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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is he abusive or do I push him?

260 replies

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:13

Hello
Me and BF have been together for 3 years. I dont wish to tell every single detail but I think it is relevant. When I met BF I was married and BF was effectively the other man for 4 months, until I left my xDH. BF suspected I wasnt seperated several times but didnt end things as I convinced him otherwise. He lied about when his ex moved out and when they split but he said that is because I said I wouldnt date anyone who had just split with an ex so he altered dates. I do remember saying this but he shouldnt have lied. For context, they were not together whilst we were, I have messaged his ex and she confirmed this.

However, back to my question. I am 6 months pregnant. We have always spoke about starting a family, living together and one day being married. BF has always been so lovely, gentle and caring. I have never met anyone who puts in more effort. Whether its breakfast in bed to asking about my day and genuinely taking an interest, no matter how boring my day has been.

After I left my xDH, I admit, I probably wasnt in a good place for a relationship. I anaylised everything BF had told me about his past and I used to spend hours and hours searching facebook, asking him questions (from morning to night) and even setting up fake accounts to message his ex. Little by little, I started noticing a change in his temper. He would often tell me that the more I argue with him, the more I damage the relationship. I have stopped all the past questions now. However, I have went snopping a few times around his house to find "past" items and then we have argued when I have found something belonging to an ex. I had stopped all of that and have been seeing a therapist. However, on friday, I went snooping in a drawer. I then saw he had an old watch and a braclet that looked like something he would give another woman. I then made up a lie to ask him about this. Said I was scattering notes around the house for him and found it. He was annoyed with the questions but answered them - it was a watch that he bought a gf 20 years ago and the bracelet he bought his ex wife ten years ago (his ex isnt his ex wife by the way). He then flipped after I asked more questions. He then demanded to see where the love notes where around the house, I then told him there wasnt any, he got angry. He then started saying things like "you havent changed" "You still dont trust" "you have no self control" etc etc. He then said he didnt care if I was in his house or if I went home. I promised him I wouldnt do it again and he said it was just words. He then started getting angry the more I pushed him to talk to me, trust in me again and to talk to me. He shouted and said I had no right telling him what to do and then he said he doesnt trust me at all now.

He then started saying that he is fed up putting in effort when I dont (which is not true). He means he is fed up fixing our issues when I keep doing the same thing over and over again. The last time was in August when he went to the bathroom and I went down his phone. But I am happy I did as that is when I found out when him and his ex really broke up and I always had doubts over that. He kept wanting space and to stop speaking about it but I didnt leave it and he then started shouting at me and shouting in my face.

Last night he agreed to still come out with family. It was a nice evening, not too much chat from him but it was civil. He then slept in the car on the way home. When we got home, he didnt want to cuddle in bed and said he was "too full". When i questioned this he got angry. Said he wanted to sleep, told me he wanted me to go home earlier but I wouldnt. So after shouting and calling me "damaged" he went to sleep. This morning he said "hello" to me. I then said "okay, so you have had your sleep, what is going on with us" and he got immediately angry again. Telling me that there is something wrong with me that I want forgiveness and not do anything for it. He then started shouting in my face when I kept trying to hold his hand and apologise. He said I keep pushing him and he wants a quiet morning before work. I asked him for a time when we could talk and he got angry and said I had no right to demand anything. I then said it feels like you dont want me here, he said he didnt care, and that he doesnt want to speak to me, and he said he doesnt. I then said that I am the only one putting in effort and that I am fighting an uphill battle. He agreed and said he has no fucks left anymore and he wont be putting in effort and it is for me to do to win his trust back, again. he then got up, angrily said I had ruined his whole morning and he was now in a bad mood for work. I then said I would come work in his upstairs office (I have a desk there too but have been working int he livingroom for months, out of choice, it is more cosy) He said no, he didnt want me to work in the same room as him, I said I didnt care and I was going to make him a coffee and come up stairs. He said there wasnt the room, I said I would make room. He then got angry and grabbed me and forced me up the stairs to see the room, and he was right, there was mess everywhere and nowhere for me to work - he then said "here we go again, always think I am lying".

