Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
BlackChunkyBoots · 03/12/2024 17:49

I have a little experience of this. The gaslighting and the being nice when you agree with everything chimes with me. Classic DARVO where he accuses you of being selfish/controlling/ narcissistic when it's HIM doing these things. Not knowing if you are right to impose boundaries and being accused of being cold when you don't make yourself constantly available to him. The rages, the arguments, and being isolated from loved ones.

As previous posters have said WA is a great resource, as is the National Domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247. Both have good websites with tons of information.

Lean on your friends & family. They might surprise you.

Cariadm · 03/12/2024 18:06

blueskyair · 03/12/2024 14:29

Thank you. He says he’s disappointed in me as he believes these things represent a loving relationship, and because I used to ‘provide’ these things he feels very angry because I’ve changed things by putting the boundaries in place. It’s difficult because I experienced DV in childhood and my previous marriage, so started this relationship with no sense of agency, and I’m just starting to become aware of how this affected me and I don’t want to live like that anymore. He says all he wants is a loving relationship which he thinks I’m denying him by having these boundaries. He’s demanding to know when this situation will ‘return to normal’ as he says he feels disappointed and hurt not to have things as they were. It does confuse me when he says it like this, because I feel I’m failing. From my point of view, he doesn’t grasp anything that I’m saying about him not having a right to my body, which just makes it worse for me. I’ve tried to explain the big picture to him, that his temper and generally aggressive responses to anything that doesn’t go his way at home is at the root of all this, the intimacy thing (to me) is an outcome of the whole situation.

Dear blueskyair...
I have contributed before which you acknowledged but reading this particular post 3 VERY red flags jumped out at me with respect to his very well honed 'gaslighting' behaviour!!
(1) 'he doesn’t grasp anything that I’m saying about him not having a right to my body'...I'm afraid that I most certainly disagree with you on that, he knows perfectly well that you're completely and utterly within your rights to have the last word when if comes to autonomy over your body! 🙄
(2) He’s demanding to know when this situation will ‘return to normal’...again all part of what he wants you to believe, that what you have always allowed him to do as and when HE pleases is 'normal'! 😡
(3) 'because I used to ‘provide’ these things' just another way to convince you that you have some sort of 'contract' that says sex and all other intimacy should be provided 'on tap whether you are willing or not...😲
Then he has the bare faced cheek to talk about 'loving relationships'?! He really doesn't get irony does he but he certainly knows all about hypocrisy as he's a 'past master' at that!
Pretending that he doesn't understand what you mean when you're explaining things in plain English again and again is just another way of making you think of him as the 'victim' of your 'unloving' and 'cruel' behaviour towards him.
He crossed the line of decency and caring long long ago and when thwarted and challenged he just behaves like an extremely unpleasant, spoilt and nasty 6 year old who doesn't know any better stamping his feet in the playground!
PLEASE PLEASE put him firmly in your past ASAP! xx 😱

blueskyair · 03/12/2024 18:53

Thank you Cariadm your points are so clear and I completely agree with what you’re saying, it’s so hard to see this clearly in the moment and in response to him at the time, so reading MN responses is going to be crucial going forwards. I will contact Womens Aid and get some support. Thanks again for your input xx

OP posts:
Fenellapitstop · 03/12/2024 18:59

Thinking of the getting ducks in a row, do you have access to money? Or does he control that?

blueskyair · 03/12/2024 19:00

BlackChunkyBoots · 03/12/2024 17:49

I have a little experience of this. The gaslighting and the being nice when you agree with everything chimes with me. Classic DARVO where he accuses you of being selfish/controlling/ narcissistic when it's HIM doing these things. Not knowing if you are right to impose boundaries and being accused of being cold when you don't make yourself constantly available to him. The rages, the arguments, and being isolated from loved ones.

As previous posters have said WA is a great resource, as is the National Domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247. Both have good websites with tons of information.

Lean on your friends & family. They might surprise you.

Thank you, yes, the accusations he makes literally keep me frozen in fear and shame, and thinking maybe I’ve got this all wrong? While I’m still trying unsuccessfully to get him to understand … I think posting on MN has been a life changer xx

OP posts:
blueskyair · 03/12/2024 21:36

Fenellapitstop · 03/12/2024 18:59

Thinking of the getting ducks in a row, do you have access to money? Or does he control that?

Thank you, I don’t have access to any savings, just joint account for day to day money, groceries, petrol etc. I now realise he’s made all the big decisions regardless of if I disagreed, job moves, housing, mortgage, etc. He’s always said paying as much as possible into his pension is best, whilst he earns more this seemed to make sense but at the same time 100% of my earnings were always allocated to bills at his direction, not that he didn’t pay any bills, he just made all the decisions, so I haven’t been able to build a pension like he has. The house is (I believe!!) in joint names xx

OP posts:
Fenellapitstop · 03/12/2024 21:47

Might be worth trying to squirrel a bit away for yourself.

