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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Don't know what to do, is it me? Or him? Both?

21 replies

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:12

This is extremely outing if anyone knows me, so I'm hoping if anyone does this won't be repeated.

It will also be a long read but I need some outsiders perspectives.

Last year, my husband left (childhood sweetheart). Are late 20s and early 30s.

I had lost a lot of a double figure amount of pregnancies, the people who raised me passed away suddenly young, and in general the 9 years since we've got married have been hard, sad and filled with grief.

I ended up in a deep depression (I have been taking antidepressants since I was a teenager due to a traumatic childhood before the angels who raised me turned my life around).

This depression was bad for a year, I managed to work but as soon as I got home I had a shower and went to bed. I didn't want to leave the house at weekends and I was extremely ill. He ran his own business, I was alone a lot of the time.

He left me and I ended up in a psychiatric hospital from October-December where he visited me 4 times and was saying we would see what we could do on the outside if I got better. His family made a point of cutting me off (they say this is due to loyalty to him) although I've never done anything bad to him, I was just extremely depressed and I understand this can have a profound effect on anyone living with or loving a person who has this/

Whilst gone, he gave up the lease on our rental property and when I was picked up and taken back to my fathers, my stuff was in boxes and dropped off along with my dog.

Over the past 8 months, the first 2-3 months I was on the wrong medication and I don't remember much about coming home and those first weeks. We have been trying to make a go of things including weekends away, a holiday abroad to our friends wedding, another friends wedding that was the other side of the country so another nice weekend.

All of these are ruined by sex. I've been finding intimacy difficult but it's not non existent, we are always affectionate but I don't have a high sex drive, probably a mix of my tablets, the trauma of the past year and at 13 stone I'm bigger than I've ever been.

I booked a night away, with a hot tub, for a special occasion. He wanted to make a weekend out of it so the first 2 nights we were in a different place, camping, cuddled up, happy, laughing, went to see the local town and had a lovely day etc then we went to the last place yesterday.

It started off lovely, we had a wood fire hot tub that we were getting hot ready to use, we were watching our favourite show on the iPad and laughing and sharing a bottle of wine over a takeaway.

Then we went into the hot tub, he immediately seemed withdrawn and sad. I asked what was wrong and he said it's because I'm not interested in being playful, intimate etc only when we are in bed sometimes.

I so wanted to sit in that hot tub with a glass of Prosecco and celebrate how far we've come. Talk, laugh and just spend time together in a place we wouldn't usually.

It was clear he wasn't happy, I got out the hot tub and he was raising his voice at me after a discussion about it, because he needs more.

He said I make him feel like a "pervert" for wanting to be intimate in hot tub etc. I didn't mean to make him feel like that but I did get annoyed and make a comment that I cannot get dressed, undressed, bend over in front of him etc without something sexual being said which gets a little tiring to me.

After he raised his voice I went to bed alone and he stayed up. We drove 3 hours back in silence today and he's dropped me off with my bags and told me he'll talk to me when I grow up.

I'm honestly so sad that a lovely weekend was spoilt by the final night and in the place that I booked for a special occasion. I cried last night, I've cried today.

The difference in our sex drives and what he expects/I expect are so different.

Any opinions? Any ways I can make this better or boost my drive to match his? I feel embarrassed and sad.

OP posts:
Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:13

Sorry for the typos I meant pregnancies and miscarriages (we have no living children).

OP posts:
Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:15

did you admit yourself in to the psychiatric hospital?

op, I would say that your partner is staying with you because of guilt and concern what you would do if he left you.

you need to let him go

Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:16

It doesn’t sound as though it’s bringing you any joy whatever.

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:22

@Doingprettywellthanks I did, I knew that I had a mental breakdown and I wanted to get better.

I made it very clear in January and February I didn't want to be back with him, he was so down, crying, talking about our future if we make things better and I knew deep down I did want to sort things out.

I don't think he'd be back with me through guilt, he didn't do anything wrong and I've always made that clear.

OP posts:
Banthafodder · 05/09/2022 13:24

Oh, sweetheart - it sounds like you’ve been to Hell and back - 💐 for you.

It doesn’t sound as if your partner is particularly supportive or trying to understand what is going on with you - how much have you talked through how you feel? Are you able to do that, does he listen?

