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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I overreacting?

36 replies

DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 10:03

Sorry this is long...

My OH has a neighbour who comes over (a lot) and wants OH to party with him, and my gut feeling is that he wants to be validated in his bad behaviour so he needs OH to enable him.

He's been kicked out of pubs for being too drunk and he talks about women in such a derogatory way, boasting about using prostitutes and hitting on young girls, despite being married with a child. When he's out his wife calls and texts and he sees her as a burden - then applies this to all women. He absolutely hates that I challenge him on it and seems surprised I have a brain.

My OH has a mental illness and is vulnerable to meeting new people and thinking they're the best thing since sliced bread. He's been conned a number of times and he seems to take advice from people he hardly knows. I can see these people coming a mile off but he never listens.

One night the neighbour came over and brought some disgusting flavoured vodka. I no longer drink but he kept demanding they do shots until OH passed out in the bathroom no more than 3 ft away from where we were.

Neighbour was hammered too.

Obviously I was already pissed off that they'd drunk so much and wanted to get neighbour to leave, but ended up staying in the kitchen where I could see OH to make sure he was OK.

I was sitting on the worktop (relevant) and neighbour started to become belligerent, telling me he could 'get rid of me if he wanted'. He got way too close to me and put his hands on the worktop either side of my legs so I couldn't move away.

He asked me if I love OH and when I said yes, he responded with 'are you sure?'. He leaned in saying 'what if I did what I'm thinking about? Would you tell OH?'

I was leaning back as far as I could because he was so close his spit was landing on my face and he was squeezing my thigh. When I wouldn't play ball called me a bitch.

He'd brought fear to the place I'd felt safe and as someone with a lot of sexual trauma in my past I just felt like no matter where I was I couldn't escape it.

I tried to tell OH next morning and cried my eyes out, assuming he'd see this as a total betrayal and be angry that the neighbour had done this when OH was passed out, but he didn't seem to understand why it was a big deal, saying that neighbour was just drunk and made a mistake. I didn't tell him the whole thing because I was still so shocked, but he did tell neighbour that calling me a bitch was out of order.

Neighbour brought flowers round for me and I felt pressured to accept his apology.
I felt like I needed to tell OH what happened in detail in an email because I couldn't face arguing, and his reaction was that it was 'a mistake' and that as neighbour had apologised I should just forget about it, but I can't. My stomach turns when I hear neighbour's voice on the phone or outside the window.

I know people do stupid things under the influence but that clearly came from somewhere - he'd already shown himself to be a misogynistic prick when he's sober.

Am I overreacting or was this a big deal? I've lost all objectivity.

OP posts:
mumofbun · 30/08/2022 10:07

You're not over reacting. I'd tell your OH exactly what happened and if he still wants to socialise with such a man i would not be staying with him. Sorry this happened, it sounds really scary x

Randomusername140 · 30/08/2022 10:08

You have definitely not overreacted. This would be a relationship ender for me if your partner chooses to still associate with him.

Verbena1 · 30/08/2022 10:09

You are definitely not overreacting, that must have been really scary. Clearly you want to support your OH but if he really can’t appreciate the impact of the behaviour he is enabling, you should think about putting yourself first.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2022 10:12

You need to dump your boyfriend immediately. This is an absolute deal breaker.

Sunnyqueen · 30/08/2022 10:21

You are not overreacting but you need to tell your OH the full story for him to act accordingly. I mean how much did you tell him?
If he doesn't stick up for you and at least totally call the friendship once he knows everything then I'd end the relationship tbh. Shows he either doesn't see you worth defending or is just a complete wetter. Either way, not good.

10HailMarys · 30/08/2022 10:38

Of course you weren't overreacting. If anything, you are underreacting, because you haven't ended your relationship with your OH immediately.

The fact that your OH is somehow incapable of seeing why his friend's behaviour is wrong is a dealbreaker. Your OH has, he is putting his friendship with this man, who has attempted to assault you and treats women like shit, before you.

The neighbour is a predatory misogynist who needs to fuck off into oblivion and your relationship with your OH seems, frankly, quite weird - as if you're his carer or support worker or something rather than his partner. I don't think there is any future in your relationship if your OH is this naive and incapable of normal judgement. What mental illness does he have, exactly?

VillaMia · 30/08/2022 10:47

You are in no way overreacting. You were sexually assaulted and intimidated in a place you thought was safe. I am so sorry this happened to you. Your OH now knows all of this, has minimised and dismissed it and that for me would be a complete dealbreaker. You need someone who supports & respects you - we all do. Your OH has done neither in this instance.

