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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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DH has hidden some heavy stuff...AIBU to want to separate?

829 replies

mummymalta · 29/05/2016 22:53

3 weeks ago DH revealed some very personal things which I feel I should have known before we got married. To be honest, we are all entitled to secrets and personal experiences I suppose, but where do you draw the line?

DH and I have been together for 10 years and married for 7. He's my best friend, I feel like I knew and loved him so much. Affirming these things is very strange to me. We were solid.

A "friend" of DH from the country he used to live in came to a party of a mutual friend of ours. Lets call him Bob. I don't know Bob, DH has only mentioned him briefly and my friend knows him but not well. He came with my friends brother who he is sort of close to. DH didn't want to come to the party (long day) and didn't know Bob would be there. I kissed the kids and ran out the house desperate for freedom on a friday night went to the party.

Get to the party and was enjoying child free time when my friends brother came over to say hi with Bob. "Bob you haven't met DH's wife have you? it's been about 12 years right? "
Bob: "Holy shit - you know I barely remember those days"
He then made a slick comment about him and DH being on coke half the time. I really cant remember what he said verbatim but I sort of nervously laughed (was shocked and he was drunk) and excused myself.

Naturally went home and curiously prodded DH the next morning in bed who waffled about trying it a couple of times and said Bob was a royal prick with a big bouth. I was uneasy that he didn't tell me but nothing divorce worthy. I ask why he didn't tell me and prodded as you do (smelled a rat, wife spidey sense) and then he told me:

He had a coke habit when he went to live abroad in his early twenties right before I met him. He said it was just a bit of fun and just when it started getting a bit out of control he met a girl who he really loved. They had a real relationship and spent a year getting high. Only god knows how he kept his job, but of course drug addiction doesn't necessarily have a face. Anyway she had previously had a heroin addiction and they started doing heavier stuff. He freaked out and ended it. She stopped picking up her mobile and he went to check on her she's dead in flat. Huge drama with her family/ police / drug debt I wont get into it but its fucking insane. He comes home tells no one traumatised. We meet about a year and a half later.

I didnt sense one thing - he spoke of his couple of years abroad quite normally but rarely looking back. I thought nothing of it why would I?

I'm still in shock, not just from the incident, but of the fact that he didn't tell me. I was so shocked that I just said he needs to give me time to digest it. We haven't spoken about it since because I've just shut down. I don't know what's wrong with me - I feel nothing. It's like he's a stranger now. We had a very happy and passionate marriage. Such a great banter affection. Even the kids sense something is off. He keeps trying to talk about it but i don't even hear a word he's saying. I just keep on thinking who are you?

AIBU to want to separate for a bit? I have had no time to digest this?! He said lets send the kids to their nans for half term and deal with this so off they go tomorrow.

OP posts:
MarshaBrady · 30/05/2016 15:09

Wannabe No

MarshaBrady · 30/05/2016 15:10

As I posted after I had only read the op. Hmm

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:10

aginghippy It's my fault as well I'm hardly a walking ball of sunshine. But I just can't even look at him really. Who is he?

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 30/05/2016 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarshaBrady · 30/05/2016 15:12

I know Private, everyone fancies wading through 460 posts to find the update

user1464519881 · 30/05/2016 15:13

Have you done a google search of all relevant local press articles around the time this happened which I suggested above? I haven't had time to read all the posts since I last posted.

clam · 30/05/2016 15:13

OK, so what are his views/values/morals like in the years you have known him? I'm assuming there's been nothing that has set alarm bells ringing (until now) but has he shown any ambivalence re: violence? Road rage? Empathy with those suffering? Does he give to charity? Is he selfless? Kind to people? Patient?
Disclaimer: that's not an exhaustive list, before people jump on me. I'm just wondering if you've been living with the "real" man, and his New York years were as a result of the drugs.
I'd be interested to know how, if he was in that deep, he got himself clean.

clam · 30/05/2016 15:16

I know Private, everyone fancies wading through 460 posts to find the update

So, utilise the facility whereby you can highlight the OP's posts (and your own) in colour. Very useful.

