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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Some advice please - think it may be abuse

23 replies

OrangeSquirrel1279 · 07/01/2020 15:15

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place as I'm new here, so apologies.
Backstory... Live with (technically) ex, in 2 bed rented - it's just us, hours away from family. Always had issues with arguments over stupid little things. About 2 years ago it started getting worse. I couldn't ever leave because I can't afford to. We both have stuff going on with our families and work etc, so are both stressed and worried.

There are many, many reasons why I should've left him years ago that I won't go into. The main concern is what's been going on recently.

The other day at 3am he was snoring, I could hear it through the wall between our rooms and it was keeping me awake. He has previously told me to wake him up when this happens (not often). I quietly called him and knocked on his door, tried a little louder but still nothing. As carefully as possible I opened his door, which hit on something he had right behind the door. Not sure which of these woke him, but he sat up clearly startled. I apologised and said he was snoring, he said okay sorry. In the morning he was in such a rage with me because he apparently couldn't get back to sleep and how it was all my fault etc. He was so angry. I apologised but he wouldn't listen. After he went to work I texted to explain all this, to apologise again and say that I understand he was annoyed and tired but it wasn't my fault he didn't go back to sleep.

Often arguments result in me having a panic attack, which he usually either ignores or calls me stupid or childish for. If he doesn't like what I'm saying he walks off, tells me I'm wrong or twists the conversation round to blame me for something. Even if it's my opinion.

I'm so careful how I word things. To say that 'it feels like you are having a go at me' and that 'we are both to blame for the argument' but still he keeps saying that I only ever blame him and that I'm always having a go at him.

The past week I've not at all been myself as it's all really got to me. I haven't dared talk to him about it, just been telling him that I'm not well. He has seemed a bit concerned, but this morning it was mentioned and he wasn't in the best mood. It felt like he was demanding me to tell him what's going on, so I told him that I've been too scared to talk to him because he will just get angry if I'm honest about it. Again he seemed concerned so I started telling him what it feels like is happening, but that I'm aware he may not realise he is being that harsh to me. Huge mistake. He twisted it round on me. How I have mental issues but refuse to get help. It felt like he was saying I was making it all up and my 'mental issues' were twisting everything that happens. Kept saying that he's done nothing wrong. Refused to listen when I offered to explain what it feels like has been happening. Then he shut himself in his room and ignored me.

There's so much more that's been going on. He is so quick to criticise me, interrupt what I'm saying to tell me I'm wrong or accuse me of blaming him. Flat out won't listen to my side of what's going on, or my feeling and opinions. The tone of voice he uses make me feel like I'm stupid and honestly is at times scary. I'm made to feel like everything is my fault, yet apparently I blame him for everything. I am well aware that I'm part of the arguments, that I do things wrong, and contribute to all of it. So often I tell him that we are both at fault, and I admit what I've done, but still he usually says that he didn't do anything or will admit that ignoring my panic attack wasn't fair.

Sorry this is so long. I just don't know what to do. I can't afford to live alone, can't stay with family. I want to talk to him about it when he's calm but I don't think he'll ever let me. As soon as I say the tiniest thing negative about him, even 'it feels like you're having a go at me' results in it blowing up.

Just need some advice really Confused

OP posts:
Cherry4weans · 07/01/2020 15:30

Go to citizens advice, woman's aid and get help to form a plan. This is so much worse than being homeless I promise you. They will point you in the right direction re. Presenting to local council as homeless etc. I had an arrangement like this with an ex for a while. It did NOT end well. Please get help to leave.

redsquirrl · 07/01/2020 15:36

Here's the details for Women's Aid. Please contact them as they can give you very practical advice and help if you need it

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.womensaid.org.uk/about-us/contact/" target="_blank">https://www.womensaid.org.uk/about-us/contact/
0808 2000 247

OrangeSquirrel1279 · 07/01/2020 15:40

I will contact them. The problem I have is I cannot afford to live anywhere else. I'm a full time student so letting agents/landlords are very unlikely to let go me. I can't go to student accommodation because I have all my own furniture that I really don't want to get rid of, and student accommodation here is all furnished.

OP posts:
Cherry4weans · 07/01/2020 16:36

I don't know your area but my council offered a deposit guarantee for people in your situation, scatter flats and other provisions. Im in Scotland so it will vary but one thing to note is how difficult it will be for you to formulate a plan on your own.. You will be absolutely exhausted mentally from all the micro management it is taking just to live in your home. I promise you that these organisations will help you find a way - your life doesn't need to be this difficult. I know this seems 'yet another thing' to add to the mental load, but if you get through this you will be so glad you put in the last bit of effort. This is absolutely not your fault, no one deserves to live in this crap situation.

lifecouldbeadream · 07/01/2020 16:45

Rent a room? Anything sounds better than this.

pooopypants · 07/01/2020 16:50

It's abuse

And anything sounds better than living with this piece of filth. Please contact someone who will be able to advise you better but don't hold furniture above the cost of your health and mental health.

