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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

is my OH not a good person or am I being extra and this is normal?

16 replies

Nickynee · 21/02/2025 18:41

I've just started to notice things more so recently, we have been married for over a couple of years.
I just feel he brings me to tears quite a bit and I'm not sure some men are just like that.
Recently, I've noticed he doesn't take accountability for when he messes up-on one occasion due to an error of his I ended up in an accident with some injuries as well. Up to now he hasn't apologised for this even when I have asked him to. To be honest he became more stubborn at this point so that was a bad idea to go there. I have noticed he has a way of making you feel like you are crazy for even getting upset at him or calling him out when he does something wrong and then you end up feeling like you're the bad guy.
I have also become quite frustrated because I have like most women probably had to nag him to do things and he doesn't listen. I feel he is caring day to day in making sure the basics are taken care of but isn't interested in what I would like us to aim for. But when he asks me to do something I will take care of it quite quickly and when I have questioned him on why doesn't he care about what is important to me and listen to what I want, like I do with him, instead of reassuring me, he will instead say "I don't need your help, don't think the world will stop if you don't help me- I can ask someone else ":( And then I feel bad and just do it anyway.
I feel like Im not the smart one in this relationship dynamic and Im also not a manipulator but I do sometimes in the back of mind worry he may be manipulating me.
When we have an argument, he will just not talk to me for a few days so we never resolve the issues either. That can be a very difficult time as I dont like to be in that state. I'm not sure if this is just how some people process conflict, but I personally find it immature .

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 21/02/2025 18:45

His silence for days is abusive. The rest shows a massive lack of caring or valuing you. It could be that you've come to the end of the road.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 21/02/2025 18:51

He sounds absolutely awful. You do not have to stay in a relationship with a man like this. He sounds like a bullying, manipulative gaslighter. I know that term is over-used, but making you feel like you're going crazy when you try and call out his behaviour sounds like gaslighting to me.

JLou08 · 21/02/2025 18:52

What was the error? Hard to say if you are owed an apology without context eg if he forgot to turn the stove off and you then put something flammable on there both at fault, if he was deliberately driving dangerously to intimidate you and had a car accident yes his fault.
Either way if you are questioning it so much and think he could be manipulating you he probably is. Unless you had trust issues due to some past trauma it's unlikely you would have them thoughts without good reason.
You are right that not speaking for days is not the right way to deal with conflict, I could not live with someone who acted that way.

AgnesX · 21/02/2025 18:54

That sounds awful. If his mistake led to you being injured and it was a mistake he's not taking responsibility for I'd be planning my departure.

jay55 · 21/02/2025 18:54

Sounds like he actively dislikes you at best, and tried to kill you at worst.

toomuchfaff · 22/02/2025 09:27

he brings me to tears quite a bit
men are just like that. (no they are not)
doesn't take accountability
I ended up in an accident with some injuries as well.
he doesn't apologise
stubborn
making you feel like you are crazy for even getting upset at him
making you feel like you are crazy for calling him out when he does something wrong
and then you end up feeling like you're the bad guy.

I have also become quite frustrated because I have like most women probably had to nag him (misogynistic language, its not nagging)

he doesn't listen
isn't interested in what I would like

he will instead say "I don't need your help, don't think the world will stop if you don't help me- I can ask someone else ":(

And then I feel bad and just do it anyway.

I feel like Im not the smart one
not talk to me for a few days
never resolve the issues

All of this is toxic behaviours.

Gaslighting. manipulation, abuse, making you doubt reality.

You need to get away from this man. Let him fix himself, or not. Just get away.

Dolambslikemintsauce · 22/02/2025 09:28

He isn't a good man.
Get rid...

Irishpoppy · 22/02/2025 09:36

OP I’m sorry but this man is abusive. Nothing you have described is normal or acceptable behaviour. You’re clearly walking on eggshells around him and you can’t live your life like that. Wishing you well x

Chuchoter · 22/02/2025 09:47

'I just feel he brings me to tears quite a bit and I'm not sure some men are just like that.'

No man should be making you cry.

He sounds utterly uncaring and hostile towards you. Why would you stay in a relationship where he clearly despises you?

AlteredStater · 22/02/2025 09:55

You are with a manchild. If you were with a decent, mature man the difference would blow you away. Please don't stay with this man, he neither loves you nor respects you.

BMW6 · 22/02/2025 10:04

He sounds like a really nasty piece of work, and far from "normal".

Is there a close friend or family member you could sit down with and have a frank and full.talk with?

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 22/02/2025 10:04

Do yourself a favour and get out now, he won't change and his behaviour will eat away at you until you are someone you no longer recognise.

Livinghappy · 22/02/2025 10:04

Op, You are waking up to the toxicity and starting to feel the impact of the behaviours. I would suggest you read around the subject, Lundy "Why does he do that?"

I was in a very similar situation and because we had dc I tried to find ways to resolve the situation (without fully understanding it couldn't be changed). However once I started to have boundaries it was the end as his behaviour ramped up.

What is your situation? Children, finances?

BellissimoGecko · 22/02/2025 10:07

I've noticed he doesn't take accountability for when he messes up-on one occasion due to an error of his I ended up in an accident with some injuries as well. Up to now he hasn't apologised for this even when I have asked him to

What happened here? He should have been massively apologetic.

Apart from that, the silent treatment is abusive.

Suszieq · 22/02/2025 10:37

You’re with an emotional abuser op. He’s done such a number on you that you can’t even recognise it. If anything you absorb the blame when he does something wrong.

He is gaslighting you and man is it working. Before you know it, he’ll have you docile and a quivering wreck, doing anything he wants with a click of his fingers. If he does anything wrong, the only one at fault will obviously be you.

The first thing you need to do is to read up on gaslighting, manipulation in relationships and the dangers of not taking accountability in a relationship.

I say this because, if you want this marriage to last something has to change and change asap. Otherwise, if things continue I dread to think what you will be in years to come. I also dread to think about your mental state in a few years to come. You may end up a shell of yourself, if you don’t feel like that already.

You need to see him as someone that isn’t quite safe. Be careful around him and engage with him as such.

If a disagreement arises, becareful about getting into a back and forth with him. You know he’ll use mental weapons against you (gaslighting, manipulation etc). Say how you feel but don’t do the back and forth, you’ll get no where.

But make sure you hold firm and write down your thoughts. Write down why it makes you upset and why it’s a problem. Your feelings matter, REGARDLESS of whether he thinks it’s a problem.

Then, get specialist intervention. Start speaking to a therapist if you haven’t already. I would also encourage you to tell your GP, they may be able to refer you to an organisation that could help you.

Start keeping a record and always remember your feelings and thoughts and wants matter and are justified.

Pashazade · 22/02/2025 11:52

Do you have life insurance? Because I'd be concerned about the accident if you do...

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