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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:
SenoritaViva · 26/02/2019 19:13

You need to leave him. You’re not pathetic for missing him or feeling heartbreak at the end but there is a better life out there for you.

Drum2018 · 26/02/2019 19:18

Encourage him to go on his solo holiday - to give him some space to work out what he'd like to do, while you wait for him at home - or so he thinks.

Then when he's safely on a plane put things in motion for you to leave or to kick him out (depending on your living arrangements). You need to let him go to give yourself time to get legal advice if you own your home, have any joint assets etc. By the time he gets back you can be gone if that's what you choose. It does sound like he's having a MH episode but you really need to put yourself and your safety first now.

Nearlythere1 · 26/02/2019 19:18

OP, leave. This is never going to get better, and you're still so young. Life will begin anew and you'll find someone who deserves you and you can be truly happy with, even if it doesnt feel like it. Honestly before all this about the holiday, the rot has already set in after two affairs.

Snog · 26/02/2019 19:21

How can you ever have a happy life with this man OP?

Breaking up can be tough but you need to go through it to come out the other side.

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 26/02/2019 19:27

Op if it’s too hard to think about leaving for your own sake, consider the famous message;
If you love someone, set them free.

You will be helping his both mental health and his future be free of this marriage. It’s the kindest thing you can do as a loving wife.

(And you’ll be freed up to find a decent bloke instead of this twat).

liitlepenguin · 26/02/2019 19:29

Oh op this is so awful but he doesn't want to be with you. He is pushing you to see if he can get you to jump first

Spend his time alone getting your stuff together so you can leave

ohfourfoxache · 26/02/2019 19:35

You are giving him an extraordinary amount of power. And all he does is treat you like shit.

I really really really really really think you need to kick this fucker out. All he’s doing is bringing you down.

tomatostottie · 26/02/2019 19:48

How long does he want to go away for?
Sounds like an absolute dick. Send him off on his holiday and use the time to pack his stuff and organize what happens next - ie. a divorce.
Him wanting to travel is ideal - gives you plenty of time to get sorted.

This man is an absolute fuckwit and he needs to be gone permanently.

For the love of God and all that is holy, please do not have a child with him.

Others have said the same as I think, he doesn't really want to be in the marriage but can't/won't take the final steps to end it.

LifeImplosionImminent · 26/02/2019 19:57

Close mumsnet, put the phone or laptop down, go do something that relaxes you, baths, cuppa and a movie anything for a few hours...then with fresh eyes, read your post. You will answer your own unspoken question... Flowers

SassitudeandSparkle · 26/02/2019 20:00

It's entirely up to you OP, you could stop this cycle tonight.

Witchtower · 26/02/2019 20:05

I would never be able to forgive an affair but I can understand why some do. Unfortunately if they can do it a second time. Then it will inevitably happen again. Like a pp said would you rather end it whilst your young or ruin the next 10-20 years of his life. He may love you but he doesn’t want to be with you. A relationship should be about compromise and understanding. He is selfish and that does not work well in a relationship. Sorry you’ve had to go through this.

Blackbear10 · 26/02/2019 20:05

You are worth so much more than this OP!

Why are you allowing this to continue? There is a much better life waiting for you once you get rid of this dead weight holding you down (the dead weight is your loser of a husband obviously!)

You may even find your mental health improves as soon as you start learning to value yourself.

IncrediblySadToo · 26/02/2019 20:06

Has he been assessed for MH issues? He sounds a lot like a friend of mine with Bi Polar.

Whether he has MH issues or not, it’s your right to leave, but given how much you love him and that he seems in a really bad way, if it were me I’d want to get that looked into first. The right meds can make a huge difference.

