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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do I sound like a crap wife?

50 replies

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 22:58

Tensions have been running high all week between myself and dh and it's all culminated today. It sounds like he's been building up a lot of anger and resentment towards me over different things and thrown it all at me... In his words...

I'm not empathetic enough to his mental health issues. He has depression/anxiety but it comes out in quite a hostile and detached way.

I'm also not empathic and understanding enough to his porn addiction. Things have improved with this but I think he wants me to shake off the hurt I felt from it in the past which I do still struggle with.

He's had to put up with a lot from my mental health problems and has had to hold it all together at times (I have chronic health anxiety and ocd).

He says I don't do enough around the house, e.g. Enough hoovering, picking up stuff, putting the washing out, etc. He said that he'd left stuff in the last week or so to see how long it would take me to notice.

He says I'm too controlling over and doesn't want my opinion on decisions he makes.

He said that I'm always saying I'm tired and that he gets just a tired so I don't need to say it. He thinks that I make myself out to be the one who's more worse off.

There were other things but I felt that was quite a lot to digest. I now feel awful - guilty, shameful, depressed, tearful. I've apologised to him and said that I can try to work on those things. I also feel like his expectations of me are too high though. We have a baby dd, a ds with special needs and I work 3 days a week (some of that at home) in a stressful job. I feel totally burnt out this week (dd has also been ill) and now feel like I've got a load more stuff added on my plate. Dh works 4 days a week. Sometimes dh does a lot at home/with the children and sometimes I feel like I do a lot but obviously I'm not doing enough.

Do I deserve dh to cut me some slack or do I just seem like a terrible wife who needs to do better?

OP posts:
FishcakesWithTooMuchCoriander · 03/07/2022 00:22

The testing you with housework tasks is horrible.

If I think a partner is ‘testing’ me, I’ll fail. On purpose. I will not be tested.

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 03/07/2022 08:10

FishcakesWithTooMuchCoriander · 03/07/2022 00:22

The testing you with housework tasks is horrible.

If I think a partner is ‘testing’ me, I’ll fail. On purpose. I will not be tested.

I know! Such an idiot thing of him to do. I said to him, if there's an issue tell me in the moment or soon after. Putting me through a test is pathetic. He then said, I can't tell you these things because you don't react well to critism.

OP posts:
WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 03/07/2022 08:12

JenniferPlantain · 02/07/2022 23:54

Is the porn addiction diagnosed by a medical professional?

@JenniferPlantain yes it was. Not that it being diagnosed takes away my feelings about it.

OP posts:
karmakameleon · 03/07/2022 08:17

There no reason I’d be sympathetic to a pron addiction.

He said that he'd left stuff in the last week or so to see how long it would take me to notice.

I would have told him I’d left it out on purpose and was seeing how long it took him to put his own stuff away. Why is it your job to tidy up after a grown man?

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 03/07/2022 08:31

“it's part of his mental health problem but it's caused me a lot of pain.” My shiny white arse it is. Who told you that load of bobbins.
and he leaves things around for you to pick up. Manipulative prick.
I”m not negating mh issues, but his strike me as attention seeking bollocks to a large extent to keep you in control.
And it’s got you doubting yourself.

Momicrone · 03/07/2022 08:31

He's gaslighting you

RainCoffeeBook · 03/07/2022 08:41

"Empathetic to his porn addiction", good god where do you find these troll-men. Throw him back under his bridge.

Your life would be so much brighter without this loser moping around. What possible benefit does he bring to your life and your kids?

DistrictCommissioner · 03/07/2022 08:43

I stopped reading when I got to the porn addiction. No, you’re not a crap wife, he’s a crap man.

ZenNudist · 03/07/2022 08:47

I can't believe he's got you asking this. How horrible. Can you make arrangements to leave? Or get counselling. Time to muster your self confidence and stop putting up with this treatment. Once he realises you will leave and he will have to have the dc 50% of the time he might man up.

legalseagull · 03/07/2022 08:54

He says you're controlling but he's the one leaving housework 'tests' for you. Fuck that. Who wants to live walking on eggshells like this?!
He's a prick

Dajeeling · 03/07/2022 08:58

‘empathy with his porn addiction’ 😂😂😂😂

Sorry OP, it’s not funny at all so it is if that makes sense. Just utterly ridiculous and sounds like he’s done a right number on you.

Do yourself a huge favour and get rid. Life’s too short for all this misery, silliness and his navel-gazing.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 03/07/2022 09:02

"oh poor you, sorry, did I/DS/the mug I left on the side disturb your wank? can I help you finish off?"

What would your life be like without him? Would it honestly be worse? Was your relationship ever good?

