Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH is being selfish - please tell me if I'm BU

275 replies

FlyingTingTing · 26/02/2019 17:05

I'm so miserable right now.
Background info so as not to drip feed:

Been married to DH for 12 years (we're both early 30s.)
He's always been quite inconsistent, e.g. one minute he wants to do something, gets all excited and passionate about it, then the next minute he changes his mind.
We've mostly been happy. He suffers from depression and anxiety and goes through periods of deep, dark depression where he tends to act a bit selfishly , doesn't want to do anything or see anyone, can be quite horrible, says hurtful things like he wished he'd never got married, thinks he'd be happier being single etc Sad

He's cheated on me twice. Once was 10 years ago, the last occasion was 2 years ago. The last time was the worst. The affair lasted 6 weeks and he lied to me constantly during this time. I only found out by accident. My mental health was quite bad (I suffer with anxiety myself) and this almost killed me. I had to be put on strong meds and was under the care of a mental health team.
He was surprised when I said I wanted to forgive him and was somewhat taken aback I think . I made it clear that i wanted to forgive him and make it work but the road back from infidelity is a difficult one ,and I expected him to do certain things (delete her number, never contact her again) which he did.
He swore he would get help, swore he loved me to bits, swore it was a terrible terrible mistake, swore it would never happen again because he couldn't bear to do that to me again. He swore to do whatever it took, for as long as it took.

Fast forward 2 years to now..He's recently been through another selfish, depressive phase (I've tried my best to be really supportive. ) I've tried to ignore his mean comments.

The last few weeks have been hell. He wants to travel alone. Says it's always been something he wants to do, ALONE. Abroad, without me.

I'm not comfortable with it at all. I think it's because of the previous way he's behaved, but if I'm honest then I probably haven't ever been comfortable with it, even before he cheated. I feel like I would miss him too much, and my anxiety would be too much while he's gone, not knowing where he is or who he's with.
Now he has two affairs under his belt, the trust between us is understandably damaged a lot, and this is a huge factor now too.

I am starting to trust him again (or I was.)
I'm trying to leave the affair in the past and move on, but I can't pretend to be ok with something that would make me uncomfortable.

He's really angry with me for not agreeing to what he wants and is accusing me of being controlling and of keeping him "trapped. "
Last week I tried to compromise and said why didn't he book a few days away with his sister? He agreed. Then I asked why doesn't he go away travelling by himself to visit our friend who lives in Italy ? (This would make me feel more comfortable. )
He agreed and I thought we'd reached a compromise.

Today he comes in saying how unhappy he is with life, he shouldn't have got married at such a young age (22) and he's "just going to do it whether I like it or not."
Apparently I'm controlling him by dictating what he does with his life and who he sees. The compromise we reached isn't enough. He wants to go abroad ALONE and he's booking it right now.
He also made it clear he's not happy about my wishes regarding meeting up alone with female friends (This was because of his past infidelity).

I get sworn at every time I try to talk to him about the subject.

AIBU to not want my husband to travelling by himself?
Apparently "other wives let their husband do it" and I need "to let go and deal with my own anxiety issues. "

OP posts:
Ceebs85 · 01/04/2019 16:32

Hoping you're OK @FlyingTingTing

FlyingTingTing · 01/04/2019 16:47

Thank you .
I'm having a really bad day today. Everything reminds me of our honeymoon, marriage, the good times we had together.

He's moving out in 2 weeks . He's been crying a lot today.

When he cries my heart breaks, I guess I just hate to see someone I love cry.

I sound really pathetic I know.

OP posts:
NoShoeShops · 01/04/2019 16:50

No he doesn’t get to cry, he doesn’t deserve to cry. He’s treated you terribly. Don’t listen to his tears. Should have thought about the consequences of his behaviour shouldn’t he.

Floralhousecoat · 01/04/2019 17:30

Oh op. I've been following your thread. Your update is heartbreaking. He is crying because he is an attention seeker. Ignore him. He has wreaked this havoc. He doesn't get to cry. Don't offer him sympathy. He deserves none.