He kept shouting he had a meeting in "5 minuts". I grabbed his hand and apologised and said I had changed and I wouldnt break his trust again. He said he wanted me to go away, I refused and then his alarm went off reminding him his meeting had just started (online). He got angry, shouted that he wanted to be left alone. I said no. He then raised his fist and told me to go away. He didnt hit me but when I said "dont ever threaten me with violence" he said I have pushed him to that as I wont respect his feelings or boundaries. We are now in seperate rooms not talking with him making arsy remarks.

I dont know what to do or how to move on from this.

I am 6 months pregnant and I dont need the hassle.

Please dont say "LTB", please give honest opinions.

Is he abusive or have I pushed him to this?

Thank you

OP posts:
Imbusytodaysorry · 03/02/2025 14:09

@Uusallypositive

You have one cheek to do what you are doing .You are projecting !
He is right you won’t change. .
He needs to leave you before he ends up in trouble because you don’t respect any of his boundaries not one single one.

Take your stuff and leave like he asked you to do when you started your shit this morning again when he had a imminent meeting

Imbusytodaysorry · 03/02/2025 14:10

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:26

I am trying to distinguish abuse vs anger.
Would someone abusive be "pushed" or would they just act out

You are the abusive one ! Spying questioning . Pushing him into corners he doesn’t want to be in nor respecting his wishes . Not respecting his boundaries and walking all over them. .
Ffs go home

Anotherparkingthread · 03/02/2025 14:11

You sound fucking mental, women like you make it impossible for sane women to be believed when they experience actual abuse.

You're the abusive one here, you're controlling, you have retroactive jealousy which you are not taking any accountability for and is running entirely unchecked, you made fake profiles to message people on Facebook who he knows, you search his house and you search his phone - massive invasions of his privacy. You constantly do these things then pretend to have changed, you force him to make up with you after causing arguements out of nothing, you're obsessed with his past when it you who lied about being separated at the start of the relationship.

You're a fucking terrible person and you need to work on that before you bring a child into the world because you are not fit to raise one. Sort yourself out.

He would do well to leave you and never look back.

MellowCritic · 03/02/2025 14:18

PastIsAnotherCountry · 03/02/2025 13:43

Neither of you is coming out of this well. In common with PPs, to outsiders, it looks like you both need to split from each other as you're bringing out your worse attributes. This is so sad to read because it sounds like your DP started out by behaving in loving, respectful, supportive ways and the relationship has, nonetheless, become toxic. It's not just each other you need to consider, but the baby.

OP, I see you're working with a therapist and wonder if it might be helpful to read this:

Researchers have discovered that narcissism can come in two types: grandiose and vulnerable…women more commonly display the vulnerable form, involving introversion, defensiveness and low self-esteem…
Green believes this is because bragging and chest-thumping simply aren’t socially acceptable for women. “Narcissistic women are abusing in ways that society allows,” she argues. “They often leverage their femininity, present themselves as soft-spoken, but it is cunning; it’s premeditated.” They may still lie, cheat and control others.
…Women with vulnerable narcissism…had more paranoid thoughts and the worst mental health of all. This is potentially because they are more insecure…
But we may fail to recognise these traits as narcissistic…There’s certainly aggression beneath the surface. Vulnerable narcissism is more strongly linked to aggression in relationships, as well as physical and verbal bullying, than the grandiose type.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/02/female-narcissism-is-often-misdiagnosed-how-science-is-finding-women-can-have-a-dark-streak-too

Does this sound similar to your lies to your DP, setting traps for him, frequent expression of mistrust of him etc.?

What the hell is this you have posted? This woman needs professional help not your keyboard warrior, fake psychological analysis!! Take your post down immediately. This woman is pregnant and clearly shouldn't be taking advice from the batshit ppl on here.. and that's you I'm talking about not op.

BestDIL · 03/02/2025 14:18

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:29

I only wonder if he is abusve as I have been crying and asking for forgiveness and he has been shouting in my face (literally) and banging / hitting things around me.

