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Husband thinks he's depressed but I think it's anxiety...

29 replies

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 12:37

Whenever I organise an invite for friends/ family to visit us/ stay for the weekend he seems to go into this sort of very distant place, is snappy with me and quite unfriendly. He often has to go an "lie down" with no explanation leaving me to host.

We once had a new years eve party and half way through the day of getting the house ready, it was as though he was really working against me and while the party was actually happening he disappeared upstairs and had a "lie down" he is very technical and people were asking if they could change the music but I didn't know how to use the PA that DH had borrowed and it all just went a bit weird.

He was furious that I'd asked him to bathe DD (when I HAVE DONE IT EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE 3 YEARS!) because me and my dad were face timing my sister and us all chatting as a three is about a once a year thing.

His DD has an ASD diagnosis and is on anti-anxiety medication and my DH seems never to have identified that he is really anxious himself, he fully acknowledges depression though and has therapy fortnightly to help with this.

It annoys me because when his own parents visit, I make a real effort to be hospitable but this weekend with my dad visiting he kept telling my dad off for making to much noise (he wasn't) when our DD was in bed and was furious with me for "taking too long in the toilet" at a Christmas Bazar that we all attended because our DD was crying.

I don't invite his friends (who have became mutual friends) round anymore because DH has this sort of morose front he puts on (defence mechanism) and I hate inviting friends because he sometimes takes the piss out of me in front of them or uses me as the butt of his jokes an I find this really embarrassing.

When we are alone, he is really kind to me and smiley etc but it bothers me that he has this blind spot and my friends/ family must think that Im with a right grumpy bastard when really he is funny, kind, generous and loving.

I cried in an argument recently and told him that it really upsets me and he apologised and promised that he would not do it and that he does it because he is socially awkward.

I've got DD's birthday ahead and I know that Ill be left to either clean, shop, cook, invite, host and organised myself or delegate to him which means he hates me for the whole lead up.

I'm getting really sick of it and need to broach it.

In his favour, I did return from work on Friday to find that he had cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed the spare room, laid towels out for my dad and washed up all weekend but any kind of outing we had he was off with me and when me and my dad took my daughter out on our own, he stopped talking to me fro that point onwards.

When my dad left, he was all amorous and tried to have sex but was so hurt by how rude/ horrible he had been, I can't forgive him.

OP posts:
AtrociousCircumstance · 18/11/2019 12:39

He sounds really horrible. An awful partner to have to suffer.

Don’t know how you can tolerate it.

fedup21 · 18/11/2019 12:42

It sounds like you like hosting and entertaining and he really doesn’t!

Dealing with immediate next steps-

I've got DD's birthday ahead and I know that Ill be left to either clean, shop, cook, invite, host and organised myself or delegate to him which means he hates me for the whole lead up.

How old is DD? What have you actually got planned? I have 3 children and tend to buy their present and have organised parties/dos for them but there really isn’t ever a ‘lead up’, just a few bits to do.

This makes it sound like huge occasion?

sarahc336 · 18/11/2019 12:44

Has he been tested for autism or Asperger? He does seem a tad socially awkward and obviously prefers to not be involved in them? Doesn't seem like anxiety to me from what you've described, sounds more asd or some form of depression, I'm a cbt therapist but obviously can only guess from what you've put here Smile

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 18/11/2019 12:45

If he has social anxiety, or is indeed autistic himself, a house full of people will always be difficult for him to manage. My dd has ASD and can be grumpy as hell when forced to socialise for longer than she can tolerate.

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 12:49

People with ASD do have bad anxiety though so maybe this is the problem?
I must admit there are things which I find obvious about social nuances and he really needs it spelled out for him. Saying thank you for example.
He is quite capable of being friendly and enthused when his parents visit but when it's mine it's like pushing a sack of potatoes up a hill.

OP posts:
absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 12:51

@fedup21 DD will be 3 but there's quite a lot to sort out on the lead up for us.

OP posts:
Juicyfrooty · 18/11/2019 12:56

I get like this when I'm anxious, I hate hosting at home because I feel under more pressure when it's in my home ( my safe space I suppose) if im meeting outside of the house I can always leave if I feel uncomfortable.

dontgobaconmyheart · 18/11/2019 12:56

People who have depression very commonly do want to isolate themselves. I don't think it is for you to diagnose his mental health issues OP, only a psychiatrist or MH profession can do so. If you are resentful that he is treating his depression but not his 'anxiety' I think you're on a hiding to nowhere and that is potentially unfair (to an ectent). The two are not mutually exclusive and being anxious can be a way depression manifests.

Re: the relationship generally- it doesn't sound ideal. Being with someone who has depression is very hard and often thankless (I've been there!). As the person closest to him you will always bear the brunt. You have to weigh up whether you can live like this. You wanting more from him doesn't mean you'll get it, depression rarely just disappears. Obviously he isn't giving you what you want from a partner, is limiting your social life and happiness and causing you misery. Unless he wants in himself to seek further treatment diagnosis or medication (all of which may bring their own issues) then you need to stop and think about whether it works for you as it is- not focus on the fact it would all just be fine if he acknowledged his anxieties around socialising.

His depression isn't an excuse to be a aggressively rude regardless OP. I would be very wary of his depression affecting your MH - it is very common.

fedup21 · 18/11/2019 12:58

@fedup21 DD will be 3 but there's quite a lot to sort out on the lead up for us.

Like what?

It honestly sounds like your husband isn’t keen on entertaining or having people in the house but you keep planning big dos and inviting people to stay.

