Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To break up a marriage?

42 replies

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 19:56

Or two or three or more... I have friends in abusive marriages. They know and they don't know. Coercion, financial abuse, sexual abuse (just short of rape), constant belittling, gaslighting, criticism, semi threats of violence. There are young children. No one has come to physical harm so far. It might never. All the light has gone from my beautiful, kind, intelligent friends. I really can't go into detail as it's too outing.

All the advice online is to tread carefully, listen, don't label anything as abuse and just try to redirect back to them how they're feeling and what they say has been done to them. But this has been decades now, I think it's affecting the children, and my heart breaks for all of them.

YABU - It's impossible. Telling people to leave their partners will only result in them shrinking away from you and further isolating themselves. Every single piece of professional advice says that people have to realise these things for themselves.

YANBU - Tell them what's what because the soft approach hasn't worked.

Obviously, all I want to do is the latter, but i just worry it will backfire horribly and then I won't be welcome, and they'll need me for when things get worse.

OP posts:
WhoPutTheBomp · 30/12/2024 19:59

Why would you be breaking up these marriages? Hubris, much?

Be supportive to you friends, of course, and, if you have concerns about children's well-being report to the relevant authorities.

LizzoBennett · 30/12/2024 20:06

They are probably all aware but are used to the treatment as it is familiar behaviour or they're determined to keep their families together. It's likely they've all chosen the devils that they know. Stating the obvious is very unlikely to make your friends change their minds.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/12/2024 20:09

Are they friends of each other too? Maybe that's part of the problem, often people have their light bulb moment when in the company of a functioning healthy couple. But if it's the norm within their social group it's harder to help them see the light. Not sure you can do anything to be honest.

cansu · 30/12/2024 20:10

It really isn't down to you to tell them to do anything. Why would you think it is down to you??

Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:17

Having been through something similar recently, it’s not always that easy.

they will know on some level they are being abused. But the may not have the financial means to leave, they may be worried about the kids having contact without them there to bear the brunt. There are lots of reasons people stay, often practical as well as emotional.

i think all you can do is make sure they know if they want to get away you will
help. We went and got the abused person- they couldn’t leave as they didn’t even have money for bus or train fare- under the pretence of taking them for a visit. Once with us we said they were welcome to stay for as long as it took, and we’d help with banks etc.

but it had been years and she’s never have left on her own, she’d been made too dependent. when you have no money, no Id, isolated from family and friends, can’t leave the house without them, how exactly do you leave?

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:20

WhoPutTheBomp · 30/12/2024 19:59

Why would you be breaking up these marriages? Hubris, much?

Be supportive to you friends, of course, and, if you have concerns about children's well-being report to the relevant authorities.

Yeah, you're right. I just mean sitting them down and saying I think they're being horribly abused and they really need to leave for their safety and children's well-being. I realise I couldn't actually just step in and end these relationships. I'd just like to tell them I want to!

OP posts:
Foreverchangeable · 30/12/2024 20:20

Mind your own business unless children are at risk. What makes you think you know what's best for other people, assuming they have capacity? That sounds a bit controlling tbh.

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:21

LizzoBennett · 30/12/2024 20:06

They are probably all aware but are used to the treatment as it is familiar behaviour or they're determined to keep their families together. It's likely they've all chosen the devils that they know. Stating the obvious is very unlikely to make your friends change their minds.

They are. They can't see how bad it is. Various people have told them they're being abused. Maybe me saying it wouldn't make any difference.

OP posts:
BarbaraHoward · 30/12/2024 20:21

If you were to do that it may be a wake-up call. More likely, it would end your friendships.

JimHalpertsWife · 30/12/2024 20:21

Well, the person abusing/ cheating in the relationships are the ones who ultimately will break the marriage.

Rather than go hell for leather, why not just approach whichever one of your friends you feel is in the worst position and ask if you can help her / get her some help?

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:22

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/12/2024 20:09

Are they friends of each other too? Maybe that's part of the problem, often people have their light bulb moment when in the company of a functioning healthy couple. But if it's the norm within their social group it's harder to help them see the light. Not sure you can do anything to be honest.

I do think that's an issue. I'd try to expose them more to my relationship because it does always seem to help slightly but my husband cannot bear being around their husbands!

OP posts:
MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 30/12/2024 20:22

You can tell them you value them and support them and think they are worth more than the way they are treated, but it can't come with strings, it's not your frustration and resentment to feel, it's not your life to make decisions about, so if they choose to stay, a friend chooses to continue being a friend. If the children are in danger that's a different matter, you may end up needing to contact children's social care and if the friendships ever so be it

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:24

Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:17

Having been through something similar recently, it’s not always that easy.

they will know on some level they are being abused. But the may not have the financial means to leave, they may be worried about the kids having contact without them there to bear the brunt. There are lots of reasons people stay, often practical as well as emotional.

i think all you can do is make sure they know if they want to get away you will
help. We went and got the abused person- they couldn’t leave as they didn’t even have money for bus or train fare- under the pretence of taking them for a visit. Once with us we said they were welcome to stay for as long as it took, and we’d help with banks etc.

but it had been years and she’s never have left on her own, she’d been made too dependent. when you have no money, no Id, isolated from family and friends, can’t leave the house without them, how exactly do you leave?

