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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Intimacy or controlling behaviour?

119 replies

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 13:26

DH thinks physical intimacy equates to love. I see it as an element of a loving relationship, he thinks he’s entitled to it when he wants it, wants me to walk around naked when we’re upstairs because he says it’s what loving couples do, and expects to have access to my body throughout the night eg to ‘hold me’ by his hands on boobs/privates and doesn’t like me moving his hands and showing I have a choice in this, or just so I can sleep. He says he’s not being controlled by me telling him where he can put his hands. Am I wrong now seeing I have a choice in this? I had zero awareness of this when we met 30 years ago, and I have been doing some work to try and understand the dynamics of our relationship which often feels unhealthy. He is very charming outside the home, very sociable and helpful. At home he can be very helpful on a practical level but blows hot and cold and gets angry when things don’t go his way, but if I point this out I become the problem for nagging or being on his back about stuff I’m not ok with. I’ve spent most of the 30 years feeling scared of him and becoming isolated from friends and family, but not recognising this. He generally storms off in a mood and goes out and makes subtle threats if I challenge him. He keeps getting angry (because I’m now seeing his behaviour as not ok and this means I’ve changed eg I’m challenging him) and this reality is killing the relationship especially the physical side, which is creating a cycle because he’s getting more angry about not getting his own way and I’m asking him to understand why him being angry when things don’t go his way and feeling entitled to my body is the problem for me.

OP posts:
AnotherDelphinium · 29/11/2024 13:29

I think you know yanbu!

Unless you’re at a naturist resort in a warm country, no one walks around naked all the time. I don’t in my own house.

Sometimes it’s nice to have my bf snuggled up and a hand on my breast, but as soon as it’s annoying, he gets gently removed and he wouldn’t dream of attempting to replace it!

I feel that as you’re getting boundaries he’s trying to trample them. Is this really a relationship you want to be in?

Tuhlula · 29/11/2024 13:29

He's absolutely disgusting. He is wearing you down and has worn you down. Of course you should have full controller over your own body and boundaries. If he can't engage in couples therapy with you then LTB quickly.

DaphnesCafe · 29/11/2024 13:29

Absolutely abusive and controlling behaviour. Very concerning and I hope you are able to get the support you need.

Vaxtable · 29/11/2024 13:32

Abusive and controlling. Who the hell does he think he is thinking he can have access to your body at any time he wants

i would be sleeping elsewhere now, and tbh looking to leave, he sounds revolting

Well done for recognising what he is doing and starting to stand up to him

WorldKeepsSpinningRound · 29/11/2024 13:35

I am genuinely shocked reading this post. It reads as though he feels he “owns” you which is hugely concerning.

Run far away and never look back!

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 13:40

Hi thanks everyone for all the replies. I haven’t used this forum before so not quite sure if I’m replying correctly but I really appreciate all your responses. It really helps to hear how others see this, my head is so full trying to understand what’s going on and the constant circular arguments which just go nowhere and leave me feeling worse for challenging him. Thanks so much for the support.

OP posts:
TwistedWonder · 29/11/2024 13:43

You’re being sexually and emotionally abused by your vile controlling husband. Sorry to say but he’s absolutely disgusting

Nanny0gg · 29/11/2024 13:47

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 13:40

Hi thanks everyone for all the replies. I haven’t used this forum before so not quite sure if I’m replying correctly but I really appreciate all your responses. It really helps to hear how others see this, my head is so full trying to understand what’s going on and the constant circular arguments which just go nowhere and leave me feeling worse for challenging him. Thanks so much for the support.

It's really not too late to divorce

Bectoria2006 · 29/11/2024 13:47

Agree with PP that this is not intimacy and is very very controlling and disturbing.

ThianWinter · 29/11/2024 13:58

If he thinks his behaviour is normal, and telling you that this is how other married couples behave, then he is very, very wrong. He is showing you no respect.

Daftapath · 29/11/2024 13:59

I'm so sorry that you are being treated in this despicable way by someone who should treat you with the utmost love and respect.

Of course you should be allowed to have agency over your own body. You should be able to say no to anything that you don't want. Him doing what he is doing is abusive.

I would put money on there being other abusive and controlling behaviour in your relationship. What are your financial arrangements? Do you have access to money and your own savings?

thepariscrimefiles · 29/11/2024 14:02

This is sexual abuse and coercive control which is a crime. The only person with rights to your body is you.

Useruser1 · 29/11/2024 14:06

It sounds more like he thinks you're his Harem, walking around naked and being available, than his wife

Sparklfairy · 29/11/2024 14:08

He says he’s not being controlled by me telling him where he can put his hands.

This is really bad. Like REALLY bad. Your body autonomy trumps everything. I'd say 'does he not see the hypocrisy in what he's saying - refusing to 'be controlled' yet controlling you' but it completely minimises the seriousness of this.

Take what he said in any other context. What if you said to someone, 'I'm going to stab you, and you're not going to control me by taking my knife away, because I want to stab you and that's that.' Does that person then lose all right to object to being stabbed? Do they have to allow themselves to be stabbed because you said so and you don't want to be 'controlled'? Would the police shrug off a murder charge?

Fucking ludicrous.

Scarlettpixie · 29/11/2024 14:11

He is treating you like his property and it is not ok. I am so sorry you have been in this situation for so long.

Corksoles · 29/11/2024 14:14

You are controlling him by putting clothes on and not wanting his hands on your boobs and vulva? Nah. This is, to use a technical term, Fucking Bullshit. How dare he?

Namerchangee · 29/11/2024 14:17

God I couldn’t stand a man like this for 5 seconds. How you’ve done 30 odd years is incredible to me. What is happening out there to make women put up with this shit for so long?

holju · 29/11/2024 14:19

If he touches you when you've asked him not to, this is assualt. He won't change and you need to seek advice from a DV charity and then leave him.

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 14:20

Thank you all. It’s really hit me how clear everyone is on this whilst I’ve spent so long feeling so unclear about it. I have no financial independence and this is a huge part of the problem. I’m actively trying to overcome this but it’s a huge obstacle and things are constantly thrown up at home that get in my way of making progress, and I can see now how I ended up here, and how this is integral to me having control over my own life.

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 29/11/2024 14:24

So sorry @blueskyair , that sounds awful. What a nasty man he is.

I've noticed a lot more women recently on the boards and in RL realising after 20 plus years of marriage that they are living with an abuser

It makes me very sad to think how many women there must be out there in abusive relationships but not realising.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 29/11/2024 14:25

Controlling, abusive and illegal. How dare he accuse you of being controlling for having an opinion on your own body being touched. Reading this was chilling, it's so far from normal

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 14:28

He says I’m being cold and unloving and it has really played on my conscience and kept me stuck trying to make it work

OP posts:
cantarguewithfools · 29/11/2024 14:35

blueskyair · 29/11/2024 14:28

He says I’m being cold and unloving and it has really played on my conscience and kept me stuck trying to make it work

He is not entitled to your body OP. You are not being controlling by removing his hands from you - he is being controlling by insisting on touching you against your wishes.

I really think you should think carefully about leaving this man. I know it’s hard after 30 years but you deserve to live a safe life where you feel comfortable in your own home. He isn’t even allowing you any agency to sleep in your own bed without being hassled.

Noseybookworm · 29/11/2024 14:36

I would be cold and unloving too if my partner thought it was his right to have control over my bodily autonomy. This is really unacceptable, controlling and abusive. Please get in contact with Women's Aid for support. You need help to make a plan and leave.

MakemyTeaPlease · 29/11/2024 14:37

Ask him if he needs the police to have a chat with him.