From experience, it’s all well and good making exciting future plans and trying to make a go of things - but that cannot be at the exclusion of recognising the difficulties you’ve had and feeling sure you’ve got his understanding and support.

How can you be expected to feel sexual towards him when the emotion support doesn’t appear to be there?

Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:24

Whilst gone, he gave up the lease on our rental property and when I was picked up and taken back to my fathers, my stuff was in boxes and dropped off along with my dog.

and then he started to get back with you?

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:24

It's so frustrating because we genuinely have a great and affectionate relationship now that we wanted before but I was so ill. We laugh a lot, enjoy spending time with each other but it's the sex that's not working.

OP posts:
Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:25

But when he left you
you had a mental health breakdown and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital.

how would you feel if he left you tomorrow?

Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:25

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:24

It's so frustrating because we genuinely have a great and affectionate relationship now that we wanted before but I was so ill. We laugh a lot, enjoy spending time with each other but it's the sex that's not working.

No op

i think it is a lot more than sex

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:26

@Banthafodder thank you, I have been through hell and your kinds word mean a lot 💕

He says he understands and he is a lot more supportive about my "down" days or anxiety now.

The whole sex thing is a shitshow and it seems to be dominating the relationship at the moment and I feel I'm grateful for all the things we've been working on that are working that I don't let that overshadow good times like he does because I know or I believe at some point they'll get better, I just need time.

OP posts:
Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:26

Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:24

Whilst gone, he gave up the lease on our rental property and when I was picked up and taken back to my fathers, my stuff was in boxes and dropped off along with my dog.

and then he started to get back with you?

Yes x

OP posts:
Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:27

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:26

Yes x

So you moved back in together then?

are you able to work?

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:28

Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:25

But when he left you
you had a mental health breakdown and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital.

how would you feel if he left you tomorrow?

I know I'm strong enough to pick myself up now, I have learnt so much and I'm doing well with my mental health.

If he left again, I'd be devastated and heartbroken but I wouldn't ever go back to the dark place I was inS

OP posts:
Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:29

@Doingprettywellthanks no, I'm living with my Father and he's living separately.

Yes I do work, I was lucky enough that my old work had me back.

OP posts:
Doingprettywellthanks · 05/09/2022 13:29

Op. This is a very tricky situation.
i can’t advise but really - this doesn’t sound like it has a happy ending

Ja90 · 05/09/2022 13:29

@Doingprettywellthanks thank you for being honest x

OP posts:
Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 05/09/2022 13:33

There is a well known issue called ssri sexual dysfunction that could be at play here with regards to your sex drive. Worth having a look into, as its probably something you want to understand if its the issue.

SquishyGloopyBum · 05/09/2022 13:50

"After he raised his voice I went to bed alone and he stayed up. We drove 3 hours back in silence today and he's dropped me off with my bags and told me he'll talk to me when I grow up."

This stood out to me. You were having a nice weekend and it's still not good enough.

He sounds abusive op- sexual coercion is not good. And saying you need to grow up? You don't owe him sex.

TimeForTeaAndG · 05/09/2022 14:09

It's not sex that is ruining things,OP. It's his behaviour.

You had a nice weekend planned, he could have had a nice time in the hot tub and not gone into a sulk. He says he understands but really, his actions say otherwise and he would be making you feel relaxed and loved rather than stomping off and starting arguments.

Gymnopedie · 05/09/2022 14:44

I did get annoyed and make a comment that I cannot get dressed, undressed, bend over in front of him etc without something sexual being said which gets a little tiring to me.

That would be tiring to most women. You don't exist purely to provide sex, you have work, housework (why do I suspect he doesn't do any of it?), and your own life to lead. He sounds a bit of a sex pest tbh and I doubt he'll change, even if you get back to sex more often than now. I know you have some lovely times together but this isn't going to go away. Only you know whether you want to carry on the relationship for the good times or not.

decayingmatter · 05/09/2022 14:56

*He said I make him feel like a "pervert" for wanting to be intimate in hot tub etc. I didn't mean to make him feel like that but I did get annoyed and make a comment that I cannot get dressed, undressed, bend over in front of him etc without something sexual being said which gets a little tiring to me.

After he raised his voice I went to bed alone and he stayed up. We drove 3 hours back in silence today and he's dropped me off with my bags and told me he'll talk to me when I grow up*.

And by 'grow up' he means have sex with him when he feels like it??

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