Please look after yourself. Sending you hugs and strength xx

Horsemenoftheaclopalypse · 02/04/2019 07:06

He doesn’t get to cry.
Don’t engage with this.

Keep him on the sofa or a spare room and keep yourself out of the house in the evenings. Go to the gym or a coffee shop after work,or to your parents/ friends at the weekend. Anything.
Stay well away from alcohol and do not have sex with him - awful man.

EleanorLavish · 02/04/2019 10:14

Would you consider some counselling with Relate,OP? Two good friends of mine found them really brilliant after their marriages ended. Helped to clear their minds and see things for what they were.

SunshineCake · 02/04/2019 11:46

While you do deserve someone better don't listen to him saying it. What he thinks relating to you is no longer relevant and he's only saying it so he can appear a good guy.

What a wanker. Ignore the tears ffs.

Ceebs85 · 02/04/2019 14:03

Sorry you're struggling OP. It will be hard but a year from now you'll be so glad this happened. Try to bear that in mind. Is there anything you've been wanting to do that you could do now? A pottery class, join a choir, take up crochet?? Try to fill your downtime positively and get out of the house when you can.

His tears don't mean anything, if anything they're probably deliberately manipulative and the way you're feeling is how he wants you to feel. Don't give him the satisfaction xx

ShinyPinkLipgloss · 02/04/2019 15:00

You might feel distraught right now BUT I promise you the day will come when you are thankful he left and you’ll wonder why you ever gave him any headspace.

If he does the hot/cold thing again simply IGNORE it. You deserve so much better than this. He is not worthy of any of your time/effort.

HolyForkingShirt · 02/04/2019 15:07

The not letting him travel thing signifies your relationship was dead anyway - you don't want him to go because you don't trust him. I'd say travelling alone is normal, me and DP have done it, but you have to trust each other. That level of attachment that you can't cope with not knowing where he is/who he's with is not healthy.

Sounds like he's tried (the cowardly way) to break up for years but you kept taking him back. Just end it, this will never be a healthy relationship. You're too attached to him and he obviously wants to move on.

HolyForkingShirt · 02/04/2019 15:09

Answering the original AIBU, yes it is unreasonable/controlling to not "let" your partner do pretty normal things, but given that he's cheated on you twice and has mentally checked out of the relationship and is not making you happy - the question should be why are you still with him! You will be a lot better off alone.

NitrousOxide · 02/04/2019 15:13

I agree with Floralhousecoat. He’s an abuser, and he’s treated you appallingly for such a long time. It’s so fucking unfair that shitty men like him find lovely people who love them, and so many lovely people don’t get the love they deserve.

He doesn’t deserve your sympathy, but I know it’s so hard when you love him despite everything. Please try and get him to leave now. It’ll be a wrench, but also I bet you’ll feel better not seeing him crying around the house manipulating you for sympathy.

One last thing. Abusers can have mental health problems too. Don’t let him blame this on his depression.

Flowers for you, love.

5foot5 · 02/04/2019 16:06

I sound really pathetic I know.

No you don't. You sound like someone who is having a really tough time still struggling to come to terms with the fact that the person you loved is not the man you thought / hoped he would be.

I think it would be better to at least pretend to have hardened your heart to him. Don't be manipulated by his tears and press for him to get out sooner rather than later. And don't be talked in to a compromise or trying again when he does his next about turn. It will hurt at first but it will be better eventually so don't get dragged back in to this mess once you have got rid.

At your age you are still young enough to rebuild your life and maybe one day have a family (if you want one) with someone who deserves you.

And I know you say you love him but to an objective outsider he does not sound like a very nice man at all.

Grumpelstilskin · 02/04/2019 16:13

So sorry you are in pain but after reading the initial thread a while back, I am bloody relieved. It will be better in the long term and you will emerge brighter and happier in the long run. I would however insist that he checks into a cheap hotel right now. If he goes, he needs to do so immediately. Not prolong it and fan all of the drama. If he had carried on with this bullshit with me, I might be looking at a new level patio but then my patience for head fuckery is very low!

