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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is DH abusive or just a dick?

110 replies

westeringhome · 11/10/2021 13:44

We’ve been together lots of years now. I usually only post here when I have issue with him, to gain perspective, and to be fair it’s a long time since I’ve posted. When the kids were tiny I looked after them 24/7 while he worked and had important things to do every weekend. I always thought he liked the fact I had no life outside of home, although I always made it clear I had not intention of remaining a SAHM. At the time I remember feeling totally on my own and thinking he will get a big shock once the kids are up a bit and I start doing things for me once again. 2yo ago all the kids were all at nursery and school so I started Uni. He can’t understand why I need a job as he gets paid enough to cover outgoings. He started getting jealous, I was patient. He calls my career aspirations my “precious little job”, questions my priorities, accuses me of cheating, shouts at me then stonewalls me all the time, asks why I’m going on about it if I try to ask him why he loses his temper at me, moans about not getting enough sex (I feel so put off him by how he treats me), thinks I’m masturbating if I’m in the shower too long, gets jealous of tv programmes like love island, has a go if I haven’t texted him enough in the day, can’t text my sister without him wondering who I’m texting, drink drives, always storming out pissed and tries to hide his drinking but I can smell and see the effect clearly. I know he has had low self esteem for a long time and I have been reassuring but now I just think he is controlling and manipulative as nothing I say to reassure him makes any difference (well, he will apologise then just repeat behaviour), claims he is scared of losing me and has made veiled suggestions of suicide should that ever happen. Has anyone dealt with this and does it ever go away. He shat all over my suggestion of counselling as I know he has unresolved grief too, saying he was his own man. I have I’m not entirely sure whether I can tolerate any more micro managing or belittling. My sister knows what he says and does so I do have support, but I am changing my perfectly normal behaviour to accommodate his reactions, and trying to rationalise his treatment of me and I don’t think that’s healthy at all.

OP posts:
LaBellina · 11/10/2021 13:46

He’s both. He’s an abusive dick.
Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with someone who clearly has so little respect for you? You deserve so much better Flowers

fishonabicycle · 11/10/2021 13:47

He sounds horrible in every way. Sorry.

QforCucumber · 11/10/2021 13:48

It will never go away, you need to leave him.

It is not your fault.

EbbandTheWanderingHearts · 11/10/2021 13:49

Report him the next time he goes drink driving! He sounds vile.

NotDavidTennant · 11/10/2021 13:49

Abusive.

Sexnotgender · 11/10/2021 13:52

He’s beyond awful. Please make a plan to
leave, you deserve so much better.

Queenie6655 · 11/10/2021 13:52

Vile human

Get him out ASAP

NothingSafe · 11/10/2021 13:55

He's emotionally abusive, and apparently wishes he could be financially abusive too - hence his anger about your job. If you're depending on him financially, you can't go out and cheat on him with your new coworkers, in his paranoid mind.

He's awful. You know that, it's why you're posting here. If someone else told you their husband:

  • belittled their aspirations and attempts to improve their career
  • preferred them to be financially dependent
  • alternately was verbally abusive or stonewalled them when they disagreed to try and 'train' them not to do so
  • was paranoid about cheating, showing a complete lack of trust
  • wouldn't let her go a daytime without checking in with him
  • controlled who she spoke to, the TV she watched, etc
  • refused to acknowledge a problem or address it whatsoever
  • AND was a drink driver with a possible drink problem???

...what would you tell her to do? Would you think she was happy? Deserved better?

It's not about whether you can fix his self-esteem with soothing words or actions - if that's what's driving this, it still doesn't make his actions okay. You could stay at home, text him every 15 minutes with a photo of your location holding today's newspaper, and only watching approved TV shows, and it wouldn't be enough because it's coming from him, not your actions - as you rightly point out, your behaviour is perfectly normal. So it's him that's having the abnormal response, and he doesn't want to change because you've asked him to try counselling.

This level of control is concerning, and can escalate. What happens when you get a job and there's the Christmas do with your colleagues, some of whom are male? When you have to go away for work? When you have to stay late, or can't answer his calls? What kind of paranoia-fuelled escalation might he be capable of? Don't hang around to find out.