Witchtower · 26/02/2019 20:07

*your life not his!!!!! Sorry.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 26/02/2019 20:09

Hi OP

Your marriage is him acting like a dick and you trying to make it all better. But however hard you try I don't think he will change his behaviour, because....well because he's a dick

The worst thing is trying to put the blame on you. Most people want to go on holiday with their partner. Most people would not be happy with their previously cheating partner disappearing off alone while saying they wished they'd never got married. Controlling behaviour does not mean being upset with what most people would be upset with. Controlling behaviour is trying to change or be in charge of someone else's everyday life decisions such as what to wear. He is taking massive decisions alone that are normally made as a couple and then blaming you for not being happy about it

He is already affecting your mental health. Please don't have kids with him

You miss him because he has made your confidence so low that you can't imagine being happy without him. It's human nature to be comfortable with the current situation and scared of change. But you will be happier without someone who treats you so horribly. Please listen to others who have been in the same situation as you

I'd let him go and tell him not to come back

CarolSpatula · 26/02/2019 20:10

Do you think he could be type 2 bipolar? The cheating / wanting to travel alone / feeling trapped / getting excited about things / feeling controlled and getting angry remind me of hypomania

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 26/02/2019 20:29

Do you really think he'll ever change OP? It must be so difficult to live with someone who is saying they want to split up in one breath then pressuring you for a child in another. I have heard a lot of people having a baby to try and fix their marriage. It has never worked

Travis1 · 26/02/2019 20:31

Oh love! You’re not pathetic, you just wanted your marriage to work. Honestly, you can’t soend the next 40 years with this man. He’ll wear you down and there will be more affairs. Get out now and enjoy your life!

Guineapiglet345 · 26/02/2019 21:06

He doesn’t want to be married to you but more importantly why would you want to be married to him?

He’s not the only one who gets to decide if your marriage continues, do yourself a favour and leave him, find someone who does want to be with you and wants the same things you do.

I’d find it very very odd if my husband wanted to go travelling, or anywhere really, without me unless it was for work or a stag do or something, but if he told me he wanted to travel alone as far away from me as he could get then I’d take the hint!

Kaleela · 26/02/2019 21:46

The only way you will disconnect from this cycle is to not engage with his manipulation and plan your exit. He will never change. Do you want a life time of this nonsense? Probably won't even last that long, he will walk away from you the second he finds something in life more to his liking. He is a text book manipulator, he is pushing you to end things to make himself look like the injured party, the wronged in every ones eyes. You shouldn't have to put up with that crap. Move on before he drags you into this baby nonsense and you're tied to him for 18+ years and it's harder to get out the next time he does this. This is the only time I will ever say to someone one to buck up and BAIL

pallisers · 26/02/2019 21:53

This is no way to live. 2 affairs, blowing hot and cold, telling you the truth (he doesn't want to be married) and then backtracking.

Tell him it is over. Go through the grieving stage (it may be shorter than you think) and start working on being happy yourself without relying on him. You are wasting your time here. Waste no more.

In the words of Mary Oliver "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

On the other hand, if you want to have a life of misery, insecurity and anxiety, then go right ahead and get pregnant. I suspect he'll scarper if you do though.

Bw3344 · 26/02/2019 21:55

@blimeycalmdown was it the break by Marian Keyes by any chance?

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 26/02/2019 21:55

You are not over reacting, but you both are trapped in a relationship that does not make either of you happy.

It seems to me that he is acting all that caótico that because he wants to end the relationship but doesn’t have the guts to do it. Which is natural, nobody wants to be the executor of their own marriage.

If you end it, you will miss him, not because he is great (he seems actually a nightmare), you will miss him because you are used to have him around and the life you have even if you are not having a great time. You would miss him even if it was the worst partner in the world. It is part and parcel of ending a long term relationship, it is not necessarily love but the natural shock of change.

feliciabirthgiver · 26/02/2019 21:59

Maybe this is a good opportunity to really see if you miss 'him' or miss being in a relationship - have you read The Break by Marian Keyes (it's the first thing I thought of when I read your OP) - download it now if not.

feliciabirthgiver · 26/02/2019 22:02

Ah cross post with @Bw3344

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