Don't change anything you are doing, try not to show what you are thinking at the moment. One way of building a bit of a buffer this time of year is to buy gift cards and put money on when you're doing shopping

PeriPeriMam · 03/12/2024 22:12

Keep quietly working on a practical plan, protect any money you have access to, and get help to get away safely x

Cariadm · 04/12/2024 00:37

blueskyair · 03/12/2024 19:00

Thank you, yes, the accusations he makes literally keep me frozen in fear and shame, and thinking maybe I’ve got this all wrong? While I’m still trying unsuccessfully to get him to understand … I think posting on MN has been a life changer xx

Sorry to keep repeating myself but I am in NO doubt that he 'understands' only too well what you say to him but he will NEVER admit this because to do so would be a complete game changer and he would lose the moral high ground that keeps you where he wants you to stay which is unquestionably under his control... I worry that at some point he will become so frustrated at the thought of the 'status quo' (as he wants it) being threatened that the goal posts will shift and he will resort to other tactics to get his way.... I realise you are aware of this which is making you understandably cautious but you have taken the first steps onto the path of escape and you must keep going forward!
We're all behind you and rooting for you to be safe and happy! xx 💜

blueskyair · 04/12/2024 01:46

Fenellapitstop · 03/12/2024 21:47

Might be worth trying to squirrel a bit away for yourself.

Don't change anything you are doing, try not to show what you are thinking at the moment. One way of building a bit of a buffer this time of year is to buy gift cards and put money on when you're doing shopping

Thank you for the helpful suggestions and your encouragement xx

OP posts:
blueskyair · 04/12/2024 01:47

PeriPeriMam · 03/12/2024 22:12

Keep quietly working on a practical plan, protect any money you have access to, and get help to get away safely x

Thank you for your support and advice xx

OP posts:
blueskyair · 04/12/2024 01:56

Cariadm · 04/12/2024 00:37

Sorry to keep repeating myself but I am in NO doubt that he 'understands' only too well what you say to him but he will NEVER admit this because to do so would be a complete game changer and he would lose the moral high ground that keeps you where he wants you to stay which is unquestionably under his control... I worry that at some point he will become so frustrated at the thought of the 'status quo' (as he wants it) being threatened that the goal posts will shift and he will resort to other tactics to get his way.... I realise you are aware of this which is making you understandably cautious but you have taken the first steps onto the path of escape and you must keep going forward!
We're all behind you and rooting for you to be safe and happy! xx 💜

When I read this it hit me how hard it is to fully process that he actually does understand and is intentionally saying he doesn’t. Thank you so much for your support xx

OP posts:
Cariadm · 04/12/2024 04:25

blueskyair · 04/12/2024 01:56

When I read this it hit me how hard it is to fully process that he actually does understand and is intentionally saying he doesn’t. Thank you so much for your support xx

You are so very welcome and it just occurred to me what a good thing it is to have the opportunity to take negative and painful childhood memories, along with what other similar experiences others on here have bravely shared, and turn them into something positive, useful and caring!! Please let us know how things progress and I'm sure I won't be alone in hoping that things will work out for you and we're all here if you need more support and encouragement!! xx🤗

Thatdarncat44 · 04/12/2024 04:43

This is not acceptable. Your DH is a poltergeist.

napody · 04/12/2024 07:43

So pleased you're going to see about getting a contact worker OP. Having agency in your own life might be a scary thought but maybe the possibility is exciting too? You're an intelligent person and you can absolutely do this.

Daleksatemyshed · 04/12/2024 08:12

Men like your Husband can be dangerous if they find out you're planning to leave Op, please be very careful to keep everything secret until you're able to leave. WA will help but please don't rule out going to the police if you feel in any danger.

blueskyair · 05/12/2024 00:10

Daleksatemyshed · 04/12/2024 08:12

Men like your Husband can be dangerous if they find out you're planning to leave Op, please be very careful to keep everything secret until you're able to leave. WA will help but please don't rule out going to the police if you feel in any danger.

Thank you, I appreciate this so much. I am feeling the tension of this reality and I’m going to phone WA tomorrow xx

OP posts:
blueskyair · 05/12/2024 00:11

napody · 04/12/2024 07:43

So pleased you're going to see about getting a contact worker OP. Having agency in your own life might be a scary thought but maybe the possibility is exciting too? You're an intelligent person and you can absolutely do this.

Thank you so much for your encouragement xx

OP posts:
blueskyair · 05/12/2024 00:20

Cariadm · 04/12/2024 04:25

You are so very welcome and it just occurred to me what a good thing it is to have the opportunity to take negative and painful childhood memories, along with what other similar experiences others on here have bravely shared, and turn them into something positive, useful and caring!! Please let us know how things progress and I'm sure I won't be alone in hoping that things will work out for you and we're all here if you need more support and encouragement!! xx🤗

Thank you for your support and I really hope I can move forward with this, it has made a huge difference this week to have contact with others on MN. I will update you if things change 😊 xx

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page