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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Please help, my partner is frightening

67 replies

Heartsandflora · 23/07/2024 20:02

Hi.

I need some opinions/help please. It may be long but I've tried to include as much relevant info as possible.

I have been with my partner 6 years and we have two children 3 and 1, the eldest is autistic. Before meeting my partner I was in an extremely abusive relationship and I have significant trauma, however I have worked through this in therapy and on my own. But I don't think that sort of pain ever leaves a person.

My partner has borderline personality disorder, ADHD and autism. All diagnosed and therapy sought, medication etc. I have always been tolerant of his behaviours and quirks despite how rude/mean he can be to me and others.

This past year has been really hard. One blow after another and we are fortunate to have survived it. But I think we are hanging by a very thin thread.

He's now horrible all the time, I hardly see any good anymore. I can never be frustrated or upset when I've had a hard day with the children as he says it stresses him out. He can't do any wake ups as he can't cope with them. No nappy changes. No help with the children at all, as the noise/mess etc is too much. He will however do the washing, hoovering, lunches and dishes, and goes the shop for whatever we need. Which I am extremely grateful for as our Sen child cannot be left unattended for even a second and these jobs I would have to do when they go to bed.

He calls me the c word regularly when he is annoyed/angry about something. Ive repeatedly told him not to as this is what my abusive ex used to do and it's extremely triggering for me. He doesn't care. He also said today it was lucky I had a minge because if I was a man he'd have laid me out. He's never physically hurt me but there are holes in the walls and doors from him punching them and he threw a shoe in my direction today which I suppose is an escalation.

I am scared of him and feel a bit trapped as he has nowhere else to go and nobody else to understand why he is the way he is. His family have washed their hands of him recently as his behaviour extended to them too. He will honestly be homeless if I ask him to leave and I just can't do that to him.

Hes done numerous things in the past I've had to forgive him for such as messaging my own sister on a dating app. Snap chatting other women. Messaging other women on various platforms and I truly believe the only reason he hasn't cheated is because nobody took him up on his advances. But I'm also not allowed to feel anything about these indiscretions or he gets very angry and it was my fault for looking through his phone, which I do know was wrong and maybe in hindsight ignorance would have been bliss.

All these behaviours are making me extremely sick, I've lost a significant amount of weight, hair is falling out etc and I don't know where to turn. I don't really have anybody I can go to/ask for help. The tenancy is joint and so are finances. I've considered asking somebody to help me section him but he said he would fight every step of the way and kill himself if that ever happened. Plus I don't know how I'd do it without him finding out and running away.

I don't want to betray him but he's extremely unwell and extremely unhappy. He can be kind and loving and generous. But there's none of that left anymore, it's just a giant black hole of selfishness, anger and resentment. I cry myself to sleep every night. How can I help him? How can I bring him back to who he was before? Or am I naive and stupid and this is who he's always been and will be?

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 23/07/2024 20:04

You can't help him. You can't change him.

Whose house is it?

Frogslegs3 · 23/07/2024 20:08

Oh OP i feel for you so much. My situation is somewhat similar.

it’s easy for people to say leave. You are staying because you are hoping things will get better or return to how they used to be. That’s why I was staying.

I left my husband 6 weeks ago and took our children similar ages to yours. It’s been incredibly hard doing every bedtime every food shop every nappy. It’s hard to value how useful it is to have a partner before you try being single.

but like you my husband was being horrible and making miserable. So I want decades of that? No

Deserthog · 23/07/2024 20:10

He is a violent abuser.

Your children are growing up in this evironment. Protect them.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 23/07/2024 20:10

None of his behaviours come with his diagnosis’s, he’s using his disabilities as an excuse to abuse you.

Yes he’s unwell but it’s not because of his disabilities, you need to put your children first and foremost and equally your own mental health for your own mental, emotional and physical health.

pleads call woman’s aid.

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/07/2024 20:13

He's never physically hurt me but there are holes in the walls and doors from him punching them and he threw a shoe in my direction today which I suppose is an escalation.

This is escalating domestic abuse. Call Women's Aid for advice. Can you get him out? Where he goes is not your problem.