Get away (safely). Flowers

pinkyredrose · 11/10/2021 13:55

Very abusive I'm afraid. Definitely report the drink driving.

FrancescaContini · 11/10/2021 13:56

Very very abusive. Very. Can’t say it enough.

Brollywasntneededafterall · 11/10/2021 13:58

Abusive. I reported my exh for drink driving . Then filed for divorce..

WhoppingBigBackside · 11/10/2021 13:58

He's abusive

DrSbaitso · 11/10/2021 13:59

He's both. What's in this for you?

westeringhome · 11/10/2021 13:59

He resents that I’m on placement at the moment and was allocated 2 night shifts. He took the kids out for the day yesterday so I could sleep. I got up and had a smoke, a coffee and a shower then got the kids bedtime stuff looked out. They arrived home 1 hr after I woke up and he shouted at me saying oh you’re up swanning around, you should have texted as soon as you woke up to see how we were, you clearly don’t give a fuck. I thought that was unfair. I think you’re all right. It’s hard to recognise an abusive unhealthy relationship when you’re living it, especially when the person seems able to justify what they’re saying/doing

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 11/10/2021 14:00

100% abusive 100% dick. 100% leave.

So sorry this has been your life. Don't let it be your future. Flowers

Naunet · 11/10/2021 14:02

What do you get from being with him OP?

ElspethFlashman · 11/10/2021 14:03

So the kids are hearing all this.

arethereanyleftatall · 11/10/2021 14:03

Why haven't you divorced him?

DowntonCrabby · 11/10/2021 14:03

Yes 100% both as well as a criminal and a disgusting excuse for a human being OP, you know you deserve better than this Flowers

ChargingBuck · 11/10/2021 14:03

Hey OP, you are doing really well, staying so clear-sighted & determined under this barrage of abusive behaviour.

I'm so glad your sister is on Team You.

Has anyone dealt with this and does it ever go away.
Yes, & no.

He will continue to act out, control you, & then bring you back to heel with suicide threats.

DO NOT SUGGEST COUNSELLING AGAIN. It is 100% NOT recommended for couples where abuse is present. Anyway, you know how it would go, don't you? - it would be all about poor little him, while he DARVO's the Counsellor that everything is your fault.

There is only one way to make this problem go away, & that is to divorce it. Keep your focus on the DC & your studies & career, & keep your head down while you quietly do the "ducks on a row" thing.
Don't let him realise you are looking to leave until you are ready.
When you are ready - however long that takes - enlist your sister & any other family & friends to ensure the actual leaving / him moving out passes off as smoothly as possible.

You have every right to a career, & peaceful enjoyment of your home.Your DH doesn't agree, & needs ditching.
btw - he's abusive AND a dick. HTH! Flowers

SallyDoTheDishes · 11/10/2021 14:04

Yes, he is abusive and truly awful.

FlowerArranger · 11/10/2021 14:06

I am changing my perfectly normal behaviour to accommodate his reactions, and trying to rationalise his treatment of me and I don’t think that’s healthy at all

You've said and of course this is deeply unhealthy. This is no environment for your children to grow up in. Just imagine what they'd be learning if this is all they know about how partnerships (not) work...

Can you line up your ducks and leave him?

ChargingBuck · 11/10/2021 14:08

They arrived home 1 hr after I woke up and he shouted at me saying oh you’re up swanning around, you should have texted as soon as you woke up to see how we were, you clearly don’t give a fuck.

Yeah, you & your kids need to be not living with this asap.

What is the housing situation OP? - a house to sell, or a new rental deposit to save for? Do you have chums who could recommend a very good lawyer? You need to start breaking the practical steps into small chunks, & tackling them one by one. You'll find this helps your confidence & ability to cope too :)

loobylou10 · 11/10/2021 14:15

How can you possibly want to live like this? Genuine questions - what do you live about him?

Tilltheend99 · 11/10/2021 14:17

You can’t even take a long shower! Yes that is abuse. Sounds like he is an alcoholic too. Sorry you have to put up with all that. Hopefully plenty of people on this thread will have great advice about organisations to contact for support Flowers