Sounds like he is at the end of his tether and sees your tears as crocodile tears. It isn't ok for him to raise his fist but and this is a big but, he stopped short of hitting you which means that he has morals. You, on the other hand, snooping and prying and questioning, do not.

He needs to get away from you and fast!!

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 14:25

username299 · 03/02/2025 11:27

This whole situation is all kinds of messed up. Your constant snooping, invasion of privacy and lack of trust would be enough to drive anyone up the wall. You also need to learn when to back off.

However, you're heavily pregnant, he pushed you up the stairs and threatened you with violence.

This is a really toxic situation and you need to end it. I can't see this getting any better. Please contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and get some support to leave.

Do you mean so she can report herself? Who knows if he even pushed her, he might have just made contact to get her out of the way. OP obviously thrives on the confrontation and high drama.

Pointynoseowner · 03/02/2025 14:27

That poor guy. He should run for the hills and never look back. You are so abusive and need some serious help. Leave him alone, get therapy and don't even think about another relationship for the next few years. Your toxic.

OnYerselfHen · 03/02/2025 14:40

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 11:02

A few things.
I dont want to be lied and cheated on - like I have done so in the past, so I know how easy it is to do. That is the old me and I am disgusted with that version of myself. In arguments, I hate the thought that he might walk away and I try and get him back by trying to talk and pushing for resolution.

But it doesn't look like he has been cheating on you? I think you need to let him go, this is a very unhealthy relationship. He is not abusive, you are. If anything his actions are reactive abuse.

username299 · 03/02/2025 14:43

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 14:25

Do you mean so she can report herself? Who knows if he even pushed her, he might have just made contact to get her out of the way. OP obviously thrives on the confrontation and high drama.

Edited

I think it's pretty evident what I mean.

BrotherViolence · 03/02/2025 14:45

The following assumes there's at least a part of you that wants to in good faith consider your own culpability and make changes. We can't armchair diagnose but it is clear you have some serious unresolved issues when it comes to relationships. That often comes from attachment issues from childhood and it would be very worth continuing to address all of this in therapy. Currently you are the abuser, from what you've said. If you genuinely don't want to be, you need to take a very serious look at your thoughts and behaviours and make a concerted effort to change. It won't happen overnight, but your kid deserves to be brought up in a healthier relationship than this and by a healthier mother than this, frankly. cPTSD, borderline, dysfunctional attachment would all be things to consider.

To repair your relationship with this man you will need to be genuinely very apologetic, and make real changes to your behaviour. You have to trust him, ultimately, and you have to come to terms with the fact that being in a relationship means potentially being hurt, left or cheated on. That's life. A much more stoic and less controlling approach is essential for a healthy relationship.

In general I'd say he should run for the hills but as there's a child on the way who will be shaped by you as their mother, and as you're asking the question, I'd just urge you to get serious help and really consider your behaviour instead. I'm sure you have good qualities too, things that he loves about you. Try to be that person.

InvisibilityCloakActivated · 03/02/2025 14:49

You aren't right for each other. Your relationship is built on lies from the start. You have trust issues. Your partner has anger issues. Whether you "push him" or not is irrelevant - you just don't work well together as a couple.

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 14:58

InvisibilityCloakActivated · 03/02/2025 14:49

You aren't right for each other. Your relationship is built on lies from the start. You have trust issues. Your partner has anger issues. Whether you "push him" or not is irrelevant - you just don't work well together as a couple.

Edited

That’s very true. The relationship is not working on any level.

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 14:59

username299 · 03/02/2025 14:43

I think it's pretty evident what I mean.

OP is abusive so I would advise the man to also seek help and support.

username299 · 03/02/2025 15:02

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 14:59

OP is abusive so I would advise the man to also seek help and support.

I don't believe the OP is physically aggressive. A grown man pushing a heavily pregnant woman up a flight of stairs, is dangerous. A man threatening a woman with his fist, is dangerous.