Shoxfordian · 07/01/2020 16:56

Sell your furniture and move into student accommodations if you can

OrangeSquirrel1279 · 07/01/2020 17:29

Thank you everyone. I have emailed women's aid, just need to wait for a response. The next week he has work, doing long hours so I can spend that time focussing on other things I have going on.

OP posts:
ohwheniknow · 07/01/2020 17:32

You can't reason with an abuser or help him see the error of his ways - his behaviour is deliberately chosen.

Www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

Some advice please - think it may be abuse
TheMustressMhor · 07/01/2020 17:34

Honestly OrangeSquirrel I would completely disregard the furniture aspect of this, and move without it.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I left an abusive man (many years ago) and wish I had found the strength to leave him sooner.

I hope WA call you back/email soon. Flowers

Thingsdogetbetter · 07/01/2020 17:44

Self storage is your friend if you are determined to keep furniture. Can be as little as £30 a month.

But to be honest once you store for long enough you lose the attachment to the stuff and wonder why you were so determined to keep it! I stored lots for 3 years. Went through it after and ended up keeping only 2 small boxes of really sentimental stuff. Everything was replacable - practically and emotionally.

If I had to choose sanity and no abuse over furniture, I'd choose the former. Don't allow stuff to create a (another) barrier to change!!

Motoko · 07/01/2020 18:01

Yes, this is abuse, and he's gaslighting you to make you confused so you don't know what's right or wrong. Telling you you're mental is a classic abuse tactic.

You need to get out, even if it means dumping your furniture.

Have a read of this book Why Does He Do That?. It will explain what's going on.

You need to understand that there is NOTHING you can do to change his behaviour, and NONE of this is your fault.

independentfriend · 07/01/2020 18:04

Your Students' Union might also be able to help [think re approaching the uni/college for extensions to deadlines, maybe accommodation, some of the complexities of Universal Credit/legacy benefits and student finance (if relevant)]

As well as furnished halls, there are often houses usually rented out to students by private landlords - some of these might be unfurnished, or sufficiently sparsley furnished that you can take your own furniture.

june2007 · 07/01/2020 18:05

Sounds like you were trying to get a reaction from him. And waking up a house mate for snoring is never going to go well, that can wait to morning. Many snorers feal self conscious as it is. Also he walked away from the conflict rather then arque isn,t that the right thing to do?

OrangeSquirrel1279 · 07/01/2020 18:28

I've looked into storage and the cheapest I've found is around £15 per week. Definitely not something I can afford.

I will need to talk to uni. Not easy at the moment as it's still in limbo from Christmas etc and between semesters. The next few weeks should be easier to speak to the right people.

OP posts:
OrangeSquirrel1279 · 07/01/2020 18:36

@june2007 perhaps I wasn't very clear. I have spoken to him before about the snoring. It does not happen very often, but he has told me to wake him as it's not fair if it's keeping me awake. When I hear him I ignore it for as long as possible, as sometimes he stops.

Also he does not simply walk away from conflict. He says rude, mean, unfair things to/about me, such as how I'm making it up or how it's all my fault and that he hasn't done anything, and then closes his door and ignores me. I also don't even know how to describe the tone of voice he uses when saying these things.

OP posts:
june2007 · 07/01/2020 18:56

Maybe it was the way you wrote it, but it souded goading. But you obviously need to move from this situation

Motoko · 07/01/2020 20:53

"The other day at 3am he was snoring, I could hear it through the wall between our rooms and it was keeping me awake. He has previously told me to wake him up when this happens (not often). I quietly called him and knocked on his door, tried a little louder but still nothing. As carefully as possible I opened his door, which hit on something he had right behind the door. Not sure which of these woke him, but he sat up clearly startled. I apologised and said he was snoring, he said okay sorry.*

From the OP. Nothing there sounds like OP was being goading.

june2007 · 08/01/2020 01:04

Motoka it was a different paragraph I was referring to, but it doesn,t matter. Whats relevant is she is uncomfortable in the situation and therefore needs to change it.

Newname1978 · 08/01/2020 02:46

OP was in a different room. She shouldn't have woken him else snoring in his own room.
You do need to get out OP. You can afford something else if you want to.

TheMustressMhor · 08/01/2020 08:53

OP, please don't let the furniture issue impact on your decision.

I put stuff into storage once, then lost my job and couldn't afford to pay the fees.

Eventually the storage company disposed of it.

I never missed a single thing that had been in it. It was just stuff.

Your mental health, on the other hand, should be preserved.

I hope you manage to leave soon. You'll feel so much calmer and happier when you do.

Dontunderestimateme · 08/01/2020 09:06

You can't change him. To put it bluntly your choices are either put up with it or leave. Leaving will be difficult and undoubtedly leave you worse of materially, but is it really worth continuing to put up with his behaviour, so you can keep some furniture?

TheMustressMhor · 08/01/2020 12:13

Have WA got back to you OP?

Hope you're okay.

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