What are you getting from this relationship? Is that enough for you to move past what has happened? From what you’ve said in the rest of your post, I suspect not. You have the power to do for yourself what your OH cannot - and that’s support and respect yourself enough to get yourself out of this horrible relationship.

DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 10:54

10HailMarys · 30/08/2022 10:38

Of course you weren't overreacting. If anything, you are underreacting, because you haven't ended your relationship with your OH immediately.

The fact that your OH is somehow incapable of seeing why his friend's behaviour is wrong is a dealbreaker. Your OH has, he is putting his friendship with this man, who has attempted to assault you and treats women like shit, before you.

The neighbour is a predatory misogynist who needs to fuck off into oblivion and your relationship with your OH seems, frankly, quite weird - as if you're his carer or support worker or something rather than his partner. I don't think there is any future in your relationship if your OH is this naive and incapable of normal judgement. What mental illness does he have, exactly?

We both have bipolar but mine is bipolar 2. I have cared for him through several manias and depressions. He struggles with memory and often forgets conversations or events entirely, not just with me.

OP posts:
Peashoots · 30/08/2022 11:00

I would be gone from this relationship. Your partner doesn’t respect you and is so easily influenced he will get shit faced and ignore the fact your neighbour did this?
unforgivable.
I hope you’re ok.

Maves · 30/08/2022 11:01

Seriously I wouldn't be with someone who chose to associate with a twat AND then ignored his wife's concerns.

Darkness22 · 30/08/2022 11:02

If a partner doesn't have your back from sexual assault and is actively friends with the man, then what is the point? This is not a safe and loving relationship. You don't exist to nurse and counsel another man. I'd be leaving.

GhostFromTheOtherSide · 30/08/2022 11:05

Not overreacting at all.

I would tel him to fuck off. And would have wanted to kick the neighbour in the bollocks.

DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 11:06

VillaMia · 30/08/2022 10:47

You are in no way overreacting. You were sexually assaulted and intimidated in a place you thought was safe. I am so sorry this happened to you. Your OH now knows all of this, has minimised and dismissed it and that for me would be a complete dealbreaker. You need someone who supports & respects you - we all do. Your OH has done neither in this instance.

What are you getting from this relationship? Is that enough for you to move past what has happened? From what you’ve said in the rest of your post, I suspect not. You have the power to do for yourself what your OH cannot - and that’s support and respect yourself enough to get yourself out of this horrible relationship.

Most of the time we're happy, we don't really argue and I love the bones of him.

He's been massively damaged by his childhood (incest in the family that resulted in his DM drinking and leaving the kids to go hungry) and his only role models were very misogynistic men.
The last couple of months he's been stable for the first time in 2 years.

OP posts:
PeasOff · 30/08/2022 11:10

Not overreacting at all.

Given your OH has been stable the past two years and is now seemingly becoming unstable again because of your c* of a neighbour I would issue an ultimatum of ending the 'friendship' or your relationship.

I would also report your neighbour to the police.

Sunnyqueen · 30/08/2022 11:11

DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 10:54

We both have bipolar but mine is bipolar 2. I have cared for him through several manias and depressions. He struggles with memory and often forgets conversations or events entirely, not just with me.

Well I'm diagnosed bipolar 1 and if anything this should/would bring out the bipolar rage tbh.

EllieRosesMammy · 30/08/2022 11:16

You're not overreacting at all. The guy sexually assaulted you and your OH brushed it off. I'd insist your OH doesn't associate with this guy any more, and if he wants to then I'd be ending the relationship. Guys who enable other guys creepy, rapey behaviour are just as bad as those doing it, in my opinion.

Thelnebriati · 30/08/2022 11:18

I have bipolar 2 as well and I'm going to be blunt for your sake. The fact is that you can't fix other people.
You love your partner but you aren't safe with him, and your own mental health and safety need to be your priority. You are only responsible for your behaviour towards him but instead you are trying to take responsibility for him, and that can only end in failure. You have a responsibility to make good decisions, for your own sake. Please talk to someone at Womens Aid, or Mind as soon as you can and get some support.

VillaMia · 30/08/2022 11:23

His very passive/dismissive response could well be to do with his own childhood trauma; however, that in no way minimises the impact this has had on you. Neither does it make his response good enough. You need so much more than he’s able to give you OP.

You say that he’s been ‘stable’ for the past 2 months. Feels like there’s a lot going on here. You don’t argue - do you put your needs aside to make sure he’s ok? Are you worried that if you make a fuss or leave that would somehow destabilise him?

You were sexually assaulted and intimidated by one of his friends in his home and he’s told you to forget about it?! Read it back, think how you would respond if a friend told you that about her partner? Don’t you need more from a partner?

