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PART 2: I would rather die then leave, but I can't cope staying

331 replies

Forevertrappedhere · 03/05/2026 11:06

Original thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feeling_depressed/5208090-i-would-rather-die-then-leave-but-i-cant-cope-staying

Lots happened. My Dad went into heart failure. My ex was being hell on earth and being with him it was easier to soothe him and stop the effects. So in October 2025 I went back. And now my life is over. I have lost hair from it being pulled out. The gaslighting is so so so so bad I cant see up from down. I have recordings now and still cant accept hes cruel or evil.

I know he is. He stands over me mocking me once he breaks me. He mocks the blood on the carpet. As I write this I am suffering a head injury and on the phone to 111. It happened a few days ago and today I woke up to 'racoon eyes' which google said needed A and E. As I am on hold he is mocking me, telling me how i will explain I got the injury for being a thick bitch. (without going into too much detail I was refusing a sex act, he held me down and something in my head went click and i passed out, was fine since bar a headache and now the eyes). He has refused to help with the kids and has instead given them TV since 6am (I cant sit up without puking) and one of them is ND and too much TV makes them VERY dysregualted. They are now dysregulated and he is screaming at them/whats wring with you comments etc.

I know I could go to the police or SS. But heres the thing. I cant' My head? Its gone, worse than before. I just feel guilty. Since the injury he has gaslit, lied, mocked me a hundred times. He has had fake conversations. He has fake hallucinated. He pretended to leave the kids unattended earlier so that I was forced to literally bum shuffle down the stairs to check on them and then he laughed his head off at me as i wretched and then gasped in pain at the wretching. I crawled back up the stairs and he mocked my giant arse (i am in PJ shorts). I cant explain the extremis of the mental abuse. I know he has drugged me recently and admitted it and said it is becyase I was nagging. I was asking him to confirm he was still collecting child from school and he wouldnt. So many things this week alone.

The thing is, I just feel guilty for not being able to appease him. I feel guilty for refusing the sex act which he then hurt me for. Becuase he was suspended from his new job today after 6 weeks there (for harassment, bullying and misconduct). Which is ironic. But i feel like i should have been understanding. On the flip side I feel insane. But its like an addiction. I even feel relief when he finally hits me after storming arounf the house slamming doors as i know hell be ok after.

I cant face family again. My kids deserve better. And I cant give it to them. I cant escape etiehr. I read and read, podcast after podcast, journal after journal. I cant escape him. He is in my head every second.

then he smiles at me and strokes my head and suddenly its ok, i can survive.

I CANT ESCAPE MY OWN HEAD. I CAN ESCAPE HIM BUT MY HEAD FOLLOWS AND I CANT STOP IT ANYMORE. ONCE IM AWAY THE FLASHBACKS ARE WORSE. I CANT COPE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THE HELPLINES ARE SHIT AND THE NHS JUST DO TALKING THERAPY AND IM DONE IM DONE IM DONE IMD ONE IM SO DONE

I READ COMMENTS FROM THE OLD THREAD AND IVE LET THEM ALL DOWN TOO AND I DONT WANT TO BE A STATISTIC BUT I CANT DO IT AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SAVE HIM BECAUSE HE DOESNT MEAN IT BUT HE DOES MEAN IT BECAUSE HES EVEN NASTY TO WORK NOW BUT IN MY HEAD THE SECOND HE STOPS ITS OK AND WORTH IT, ITS WORHT IT JUST DOR IT TO STOP

I would rather die then leave, but I can't cope staying | Mumsnet

I could write here forever. Endlessly. My husband and I have be together for 10 years. He is massively horrifically, unbearably abusive. He is al...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feeling_depressed/5208090-i-would-rather-die-then-leave-but-i-cant-cope-staying

OP posts:
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Forevertrappedhere · 03/05/2026 11:26

I wish I was dead. Truly. To my core. In the darkest moments I have even thought it would be better if me and the kids were just gone as I cant save them.

I wish I could explain it. The second I leave i feel insane. Like I made it up. Hes the victim. I caused it somehow. Me leaving is abusing him. He will send one text saying sorry and he didnt mean it and I believe it. I KNOW its not true but i BELIEVE it.

The worst is when he pulls the I have ADHD card. Not a single conversation is ever linear or cleat and he says its ADHD and why everyone has left him as he is disowned, no friends and now work suspension. But hell say, you know i dont mean it, its adhd, please teach me I am sorry. And I believe it as strongly as I believe the earth is round. It isnt a choice or a battle. In my head, its FACT.

Thats the issue. I am broken

OP posts:
AmberSpy · 03/05/2026 11:24

Please OP, dig deep and find the strength to call 999 now. It can get so, so much better than this. In a year's time life could be so different for you. But you must get help now.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 03/05/2026 11:23

You matter. Find a way of saving yourself my lovely. Please. Sending the most massive hug.
Stay with us.

treeposer2 · 03/05/2026 11:21

He sounds very dangerous. Psychotic in fact. Please go to a&e and get them to help you.
The guilt is of course utterly unfounded. Does he feel guilty for the pain and suffering he is causing you? But you are obviously so far gone in the cycle of abuse that you are not thinking clearly.
Please summon the strength to get away for your kids if not for yourself. If he kills you they will be stuck with him and probably will become his next victims.

Silvercoconut · 03/05/2026 11:21

You must call the police, now. You'll die if not.
You cannot leave your children, they need you.call 999 xxx

whatsagoodusername · 03/05/2026 11:16

Please don't let him kill you. Your children need you.

Please let the police help you. Go to A&E and let them help you.