Magicpaintbrush · 02/04/2019 16:22

Omg, omg, omg - you are going to look back in a few years from now and wonder what the fuck you were thinking putting up with this selfish prick for this long. Just give yourself time and wait for the relationship fog to clear and it will be a revelation I promise. You don't deserve to be dicked about by this manchild for another second. You are totally wasting your life with him. You need some space to rediscover yourself and shake off this toxic relationship. Happiness lies ahead for you and that is because he won't be around, he is an emotional vampire and clearly too stupid to realise he is/was lucky to have you.

AcrossthePond55 · 02/04/2019 16:40

He's only crying because this is disrupting his comfy life. He's crying for himself. If he has any 'regrets' it's because he's losing what you do for him, not you for your own lovely self.

His 'tears' do not deserve your sympathy.

Motoko · 02/04/2019 16:45

When he changes his mind, DO NOT TAKE HIM BACK!

Ignore his crying. It's designed to manipulate you. They are crocodile tears, acting.

Start living like the single person you are, no more shopping, cooking, doing laundry, etc, for him. Go out in the evenings. Have a look to see what things are happening locally that you can go to, visit friends, take some time off work and go and stay at your mum's. The less time spent with him until he leaves, the better, because until you feel stronger, you're vulnerable to his manipulations. His manipulations are as dangerous to you and your health, as if he was threatening you with a knife.

FlyingTingTing · 03/04/2019 14:43

Lovely Mumsnet ladies. I'm having a horrible day of crying and going over all the good times we've had, veering between intense grief and then anger.

One minute I'm up and then I'm back down in the pit again. Is this normal?? Will it be like this forever?

OP posts:
CharityConundrum · 03/04/2019 15:06

It will get better, and once it does, it will continue to do so without having someone who is supposed to love you dragging you back down again. It must be so hard, but in angst those happy memories are a LOT of painful ones where he's treated you like shit, so maybe focus on how nice it will be not to be walking on eggshells around his moods any more.

Ceebs85 · 03/04/2019 15:45

TOTALLY normal. Don't let these feelings trick you into thinking you need him or should be with him. It will get easier. You're grieving in a way for the relationship you wanted to have. He cannot give you what you deserve x

NewFoneWhoDis · 03/04/2019 16:25

You can't begin the process to start healing while he's still in your face. Until he moves out it will be up and down.

When he finally fucks off and you feel you can breathe and wallow and actually focus on you, you'll start the process to heal from this relationship. You'll come out stronger and wiser and move on to bigger and better things but it won't be overnight.

AcrossthePond55 · 03/04/2019 16:56

Absolutely normal. You aren't grieving the loss of the man, you're grieving for the loss of the dream of what your life with him would be. You're allowed to grieve for the loss of the dream.

And yes, it will get better. Because you will have other, better, newer dreams to dream.

Floralhousecoat · 03/04/2019 17:16

Oh op. My heart aches thinking of you. You're going through the absolute wringer. Yes it's totally normal to feel like this. Do you have anyone to talk to in real life? Could you get an appointment with a counsellor? In a similar situation I found a hypnotherapist really helpful. I know many people are sceptical of hypnotherapy. However, it got me through my lowest point.
Could you get away for a day or two so you're not having to face him when you're feeling at your most vulnerable? Family or friends who could have you over for a bit?

Thinking of you x

FlyingTingTing · 03/04/2019 17:53

Thank you. I keep asking him for an update as to when he'll be out of here.
First of all he told his mate that he would be moving in at the end of April. Then he changed his mind because he wanted to do a House share with his brother.
Now that's fallen through and hes got nowhere to go. Doesn't want to stay st his mum's place.

He just says "I'm going as fast as I can" whenever I ask him when he'll be going.

He's staying in the spare room and only comes out when he wants some food and to go to work.

I wish he'd just go.

OP posts:
Motoko · 03/04/2019 18:49

He's using delaying tactics. It's part of the abuse, to leave you confused and not knowing what's happening, whether he's going to go or not.

Go and stay at your mums.

Swipe left for the next trending thread