VillaMia · 30/08/2022 11:25

Thelnebriati · 30/08/2022 11:18

I have bipolar 2 as well and I'm going to be blunt for your sake. The fact is that you can't fix other people.
You love your partner but you aren't safe with him, and your own mental health and safety need to be your priority. You are only responsible for your behaviour towards him but instead you are trying to take responsibility for him, and that can only end in failure. You have a responsibility to make good decisions, for your own sake. Please talk to someone at Womens Aid, or Mind as soon as you can and get some support.

This 👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼

DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 11:37

Thelnebriati · 30/08/2022 11:18

I have bipolar 2 as well and I'm going to be blunt for your sake. The fact is that you can't fix other people.
You love your partner but you aren't safe with him, and your own mental health and safety need to be your priority. You are only responsible for your behaviour towards him but instead you are trying to take responsibility for him, and that can only end in failure. You have a responsibility to make good decisions, for your own sake. Please talk to someone at Womens Aid, or Mind as soon as you can and get some support.

I'm not trying to fix him at all, we've both made a huge amount of progress individually, but bipolar can be tough for partners when things kick off and I made peace with that. He's been passed around by doctors and doesn't have access to anything other than medication so now they've got that right he's doing much better - same for me.

In the past when I've told male friends about things their mates have done, not one of them hasn't just laughed it off. It makes me feel like there aren't any who would think much of it.

OH seemed confused that I'd accepted the flowers/apology but was bringing it up again.

OP posts:
DonnieDark · 30/08/2022 11:41

I've talked to my therapist at length about it too so I have support.

OH asked me if I was asking him to stop seeing the neighbour and I stupidly said no because I thought that would just inflame things further 😑

OP posts:
SunnyD44 · 30/08/2022 11:42

Firstly, tell your OH that you don’t want this neighbour in your house because he makes you feel uncomfortable.

Secondly, it is quite obvious that you are both very vulnerable which is why you haven’t put your foot down and why your OH is confused that you accepted the apology if someone who scared you.

You aren’t going to leave OH which is fine but you do need to work out what your boundaries are and put them in place.

The main one being that the neighbour does not come into the house again.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 30/08/2022 11:56

Is he actually taking his medication though? What on earth bipolar medication can you drink on?? What would you do if you have kids together and he brushes off the way a ‘friend’ or relative behaves towards your child? He doesn’t have good boundaries for himself or anyone around him, or understanding of social situations, and you risk becoming codependent on each other. This one is not a keeper IME. Whether you want to fix him or not is irrelevant, he’s not a functional adult and you shouldn’t stay in a relationship in the hope that the other person changes or ignoring the red flags because you can see good bits too.
For context I was in a very similar situation with one of DHs close friends a few years ago, and as soon as DH heard what happened we never saw that friend again. He didn’t make excuses or brush off what I said. My DH isn’t very protective of me so that wasn’t the motivation to cut ties.
If your OH thinks an apology is enough to excuse that, he will expect you to forgive him as easily for similar levels of poor behaviour.

Thelnebriati · 30/08/2022 11:58

Idk if you've noticed but you have talked much more about your partners health and the impact on him than you have yourself.
You are the one that was assaulted. this is about how you feel and how you can be safe. Its ok to reassess a boundary. Tell your partner the neighbour is not welcome in your home, and talk to Women's Aid.

KettrickenSmiled · 30/08/2022 12:07

Am I overreacting or was this a big deal? I've lost all objectivity.
You are seriously under-reacting.
And your objectivity has been compromised by looking after your OH for so long you can barely see what's normal & reasonable.

I tried to tell OH next morning and cried my eyes out, assuming he'd see this as a total betrayal and be angry that the neighbour had done this when OH was passed out, but he didn't seem to understand why it was a big deal, saying that neighbour was just drunk and made a mistake.
Any decent human being would have been appalled. Your OH dismissed you, minmised the incident ...

Neighbour brought flowers round for me and I felt pressured to accept his apology.
... & then colluded with neighbour in bullying you back into compliance.

I felt like I needed to tell OH what happened in detail in an email because I couldn't face arguing, and his reaction was that it was 'a mistake' and that as neighbour had apologised I should just forget about it, but I can't. My stomach turns when I hear neighbour's voice on the phone or outside the window.
Your OH would rather you suffered from the fear & anxiety the neighbour has instilled in you, than protect you & stop palling up with the disgusting neighbour.

How does that make you feel?

He's been massively damaged by his childhood (incest in the family that resulted in his DM drinking and leaving the kids to go hungry) and his only role models were very misogynistic men.
The last couple of months he's been stable for the first time in 2 years.
Why are you with this man?
Just - WHY?
Do you enjoy playing nursemaid? Being co-dependent? A 'rescuer'?

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