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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH being cold/withdrawn

18 replies

Sapphiresparkle · 27/12/2021 05:30

I am so confused and upset.

DH and I have had many ups and downs in our relationship over the years. For context, my husband has had depression for years (he is currently taking antidepressants and sees a counsellor), and I am awaiting an ADHD/ASD assessment.

A couple of weeks ago, we were going through a stressful time as a family (DD unhappy at school, financial worries, we got Covid etc) DH and I had been getting on well for a few months prior to that. One evening I was asking him about dinner. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he lashed out at me, saying that "I always had to spoil everything". He said that he'd been having a relaxing day and I'd spoilt it by asking him about logistics etc. I just sat there in shock as I had no clue what he was talking about, bearing in mind that as far as I knew I was just having a normal conversation.

This was then followed by a week of him giving me the cold shoulder - he has been distracted, cold and angry with me. I was so upset, as that is the worst situation for me when he's like that. I kept crying and asking him what was wrong, I just didn't understand. This continued throughout Christmas Day. We both made an effort for the day to be pleasant for the children but I still felt so upset, as I usually love Christmas and had been looking forward so much to it.

This morning (Boxing Day), even though again he didn't want to talk, I begged him to tell me what was wrong. After lots of false starts, he finally admitted that when we had been going through a stressful time a few weeks ago, I had apparently had a "meltdown" with him and he found it too much to take, so since then had to withdraw for self preservation.

I cannot in all honesty remember this "meltdown" I remember being stressed on a couple of occasions and talking to him, when I did I was not angry or upset with him, just overloaded with the situation.

What I am so upset about is that he has sat on his feelings and given me the cold treatment for a week and over Christmas. We all make mistakes and ok, if he felt I'd had a meltdown and he couldn't take it, why not say something, but treat me like that? I don't mind at all if he is direct with me, I am always asking him to communicate directly with me, then I can learn from my behaviour and we can move on.

I have felt so hurt and devastated that he has behaved like this. He has apologised, but keeps at the same time excusing his behaviour and saying "I've apologised ok, what more do you want me to do?".

I have been so upset. I don't know if I am too upset about this. When his moods go up and down (which they have done since I have known him) I feel so confused and unsafe. When we get on well I feel so happy, but every few months he can get quite unpredictable. He thinks that it is unusual that I am so reactive to his moods and that I should be able to roll with it. He thinks the reason I am so upset is because I am very sensitive and potentially have ADHD/ASD. Yes it's true, our relationship seems to be the bedrock of my life and if it's not stable or predictable I feel very unsettled.

Is my DH's behaviour unreasonable or am I too sensitive and expecting too much from a relationship?

OP posts:
ImmutableSexQueen · 27/12/2021 05:41

He is unreasonable and his behaviour is cruel, even if he is responding to inner turmoil rather than being deliberately nasty. It isn't acceptable for you to live in a state of fear and emotional distress, is it?

You need to bolster yourself until you feel secure with or without him. Making your relationship the 'bedrock' of your life just hands power and control to him, leaving you a potential victim at all times.

The neurodivergent issue is a distraction. Yes, we can be sensitive but that isn't wrong. Like everyone else we have feelings and don't want them hurt.

PlasticPlantsDontDie · 27/12/2021 05:48

He thinks that it is unusual that I am so reactive to his moods and that I should be able to roll with it.

This really stood out because my ex used to say this. He would get angry, take it out on me then wonder why I would continue to be hurt. He had offloaded and moved on whilst I was left reeling.

Of course it’s normal to be affected by his moods. You’re his partner, harmony is important to you.

I’m afraid my relationship broke up because of it (amongst other things) and I am happier not having to constantly worry how someone else is feeling.

TheStoic · 27/12/2021 06:18

Sounds like he made up your ‘meltdown’. Please try not to let him gaslight you about your own thoughts and feelings.

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 27/12/2021 07:14

Is he usually so immature? Freezing you out for so long is horrible.

phishy · 27/12/2021 07:22

Could he be having an affair?

phishy · 27/12/2021 07:23

@PlasticPlantsDontDie

He thinks that it is unusual that I am so reactive to his moods and that I should be able to roll with it.

