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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:
GertrudeCB · 31/03/2019 07:04

Ok- do you have support IRL ?
Make sure you keep eating and drinking - be kind to yourself.

TowelNumber42 · 31/03/2019 07:10

You'll be happier. Really you will.

Ceebs85 · 31/03/2019 07:23

Please don't let him use his depression as an excuse to treat you like absolute shit as he has been doing. His illness might affect his mood but it does not excuse him from poor, poor behaviour and total I consideration of your needs or your feelings (I'm a MH practitioner)

I think he wants his cake and to eat it too. That, or he wants to fuck up things so much that you leave him because then he doesnt have to be the one that pulled the plug as he's not got the guts.

You deserve someone who tends to your needs and considers your feelings. Like a PP has said, best to do this now than when you're older and completely worn down by it.

My guess is that this is a classic 'the grass isn't always greener' scenario and that actually once he's single he'll be desperate for you back.

Ceebs85 · 31/03/2019 07:29

Bollocks. I didn't see there was 8 pages!

Sculpin · 31/03/2019 07:35

I know it hurts so much OP. But honestly, this marriage is not going to work in the long term, mainly because your husband is not a kind man. Let him go.

Ceebs85 · 31/03/2019 07:38

Given your update:
I know its scary, I know you'll be hurting. You've given him years of your life though and he's totally disrespected that again and again by messing with your emotions in a classic abusive matter.

Use your time being single to do the things you want and really work on your self esteem, you'll hopefully see that he was no good for you, your anxiety might even lessen.

I genuinely think that in time, you will see that by leaving he's doing you a favour. Do you have support IRL? Happy for you to message me if not.

groovergirl · 31/03/2019 07:40

Hi OP. I'm late to this, and am sorry you are feeling so low.

But seriously, you have had a lucky escape. Take it from someone old enough (and wise enough) to be your mother: Early 30s is a prime age to start a fantastic new chapter. You can, if you choose, take your pick of the men -- anyone from a horny 18yo to a wealthy widower can be be putty in your experienced hands. You can move cities or countries, change careers, reconnect with people from your past or make a brilliant new batch of friends.
Give yourself permission to feel awful for a while, then get those divorce proceedings happening.

Honestly, Ting, he sounds dire. Yes, he has problems, but they are for him to sort out, not you. You are not bound to be his rescuer.

daisychain01 · 31/03/2019 07:45

You'll look back in the future and realise he's done you a massive favour.

At least you don't have to push him out the door because he can't make up his mind. This way he's doing the heavy lifting, now just accept the relationship is over rather than it limping along year after year.

Now you have a future, to really start living, rather than have him holding you back.

daisychain01 · 31/03/2019 07:46

I must, must read The Break Smile

Notastepparentbut · 31/03/2019 07:51

You will be fine. It will be fine. It doesn’t feel like it now, but something better is out there for you. Your marriage was not a loving marriage it was toxic and once you’re 3 months free I promise you won’t believe the change in yourself.

Good luck x

daisychain01 · 31/03/2019 07:58

You can, if you choose, take your pick of the men -- anyone from a horny 18yo to a wealthy widower can be be putty in your experienced hands

Really? So the OP is just coming out of a dead end relationship and this is what she should aspire to, getting another man. Come on, let's stop peddling this life-limiting nonsense on MN.

I'd sooner point her towards this thread, at least it gives her views that having a relationship really isn't the be all and end all of a woman's existence -
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3547176-To-think-love-is-a-load-of-bollox-for-most-women?trending=1

TatianaLarina · 31/03/2019 08:06

It’s a blessing that he’s finally pulling the plug.

Why are you clinging onto this dead relationship? Neither of you are happy, you don’t trust him, he constantly wants out and thinks up ways to end it but you just keep ‘forgiving’ him.

ukgift2016 · 31/03/2019 08:12

You are only in your early 30s. Least this has happened now. Really you should have left after he cheated the second time, his foot was already out the door.

SunshineCake · 31/03/2019 08:25

It is Normal to be scared but don't let that feeling last beyond lunchtime.

Is he leaving for his holiday or leaving as in splitting up ?

He has treated you appallingly and having depression is not a reason to cheat. He cheats as he's an immature dickhead and the best thing you can do is file for divorce first thing tomorrow.

