PussInBin20 · 18/08/2026 00:08

I’d tell him to leave. If he won’t seek help then what’s the alternative? Keep taking the abuse? It sounds like he hates you. I mean he texts you abuse!

Sounds like he wants out but is a coward to say so.

CormorantIsland · 18/08/2026 00:08

taking drugs will affect his mental health and behaviour.
time to see a Gp for his addiction,

BibbityBoppityTwo · 18/08/2026 00:05

Has he always been like this? Abusive and calling you names?

strugglingtbh · 18/08/2026 00:05

I agree he’s not coping with being a dad but I don’t put any dad pressure on him? Our little boy is good. I feel he resents being a dad

OP posts:
Newname29 · 18/08/2026 00:04

This sounds horrendous and he is emotionally abusing you. Sounds like hes not coping with parenthood and life. Would he go to couples counselling?

strugglingtbh · 18/08/2026 00:03

He doesn’t smoke it round them or in front of them. They don’t know

OP posts:
StressedOutPeanut · 18/08/2026 00:03

Sounds like he's a deadbeat dad and regretting having children.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 18/08/2026 00:00

Oh my god I’d leave
I wouldn’t want a pothead round my kids especially given his current behaviour. What on earth makes you think this is acceptable and what do your older kids think to this?