I'll ignore the baying mob and focus on the vulnerable pregnant woman, every time.

Over40Overdating · 03/02/2025 15:19

@username299 do you condone all abusers or only the pregnant ones?

You have validated exactly what OP was looking for, which was someone to tell her she is a victim to a horrible man with zero context for how this situation arose.

The only thing you are helping her to do is continue to be abusive, controlling and manipulative. There is no baying mob you are bravely defending her against, merely people who know an abuser when they see one.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 03/02/2025 15:25

You know all those men who claim their exes are unhinged, psychotic, damaged, and we all go "sure, whatever, they always are, funny that".
I'm going to remember this thread next time I read that.

username299 · 03/02/2025 15:27

Over40Overdating · 03/02/2025 15:19

@username299 do you condone all abusers or only the pregnant ones?

You have validated exactly what OP was looking for, which was someone to tell her she is a victim to a horrible man with zero context for how this situation arose.

The only thing you are helping her to do is continue to be abusive, controlling and manipulative. There is no baying mob you are bravely defending her against, merely people who know an abuser when they see one.

There's no excuse for a man to raise his fist to a woman nor drag her up a flight of stairs.

You and the rest of the villagers remind me of the good old days when men used the 'provocation' defence and 'nagging' was considered a good enough excuse for assault and homicide.

It's possible for two people in a relationship to be toxic. It doesn't excuse physical aggression. All you're doing is telling the OP that she deserves to be threatened.

Justwonderinghow · 03/02/2025 15:36

You two have no business being together.
Just hope this child doesn’t get caught in the cross fire and mess of a relationship.
You have to examine your own behaviour. Reading your post, you seem to want to push him so that he answers your questions in a way which would please you- do you realise how controlling that is?
I gave up reading when you said he didn’t want to cuddle up and you questioned him. Why? Why?
Why does it have to be your way always?

Separate and get help before( and after) your baby is born.

Imbusytodaysorry · 03/02/2025 15:53

SheridansPortSalut · 03/02/2025 11:05

I only made it half way though. Neither of you are coming off well in this story. The whole relationship is pretty toxic. You need to part ways.

In don’t think it’s him .
Honestly reminds of an abused women who snaps and kills the partner.
This man is being abused and is trying to defend himself. Nothing he says or does is working. .
Terrifying that his life could be ruined if he is pushed to the point of no return

Naunet · 03/02/2025 15:53

There is no excuse for him raising his fist to you, and there is no excuse for your abusive behaviour. Your controling insecurity is not his problem to manage, it's yours and until you learn to control, yourself, you should not be in a relationship.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 03/02/2025 17:07

I am trying to distinguish abuse vs anger.

It's simple. His behaviour is anger. Your behaviour is abuse.

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 17:38

You need to realise Op that his reactions to you don’t cancel out your own abusive behaviour. You need to understand that you are the one initiating the toxic environment. Yes, he’s not handling in a way that should be better, but it is still you who is the creator of this crap.

SALaw · 03/02/2025 17:42

I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you and he sounds like a dick too.

pinkyredrose · 03/02/2025 18:22

I wish it could be better instantly as I wont do these things again.

Said no abuser ever.

You sound too immature to be in a relationship let alone have a baby.

seven201 · 03/02/2025 19:57

Reading your posts it's obvious you will not account for anyone else's argument style. You want to hash it out instantly, he wants space, but you keep pushing and pushing until he snaps. If he says don't come into the office, especially during/nearing working hours, you must leave it. You really do sound abusive. He shouldn't be grabbing your arm, raising a fist or shouting in your face, but if you're refusing to leave him alone I can see why he snaps.

You're both in the wrong, but you are the instigator every time. This is an incredibly toxic environment to bring a baby into.

Why make up some silly lie about love notes when you later say you were looking to see if he'd got you a card? You try and justify every snooping event. It's never ok to snoop. Partners are allowed to keep their past private. I don't need or want to know about my DH's exes, and vice versa.

Can you up your counselling? You need to get yourself in a healthier place before the baby arrives.