Calamitousness · 23/07/2024 20:16

Fuck sake. Why do you want to help him. Get rid of him. Whatever he does is up to him. We are not responsible for others actions. He is foul to you and a horrific role model for your children to live with. This will be affecting them and will influence their behaviour as adults unless you get away or get him out asap. Stand up for yourself, speak to women’s aid. This is bad. Do not underestimate how awful he is. So he has ND. No excuse for how he’s treating you.

MatildaTheCat · 23/07/2024 20:17

You desperately need professional help to safely leave. Your DC are at risk because they are being brought up around abuse and violence ( it doesn’t matter if it isn’t yet directed at them). You are at risk physically and emotionally.

If you are in immediate danger just call 999.

If not immediate then email or call 101 and ask for advice and support with domestic abuse. Also seem help from Women’s Aid.

You cannot get him sectioned so forget that and focus on getting yourself safe. Find all the documentation you need like bank details, birth certificates, passports, anything at all. Keep them safe, away from the house if possible.

Scape together as much money as you can. Do you have anywhere you could go in the short term?

Do not take responsibility for his MH. That’s for him to do. Do not tell him you are planning to leave. Safety planning is imperative as he does sound unstable.

Best wishes and please post back and tell us you have left.

BeachRide · 23/07/2024 20:18

Put your poor children first and get rid. How much trauma are you going to allow them?

SussexLass87 · 23/07/2024 20:20

Oh OP. Can I ask you a question? Why do you think you owe him your time, your love and your support?

It doesn't sound like he gives you any of these.

You say that he's done "numerous" things that you've "had to forgive"...but why? You don't deserve to be treated like this.

mortgagefreesoon5 · 23/07/2024 20:20

You are being severely abused. His diagnosis are not a excuse for his behaviour.
You can't change him. Separate from this person , if not for your own sake for your children sake.
Put your ducks in a row. Get all the important docs and special things at a trusted persons home. So do this one step at the time. Have you got any access to money? Can you take his name off the tenancy? Can you and the children move in with a family member? Do you work? Have you look into the benefits you are entitled to? Have you got a good support network? Also, don't forget to delete all your Google searches.
Someone else will come and give you more ideas, in my view, either you leave or he leaves, live is too short too be walking on eggshells.

Universalsnail · 23/07/2024 20:21

This isn't his autism or his ADHD. These arnt meltdowns or any autism thing. This is him being an abuser. Autism doesn't make you can people cunts. You need to protect your children and leave. I am sorry but you are in another abusive relationship

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 23/07/2024 20:21

You have enough responsibility looking after yourself and your high needs children. You cannot take on responsibility for him as well.

Would it help if you consider that you’re not actually helping him by staying with him? If he is living separate from you then he would do a better job looking after himself as he’s not being distracted by the opportunity to be abusive towards you. He will be forced to sort himself out and live independently.

Does he work?

Crystalbabe · 23/07/2024 20:23

For the sake of your kids more than anything, and of course yourself you need to get out of this situation now.Call womans aid, call a friend, tell your family.

He is violent, nasty and abusive. Just because he has bad mental health at the moment doesn’t mean you have to put up with this abuse. Deep down this is who he is. He knows your past and anyone that genuinely loves and respects you would never put you through what broke you before.

Treesinthewind · 23/07/2024 20:28

Just to say, it's almost impossible to "get" someone sectioned if they don't agree to it. My son's dad was in the grips of psychosis and I couldn't get him help this way.

Donotneedit · 23/07/2024 20:31

You can’t rescue him, you can’t save him. He needs to sort his shit out so he can be healthy enough to be in a relationship, he isn’t at the moment. Your priority needs to be your children. Tell yourself this 1000 times . I say this from experience, as an ex partner of a complicated guy and also a child stuck in a situation where my mother prioritised rescuing my father rather than protecting herself and us

OlympicProcrastinator · 23/07/2024 20:32

You are prioritising him and his perceived needs over the safety and well being of your children. You have a choice. They don’t. They are growing up witnessing a plethora of domestic abuse, violence and disrespect. They will normalise this behaviour the longer you remain. They are likely to choose to accept this behaviour for themselves or perpetrate similar abuse in their future relationships. The trauma will affect them throughout their adult lives, impacting them in ways you can’t imagine.