All of these women are in exactly the situation you describe, but they're so resourceful and talented I know they could make it on their own. They obviously can't see it though.

OP posts:
Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:25

Foreverchangeable · 30/12/2024 20:20

Mind your own business unless children are at risk. What makes you think you know what's best for other people, assuming they have capacity? That sounds a bit controlling tbh.

Blimey if I were in an abusive relationship I hope “friends” would offer me support and assistance in finding a way out.

not just mind their own business and leave me to be abused.

abusive relationships by their nature are very hard to leave. Even if someone has capacity. Why do you think abused women don’t just up and leave? Why they go back, even when they are hospitalised…

maybe do some checking on domestic abuse and why it’s so difficult to leave an abuser.

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:25

BarbaraHoward · 30/12/2024 20:21

If you were to do that it may be a wake-up call. More likely, it would end your friendships.

You're probably right. It's so hard watching them.

OP posts:
FedUp2025 · 30/12/2024 20:26

I'd focus on yourself and your own goals. They're adults , leave them be

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:26

JimHalpertsWife · 30/12/2024 20:21

Well, the person abusing/ cheating in the relationships are the ones who ultimately will break the marriage.

Rather than go hell for leather, why not just approach whichever one of your friends you feel is in the worst position and ask if you can help her / get her some help?

I have... She always thinks things will get better or it's too hard to leave or it's not that bad.

OP posts:
SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:27

MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 30/12/2024 20:22

You can tell them you value them and support them and think they are worth more than the way they are treated, but it can't come with strings, it's not your frustration and resentment to feel, it's not your life to make decisions about, so if they choose to stay, a friend chooses to continue being a friend. If the children are in danger that's a different matter, you may end up needing to contact children's social care and if the friendships ever so be it

I do tell them this. You're entirely right.

OP posts:
Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:28

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:24

All of these women are in exactly the situation you describe, but they're so resourceful and talented I know they could make it on their own. They obviously can't see it though.

It’s “normal” for an abuser to convince their victim that they would survive without them. That they’re so useless and fundamentally unloveable, who else would love them, care for them? They separate from friends and family so they’re utterly dependent.

BarbaraHoward · 30/12/2024 20:29

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:25

You're probably right. It's so hard watching them.

Yes, yes it is. But they need someone to talk to.

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:30

Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:25

Blimey if I were in an abusive relationship I hope “friends” would offer me support and assistance in finding a way out.

not just mind their own business and leave me to be abused.

abusive relationships by their nature are very hard to leave. Even if someone has capacity. Why do you think abused women don’t just up and leave? Why they go back, even when they are hospitalised…

maybe do some checking on domestic abuse and why it’s so difficult to leave an abuser.

Exactly. It's so hard to leave, to see what's really going on because you lose all self-worth. It's just so hard to know how to help someone see what's happening to them without making them mistrust you.

OP posts:
Foreverchangeable · 30/12/2024 20:32

@Ohnonotmeagain how does she even know her friends are in abusive relationships other than from her own 'observations'? Obviously if any friends actually ask for help that's completely different and she absolutely should help. But to decide on the nature of other people's relationships and whether they're good or bad without being asked for help or input, is, to me, rather odd. If a man was 'knowing what was best' for a woman, who presumably has capacity and the ability to make her own decisions, how would you feel then?

SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:32

Ohnonotmeagain · 30/12/2024 20:28

It’s “normal” for an abuser to convince their victim that they would survive without them. That they’re so useless and fundamentally unloveable, who else would love them, care for them? They separate from friends and family so they’re utterly dependent.

Exactly. It's awful. And I don't believe the men even really know they're doing it so they're completely convincing as nice guys outside of the nightmare situations.

OP posts:
SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:33

BarbaraHoward · 30/12/2024 20:29

Yes, yes it is. But they need someone to talk to.

I shall proceed as per usual then! 💔

OP posts:
SpatulaSpatula · 30/12/2024 20:34

Foreverchangeable · 30/12/2024 20:32

@Ohnonotmeagain how does she even know her friends are in abusive relationships other than from her own 'observations'? Obviously if any friends actually ask for help that's completely different and she absolutely should help. But to decide on the nature of other people's relationships and whether they're good or bad without being asked for help or input, is, to me, rather odd. If a man was 'knowing what was best' for a woman, who presumably has capacity and the ability to make her own decisions, how would you feel then?

This is actually hilarious. I must just be wildly misinterpreting everything they call me in tears about. Whoops.

OP posts: