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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To snoop through my husband's emails

15 replies

ohnowhatdidido · 27/01/2024 10:12

I know it is 100% wrong to look at another person's emails. But he never speaks to me about anything. There are certain problems he has that he has never ever told me about and I exist thinking something is normal when in actual fact it is not. In fact he tells me there is no problem with it qualified by that is how it always has been. I can give two specific scenarios.

  • My husband, I have learnt through his emails, has had erectile dysfunction his entire life. Our entire marriage I thought he wasn't interested in sex, or I pick the wrong time and he's too tired at night, or I'm not sexy enough even in lingerie, or I smell, or that it's an activity that means we need to set aside a whole day. These are all reasons he has given. I now know he has sought counselling and been prescribed Cialis for his erections. You might think I have been incredibly naive but he never wanted sex before marriage on religious grounds.

-My MIL has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but again when I asked if everything was OK he got very defensive and said I was insulting his mum. I only learned that this was the case when I saw his email to a doctor. We don't see her too often, maybe 3 or 4 times a year but if you assume someone is completely mentally healthy then to me, she comes across as a little eccentric or over the years I wondered if maybe she had an undiagnosed condition that my husband was pretending didn't exist.

I am very seriously considering divorce. Not for the above reasons but because life with him is just too hard with such a closed book. I feel I am much better as a person when I have the context of things. Maybe I am a bit neuro diverse myself, it is something I want to get looked at.

And as for the email snooping, now we've been married nearly 4 years it isn't something I do now but it is something I did to learn who he actually is. I do feel like most people will say IABU and I appreciate why.

OP posts:
Allofaflutter · 27/01/2024 10:14

Sometimes you have to look because you know something is wrong and that you need to put yourself first.

rainbowstardrops · 27/01/2024 10:18

It doesn't sound as if this marriage would last as he's so closed and clearly not treating you as an equal partner. I'd probably cut my losses now.

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 27/01/2024 10:19

In this case I don't think you did anything wrong, marriage is a two way street not a closed book and be nasty to your spouse for your own sexual issues. That's abusive.

I'd be filing for divorce.

Allofaflutter · 27/01/2024 10:20

I think you need to get your ducks in a row to LTB.

pilates · 27/01/2024 10:22

^
This

piscofrisco · 27/01/2024 10:23

What @Allofaflutter said

Bobbotgegrinch · 27/01/2024 10:35

Yes, you're being unreasonable to snoop through someone else's private communications, to find out private medical information. It's immoral, and even worse it's illegal. (Yes, even if you know the password)

If you're unhappy with the lack of communication from your husband (and don't get me wrong, I would be too), then you either need to work to resolve the issue with him, or end the marriage.

Mothership4two · 27/01/2024 10:36

I couldn't live with someone who was so secretive as your DH OP- you are partners fgs! Those are massive issues that he has been keeping from you.

So YANBU for having a look and for considering divorce.

In his defence, his behaviour is likely to be linked to his upbringing which I imagine wasn't exactly a picnic with a parent with serious MH issues.

We both have access to each others emails and will have a look through at times - for boring stuff usually. I wouldn't deliberately open a more personal one but he wouldn't have a problem if I did and nor would I. If I was extremely worried that there was something serious that he wasn't telling me, I probably would snoop - but it would have to be a very extreme situation. Doubtful that would happen anyway as we tend to be open with each other.

Daleksatemyshed · 27/01/2024 10:39

He's been dishonest with you right through your relationship Op, you wouldn't have to read his emails if he'd tell you the truth. I presume he thought you wouldn't marry him but that doesn't give him the right to lie to you. Cut your losses and move on

MakeItRain · 27/01/2024 10:50

I found out something that blew my marriage apart after a bit of snooping. I will be forever grateful that I did, as my life is incomparably happier and more peaceful without him. I don't know that I'd have ever left otherwise, and I think I would have ended up utterly miserable and isolated. I would think carefully about what you want to do next, now knowing what you do.

Nicole1111 · 27/01/2024 10:57

Trust your gut and get out. Attributing blame to you for not having sex in an abusive and cruel way tells you everything you need to know about how much he cares for your feelings.

AndSoFinally · 27/01/2024 13:02

The secrets aren't great for any marriage. I'd also be a bit pissed off at the hiding of a serious mental illness in the family with a strong genetic component, especially if you have/are planning children

alwaysmovingforwards · 27/01/2024 13:06

I think on MN that everyone is entitled to their privacy and would be horrified if their messages were read under any circumstances - it would be an unthinkable invasion and break all trust.

But I think it's also acceptable to snoop around reading your partner's messages if you can justify why you should.

Funny old world...

EnterFunnyNameHere · 27/01/2024 13:23

He told you that you smell to get out of having sex with you?!

Jesus christ...

I don't condone snooping, you are allowed to break up with someone for being secretive without snooping to find out what those secrets are.

Phoenix1Arisen · 27/01/2024 13:54

In my opinion, you were not snooping. You were protecting yourself from harm.

This man's bedrock is dishonesty and you are absolutely entitled to know what is going on in YOUR life. Nobody made him Ringmaster!

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