Take the focus off him. Why are you trying to ‘save’ him when there are little people in the house that need saving a whole lot more.

Topee · 23/07/2024 20:35

He’s an abusive ‘man’ who also happens to have autism and adhd.

cupcaske123 · 23/07/2024 20:37

It's very common to go from one abusive relationship to the next because your boundaries are scewed and you're vulnerable.

I would get support from your local domestic abuse organisation and start preparing to leave. You need to do that as safely as possible because abuse tends to ramp up when the relationship ends.

It's not acceptable to call you names, to throw things, to threaten to lay you out or to punch walls. He's also manipulating you by threatening suicide and blaming his diagnosis.

If you're concerned about his safety then call NHS Direct option 2 for advice. They can guide you on how best to handle him. If he becomes violent towards you then, dial 999 and call the police.

For practical things like getting stuff from the shops, try a delivery company.

Gingerbread are a very good organisation for practical matters. I would also see if there's an organisation that can support you regarding your child's SEN. Turn2us can give you advice on benefits etc

If he refuses to leave the property then call the police to remove him. If he becomes aggressive then you may be able to apply for an occupancy order to keep him away from the house. The domestic abuse organisation should be able to advise on that and other options.

Aishah231 · 23/07/2024 20:40

Topee · 23/07/2024 20:35

He’s an abusive ‘man’ who also happens to have autism and adhd.

This! Stop making excuses for him. ADHD etc doesn't make you an arsehole.

GoldenTea · 23/07/2024 20:47

Having a disability doesn't give you a pass for abusive behaviour.

Get out before he damages your children any further.

Londonrach1 · 23/07/2024 20:52

Op you be no good to your children dead. Please make your exit plan from this abusive man before it's too late....listen to the advice here. You deserve so much more!

Crazycatlady79 · 23/07/2024 20:53

You're in yet another extremely abusive relationship! Why can't you see this?!
Stop making excuses for him and protect your poor children and yourself from systematic domestic abuse.

Beth216 · 23/07/2024 20:53

You can't get someone sectioned because they're treating you like shit, that's not how it works. Why do you think it's your job to save him OP? Why do you think you can change another person if they don't want to change? The only person you can change is yourself. You're damaging your children by staying - why are you allowing that? Children shouldn't be growing up in a house with holes in the walls where their dad punched them.

Maybe because your last relationship was physically abusive the abuse here doesn't seem so bad? Why have you always been tolerant of his 'behaviours'? Why didn't you see them as huge red flags and run as fast as you could in the other direction? Have you done the freedom programme?

Do you have any family that can support you? Either in kicking him out or to go and stay with? The violence is escalating now OP, you know that. You need to get yourself and the kids to safety, if you don't have family then ring Women's Aid.

No diagnosis gives you carte blanche to abuse your partner, his conditions are irrelevant.

wellington77 · 23/07/2024 20:56

I think you know what you have to do, you need to gather that courage up. Kick him out. Do you really want your children around such a man- as they grow they will notice it, you can’t be a good mum if you become ill yourself. Put your children first not him. You are putting him first at the moment, time to get tough for the greater good

Whistledown1005 · 23/07/2024 21:02

"He's extremely unwell" no he's abusive. This is his problem and issues not yours. Not for you to take on or fix him. Because you cannot change him, trust me. This is deeply engrained in him. Even his own family won't deal with him.

This abuse will escalate. Its the same script for all abusive relationships unfortunately. Been there, got out thankfully. I then learnt alot about the dynamics of abusive relationships. It's a cycle and it gets worse over time. That hole in the wall will soon be your head, trust me.

Don't feel sorry for him being homeless. Again his problem for being awful. And he's knows he is being this way.

Please leave. Even just call woman's aid to speak to someone about it. It's a first step. Don't tell him you're doing this though because it could escalate his behaviour

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