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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask a Therapist ...

26 replies

Anon885 · 13/02/2025 08:36

Sorry all, maybe not best placed in AIBU however posting for traffic.
Odd question and I am probably going to look stupid but here goes.
I'm in an abusive relationship. He wants people to think I'm mentally ill.

Nearly 3 years ago (yes he still goes on about this) we went to a Relate Therapist after I discovered he was messaging and sleeping with at least 6 women in the first 8 months of our relationship (we were exclusive and I was pregnant, although unplanned).

He makes things up. Literally argues and shouts about things that haven't happened. For instance I work 30 hours a week and he shouts at me that I have no job and everyone asks him if I'm mentally ill because I don't work (I have a professional NHS job).

This morning I had him shouting at me that I'm mentally ill and we know this because the therapist said so. Apparently the reason I stopped therapy is because she told me I had personality disorder and I couldn't accept it because I've no insight.

We stopped therapy because it was COUPLES therapy, he refused to engage and said he didn't need to be there because there was nothing wrong with him and I needed help. In fact when we turned up at therapy his opening line was "I'm happy to pay for anon to see a psychiatrist so she can get diagnosed". Now apart from the stress he causes me, I have no mental illness, yet he tells people I have. Obviously it's all lies and a Relate Therapist wouldn't diagnose Personality Disorder even if she thought I had it (she would refer on). He doesn't care about this factual information and makes things up as he goes along.

This is where I'm probably going to be unreasonable/look ridiculous, however I'm actually desperate.

Could I ask the therapist I saw to actually write some kind of confirmation that she never diagnosed me with Personality Disorder? I'd pay her. I'm fed up of him throwing it at me and telling others lies.

OP posts:
TwoFatDucklings · 13/02/2025 13:24

Anon885 · 13/02/2025 12:50

I suppose what I'm mostly concerned about (with regards to my topic) is that the therapist will think I'm really weird for asking!

If it's a good therapist, they'll be concerned about why you are asking and will ask you questions in return. You'll explain and then they'll suggest you seek therapy to help you moving forward from the last 9 years and also refer you to woman's aid/housing charities etc.

If it's a bad therapist, who knows what their reaction will be, but then they shouldn't be working as a therapist, so who cares

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