ClashCityRocker · 30/05/2016 15:16

I don't see what was unbelievable about the thread anyway - substance abuse does lead to very chaotic situations. I'd find it far more unbelievable if ops husband had said 'yeah I did loads of coke but that's about it'.

Drug addiction goes hand in hand with sexual exploitation, violence and death.

Anyway op, it sounds like he has told you things he could have gotten away with not telling you - that's a positive thing. I would still suggest you take some time out on your own to process this.

Fwiw I do believe people change - I know I did. It's if you can reconcile the things he has done with the man he is today, I think part of that will be talking through what happened with him, maybe with the help of a counsellor.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 30/05/2016 15:17

Is it though? Some lovely people messaged me their personal journeys on drugs and they aren't far off my DH TBH
you said he showed no emotion! you are the one not happy with his secrets, and his response! The lovely people messaging you have probably lots of regrets hence they shared their journey with you
Your H is not there yet

I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just saying you seem absolutely screwed to me!
I'm sure you ll find a solution but that's not in AIBU! Talk to a mate who knows your H well and maybe give you some good advice

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:19

AnotherTimeMaybe I want to separate for a couple of weeks

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:20

AnotherTimeMaybe im not telling a soul im scared even though he wasnt found guilty of anything i feel uncomfortable telling anyone in RL

OP posts:
AnotherTimeMaybe · 30/05/2016 15:20

OK, so what are his views/values/morals like in the years you have known him? I'm assuming there's been nothing that has set alarm bells ringing (until now) but has he shown any ambivalence re: violence? Road rage? Empathy with those suffering? Does he give to charity? Is he selfless? Kind to people? Patient?

That's exactly what I've been saying OP
It's extremely odd if he's as companionate and perfect as you make him out to be and you never seen anything odd on him.
He's either a psycho or you need to evaluate people better

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 30/05/2016 15:21

People messaged me their personal journeys on drugs and they aren't far off my DH

i am absolutely not passing the veracity of this thread, but this is a really, really unwise and the MNHQ mantra of Don't give too much of yourself is wise . Even if you consider it private, you have no control on that information or where it ends up.

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:22

Windsofwinter READ THE OP. i said she died and a bunch of drama insued. I also said Huge drama with her family/ police / drug debt I wont get into it but its fucking insane

^ note "fucking insane"^^

And when i was being told i was BU I said thanks and took it all on board actually. If you are going to troll hunt be a good solider and read the thread.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 15:25

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MudCity · 30/05/2016 15:26

Really feel for you. It's a shocking situation to find yourself in. There is no doubt that drug addiction changes personalities beyond measure and people do things on drugs that they would never do at another time. However, he could have told you all this when you first got to know each other...maybe not immediately but within the first year and certainly before you got engaged. That is the least I would expect. It's about integrity and transparency, both crucial to an honest relationship.

Take the time out you need. Go for relationship counselling by yourself so you can talk this through with someone. I wish you luck. Be strong.

MarshaBrady · 30/05/2016 15:26

No thanks. I'll leave you to the drama

mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:27

AnotherTimeMaybe really great guy seriously i've never found anything abnormally off about him. As I said before a little jealous but nothing out of the ordinary. Very protective of his kids but again nothing ridiculous. A little road rage but welcome to London. A fair amount of charity work and always on board to help out friends and family. Doesn't touch alcohol.

OP posts:
mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:29

Windsofwinter Damn. There go my working class roots tripping me up. So sorry for the misplaced word. What's a better word than drama? Wine

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 15:30

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NickiFury · 30/05/2016 15:31
Grin
mummymalta · 30/05/2016 15:31

Windsofwinter with some Cake on the side and Wine to wash it down. Enjoy.

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 30/05/2016 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.