JFTR did you deny him a baby or were you so shocked at his ridiculous demands you were speechless and didn't immediately get your kit off? Also, did you want kids but go along with him not wanting them?

TimeIhadaNameChange · 31/03/2019 08:34

He accuses you if being controlling so do it, take control and leave. If you don't you'll spend your life worried about when he'll next cheat on you. I can guarantee your MH will improve when you do.

WhoWants2Know · 31/03/2019 08:34

My ex did something similar a few years into marriage. He decided he wanted to go off travelling for six months, leaving me to cover all the bills.

I pointed out that he was effectively abandoning his marriage and that he needn't expect me to be celibate and happily waiting for him when he decided to come back.

He didn't go

poppet131 · 31/03/2019 08:38

Have you tried marriage counselling together? Would he be happy to try that?

youknowmedontyou · 31/03/2019 08:41

I'm very sorry but your marriage is over Thanks

Ju5tAgirlstandinginfrontofaboy · 31/03/2019 08:51

Op what has happened to trigger this?

Elizabeth2019 · 31/03/2019 08:59

Morning OP,

I’m assuming he’s finally said it’s over from your update?

In practical terms you need to start pulling together the financial advice and legal advice, not having kids is a mixed blessing as it should make this side of a divorce easier. Lots of good advice in the divorce area, so please try to get the practical side of it sorted asap.

Emotionally, you can self refer in lots of areas for counselling support and a quick goggle in your area should throw up how to do this. Put your own interests first and don’t engage with his changing his mind all the time, you are definitely worth more!

You’re still young in reality and (at risk of coming across patronising) you will find you bounce back quicker than at an older age. It’s going to be lonely at times, you will miss him and the comfy nature of a long term relationship but it didn’t sound good from an outside perspective.

Sending best wishes to you!

EdWinchester · 31/03/2019 09:09

Good job he’s leaving, your marriage is dead in the water.

Now you can move on.

Allfednonedead · 31/03/2019 09:13

Hi, OP, I’m sorry it’s all being so awful.
This is going to be tough but you will get through it. When I was 31, my then DP suddenly declared he’d met someone else and was leaving me.

And that was it. He was gone.

But 14 years later, I have such a rich, full life - I can’t imagine I would have got here without that break.

I gave myself a full year to get over him (a month for each year of the relationship), believing that you need that much time to grow out of love and remember yourself.

In that time, I didn’t put pressure on myself to be happy or to find a permanent home. I focused on finding myself and thinking back to work out what had gone wrong - in particular where I had gone wrong and how I could do better next time (short answer: don’t stay in an unhappy relationship).

I have thanks for my friends who were wonderful, and found new friends.

I remember thinking I would never eat again, but eventually I discovered that I loved food.

I explored various career change options, but didn’t take any major decisions.

It won’t always feel this terrible, but it’s ok for it to feel impossible right now. Just get through each day, and the next day will be a tiny bit easier.

Consider whether your ‘D’H was contributing to your anxiety. That’s probably much better with him gone. I felt like the worst had happened, so it didn’t matter what else happened, I knew I’d get through it. It felt very liberating.

Tell people what happened. Find a counsellor and tell them over and over. You need to find the version of the story that feels like your truth, that you can live with.

Your whole life has been pulled down around you, but after a while, you will discover the most valuable things have survived the disaster. You can rebuild a better life, with those things at its centre.

ethelfleda · 31/03/2019 09:14

I’m sorry OP... your DH does not want to be with you anymore. In a loving marriage, the husband would want to share these things with their wife... not want to escape from them!

Sparkletastic · 31/03/2019 09:30

Help him pack and start putting yourself first. Don't ever let him come back.

Lonecatwithkitten · 31/03/2019 09:45

It is scary. However, you are stronger than you think. You need to take time regroup find yourself, learn to love yourself.
I have been where you are this morning, today just get up and work through the day and tomorrow do the same.

At some time in the not too distant future start to think about the things you didn't do because you were in the marriage. In my case my Ex hated me crafting and disliked the idea of me joining a choir. I got out my bag of unfinished craft projects and finished them and then 9 months later I joined a choir.
I know it seems daunting today, but get on and get a divorce, split the assets and break free from him.
You will feel better and you will be happier. You will be happier for you, if in the future you think you would like a relationship it will be possible,