Whether he is depressed, anxious or has autism-he sounds unhappy about this.

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 12:58

@Juicyfrooty me too, to an extent but we can't let anxiety rule our lives!
DD won't appreciate never having a birthday party because her mum and dad can't just suck it up for half a day!
Our parents need to visit because they live very far away.

I should have married more of an extrovert!

OP posts:
fedup21 · 18/11/2019 13:00

DD won't appreciate never having a birthday party

But a three year old doesn’t have to have a party and it doesn’t have to be in your house if your DH finds it stressful.

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 13:00

@fedup21 like cleaning, tidying the house, sending out invites, arranging the entertainment, preparing the food, buying and wrapping the presents.

He invites his parents quite happily but no one else.

We have staying visitors perhaps four weekends a year so I certainly don't organise big dos!

OP posts:
absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 13:01

fedup21 but she wants a party! Im not saying no because daddy can't handle some jelly and ice cream and a few balloons!

OP posts:
Juicyfrooty · 18/11/2019 13:06

My kids are high school age and have never had a party at home. I dont think they feel like they've missed out, they just have them at different venues or have a day out with a friend.

I guess I'm lucky that me and DP are quite compatible in that he is happy to do his socialising out of the house and his family are not interested in him or our DC so I dont have to make an effort with them either.

The needing a lie down thing sounds very much like me when I have bad anxiety, it literally feels like all my energy is being sucked out of me, it sounds like an excuse but it really can make you feel very unwell physically as well as mentally

fedup21 · 18/11/2019 13:07

jelly and ice cream and a few balloons

This sounds quite far removed from this

cleaning, tidying the house, sending out invites, arranging the entertainment, preparing the food, buying and wrapping the presents.

What exactly does your husband say he finds difficult with these occasions?

cheeserolls · 18/11/2019 13:09

There's a compromise to be had on the party surely. She can have the party but perhaps agree another venue and clarify who is doing what in advance.

I have severe anxiety and depression. I hate social stuff and kids parties. I'd never hold a party at home.

I can however host and run them in another venue and that's a good compromise. ExH and I do split of roles and it works. I couldn't do it alone though. I really dislike it but I do it anyway but with a set of boundaries.

A 3 yr old doesn't need a big party anyway !
Compromise for your husbands sake. It's his home too.
You sound full on and opposite to him which is fine but be considerate. He might be miserable but saying the just suck it up thing won't help the situation AT ALL
That makes me cross just thinking about it.

suspended · 18/11/2019 13:17

I absolutely HATE people in my house. I have social anxiety. Sounds like you like hosting and doing activities and he doesn't. It's his house too so you should stop having parties and don't expect him to join at places like Christmas bazaars. (Which sounds like my idea of a panic attack wrapped in anxiety).

However, his social anxiety does not allow him to excuse himself from family life and responsibility. He should bathe his daughter. He should look after his parents.

You both need to start looking out for each other's needs.

suspended · 18/11/2019 13:19

Ps I've never had anyone stay in my house before and I've never had a kids party at home.

Sometimes people don't like that stuff.

Zaphodsotherhead · 18/11/2019 14:29

My ASD XH used to do this. Retire upstairs to 'lie down' like a Victorian consumptive when we had visitors, even when it was his family, because he genuinely didn't understand how rude it was. HE was tired, so HE went for a lie down, leaving everyone slightly puzzled and me carrying the entire party alone.

I learned to just shrug and get on with it. But he's an ex now.

MegaClutterSlut · 18/11/2019 14:46

You sound really understanding..... You really have no idea what its like clearly. It's slightly more then him not being able to handle ice cream and jelly.

It is common with depression to have anxiety too. As for him being rude yanbu

Juicyfrooty · 18/11/2019 14:53

Retire upstairs to 'lie down' like a Victorian consumptive when we had visitors, even when it was his family, because he genuinely didn't understand how rude it was. HE was tired, so HE went for a lie down,

I think it's best hes an ex, you really sound like you didnt like him very much at all.

When I'm anxious and 'have to go for a lie down' it's usually because I'm on the brink of a panic attack, sweaty palms, light headed, tight chest, lump in throat, tearful. It makes me feel so physically unwell.

You are cruelly dismissive, especially considering his asd diagnosis

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 15:08

@Juicyfrooty I just think that if you have a phobia you need to just do the thing you’re scared of again and again until you learn some coping mechanisms. The alternative is becoming a recluse and your partner bearing the brunt of your neuroses.

OP posts:
fedup21 · 18/11/2019 15:22

you need to just do the thing you’re scared of again and again

That is very much your opinion of how he should cope, though.

I’d say he found social situations very difficult so I’d keep them to a minimum, especially at home. I wouldn’t be having a large birthday party for a three year old (which appears to need to take up a considerable amount of your time) in the house.

absopugginglutely · 18/11/2019 15:28

Thanks everyone, I was cross with him before but now I’m starting to see that maybe I need to accept he (therefore we) will never be able to host friends/ family happily.

Maybe I just need to forget it.

Part of me feels sad because when I was growing up, my dad always had lots of friends round and we always had friends round after school etc.
I hate to think that DD’s life will be hindered by her dad’s fears because my mum had SO many fears and phobias we had to walk on egg shells around her with these inane smiles on our faces to reassure her that we were happy with everything so as not to upset her.

I just dread that I may have married my mother. Sad

OP posts:
Juicyfrooty · 18/11/2019 15:28

It doesnt work like that though, I wish it was just that simple. Sometimes just pushing yourself continually into uncomfortable situations actually makes you very unwell.