Pedantic but:
Empathy - the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
Sympathy - feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

I could not be empathetic about a porn addiction. I might, just possibly, be sympathetic, but I doubt it.

AngelinaFibres · 03/07/2022 09:06

He is making you unhappy
You are making him unhappy.
The porn addiction is revolting and bullshit.
You would be much less stressed without this man.

cottagegardenflower · 03/07/2022 09:08

You both sound stressed and having difficulties. Unfortunately some people turn on those closest to them and take their anger out on that person.

You both sound so wrapped up in your own problems you can't see a way through. I would suggest counselling

RaleighDurham · 03/07/2022 09:15

What have I just read?!
He leaves STUFF around the house as a fucking TEST for you?
Who the HELL does he think he is?

neverbeenskiing · 03/07/2022 09:27

I have worked with people with MH issues my entire adult life and have never known someone be formally diagnosed with a "pornography addiction". It sounds like your DH has told you this to avoid taking personal responsibility.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 03/07/2022 09:40

Hi OP

What's the split in childcare / chores / leisure time? If you both work equally hard then I guess it could get irritating if you leave stuff everywhere for him to tidy and dont notice you're doing it - the advice here if it's the other way around is just to leave it.

However the rest of it is awful and he sounds like a dick. You are supposed to have more empathy for something that has hurt you? Wheres his empathy about the consequences of his behaviour?Everything's your fault? I think that's highly unlikely given you've come on here to see if you're the issue, do you think he is doing the same self reflection to try and improve your relationship? I doubt it. He sounds exhausting

RaleighDurham · 03/07/2022 10:37

I'd be interested to know EXACTLY the phrasing used by the person who said he had a pornography addiction.
Was it along the lines of, "you have an addictive personality and that can manifest itself through all sorts of things, SUCH AS alcohol, food, pornography etc..?" Because if so, that's slightly different.
I would still call bullshit on it though. Addicted to watching footage of probably trafficked young women being sexually abused on camera and you are supposed to feel sorry for HIM?!

HollowTalk · 03/07/2022 11:31

How could you not be sympathetic about his porn addiction? You sound incredibly selfish.

Sorry just trying to put myself in his place and really couldn't. He's really awful.

What would a life without him look like to you?

Fairislefandango · 03/07/2022 11:40

You don’t sound like a crap wife at all……,,, but he sounds like a diabolically shit husband.

^This.

I know! Such an idiot thing of him to do.

No, not an idiot thing, a manipulative, controlling, passive-aggressive thing. How dare he treat you like this and expect you to respond by scurrying around doing what he wants and 'show empathy' for his disgusting behaviour? Sounds to me like you are being altogether too reasonable and empathetic, OP! He should go and live on his own with his porn and test himself on his own tidying and cleaning efforts Hmm

Iamnotamermaid · 03/07/2022 11:44

Think he is mistaking you for his mother. 😒 He is a truly shit husband. It's not you, it's him...

Deadringer · 03/07/2022 11:55

You both have mental health issues so its difficult to get a full picture of your relationship, but one thing is for sure, he thinks he is is your manager, tell him to fuck off. You are working, taking care of a baby and a dc with sn, so what if you leave a mug or two around the house? Presumably now and again you collect them and wash them. He sounds awful tbh, you would be better off without him imo.

SunThroughTheCloudsAt6am · 03/07/2022 12:05

He says I don't do enough around the house, e.g. Enough hoovering, picking up stuff, putting the washing out, etc. He said that he'd left stuff in the last week or so to see how long it would take me to notice.

vs.

He says I'm too controlling over and doesn't want my opinion on decisions he makes.

You say 'enough' - so you do do some? Just not to his 'standards' - take a step back and think about how much you do, and how much he does, and what actually needs to be done. Is he being fair? Does he do as much for the kids? Also truly look at what he's doing - I used to make exDP do bedtimes, and I did mornings (obviously I took the harder job because I'm a mug) - but he didn't do a story, didn't tuck them in, didn't even remember to do it until I reminded him, so when I was in his thrall, I would say that he was doing his bit, but looking back, no he wasn't - I was the one that kicked off bedtime, I was the only one that ever read to the kids, he just escorted them upstairs.

Aquamarine1029 · 03/07/2022 12:09

You need a divorce. As soon as humanly possible.

Your mental health will vastly improve without that shitbag in your life.

stayingpositiveifpossible · 03/07/2022 12:26

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 23:14

Yeh, agree, the porn addiction is the hardest thing for me to feel empathy for. I get that it's part of his mental health problem but it's caused me a lot of pain.

Why the fxxk should you feel pressured into feeling empathy for a porn addiction?

That in itself I'm afraid is an abusive attitude.

LTB

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