This really stood out because my ex used to say this. He would get angry, take it out on me then wonder why I would continue to be hurt. He had offloaded and moved on whilst I was left reeling.

Of course it’s normal to be affected by his moods. You’re his partner, harmony is important to you.

I’m afraid my relationship broke up because of it (amongst other things) and I am happier not having to constantly worry how someone else is feeling.

I agree with this. He’s using abusive tactics OP.
EerieSilence · 27/12/2021 07:31

Your relationship dynamics is: he gets angry or cold or both.
You cry, you are clearly shattered and suffering.
He loves seeing you like this because he feels in control. He can manipulate you, make you feel small and bad about yourself.

Reconsider your relationship. Do you really want to be together with a person like this?
Change your response. Show him his insulted toddler like behaviour doesn't impact you. He can rot in it. Stop pandering to his tantrums and appeasing him.

phishy · 27/12/2021 07:34

@EerieSilence

Exactly. My ex would give me silent treatment (for weeks sometimes).

I used to cry and beg him to speak to me until I realised he liked that reaction. So I ignored him completely. The silent treatment stopped but he just found new ways to upset me.

KissedintheDark · 27/12/2021 07:37

Pussy footing round him gives him more opportunities to be snappy and overbearing and feeds his sense of being hard done to. You need to lay down some firm ground rules. You can't go through the rest of your life living like this.
At the moment he is holding all the cards and you're tip toeing round him like a whipped dog.
You need to take back some control, op.
Look him in the eye and calmly tell him that if he ever plays the passive aggressive, cold shouldering trick again that you will leave him and the marriage will be over. And mean it, op.

Sapphiresparkle · 27/12/2021 07:38

Thanks for your replies. It's good to get other perspectives.

@phishy I'm pretty sure he's not having an affair. He has had this sort of behaviour for all the years I have known him. We go for months with him being nice and pleasant then we have an incident like this.

The other thing is that when I have been upset and saying that this last week has been awful, he keeps saying that it's been awful for him too! As I keep pointing out, he's the one who caused it, but it's like he can't see it!

@ImmutableSexQueen I think you are right, I need to bolster myself so the relationship isn't the be all and end all of my life. I have become aware over the past year how low my self esteem is. I couldn't sleep last night and have been thinking of ways to focus more on me and my life.

OP posts:
Sapphiresparkle · 27/12/2021 07:44

@EerieSilence I guess I can't quite believe that he's like that. His behaviour shows that he is though but there is something in me that finds it hard to accept that he is actually like that. Maybe because he can be so kind and nice sometimes. It's like Jekyll and Hyde.

OP posts:
Sapphiresparkle · 27/12/2021 07:48

@KissedintheDark he definitely feels hard done to, in so many areas of his life, it's very annoying! I think I have probably made it worse by being very sympathetic and caring to him.

Reading all these responses I feel that I need to change and toughen up.

OP posts:
EerieSilence · 27/12/2021 07:51

@Sapphiresparkle - you're the frog that's been brought to a boil very slowly. He likes keeping you on your toes, doesn't he. Nicey nicey and then the beautiful unpredictability of cold shoulder.

Aisforharlot · 27/12/2021 08:42

Good god, are you me? Dp does this and I have asd. I hate it

Sapphiresparkle · 27/12/2021 10:28

@Aisforharlot it's awful isn't it?

DH is being nice to me this morning - such a head fuck after a ruined Christmas. From now on I'm going to put more energy into me rather than thinking and worrying about DH and our relationship. It's a hard habit to break as I've been like that from childhood, but I've got to do it.

OP posts:
JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 27/12/2021 10:30

I couldn't live like this

SpellBounds · 27/12/2021 10:34

LTB and I mean that seriously

Gargellen · 27/12/2021 10:37

@SpellBounds

LTB and I mean that seriously
This. Absolutely and without question.

You need to extent the self care to seeing a solicitor and divorcing your abuser. Next Christmas could be a joy filled one.

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