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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH has left us on MH grounds

316 replies

Drowning8453 · 20/05/2025 15:37

DH has been having difficulty with his MH, I would say close on a year that I know of, but possibly a lot longer than that, things like anxiety and depressive moments. He gets very fixated on health issues and gets very very down about them. Once one thing is 'fixed' there will be another quite quickly. When he has a cold he gets very very down about it and starts to fixate and stress.

We have a 3 yr DS and we have lived together for around 5 years now in the home that I owned before we got together. I have asked many times for us to move in to own something together, but he has always either shut the conversation down, changed the subject or said no, it wasn't the right time and he would find it too stressful to move. I have found this really anxiety provoking myself, as everything felt so uncertain. So we have carried on as me being responsible for all the house maintenance and upkeep and him paying me rent each month to cover the bills. I do all of the housework and his 'jobs' have been to do the dishes and cook, plus some food shopping and some laundry which I also do. He will not clean and has no interest in any maintenance things, doesn't see them as his responsibility and thinks that it's my house or I won't like what he does so why do it.

I work 3.5 days a week and I do all of the nights with our DS, as DH is in his own room as we keep him awake and he needs his sleep.

Over the past 6 months, DH's MH has been getting progressively worse, he is constantly tired, doesn't enjoys days out or even want to go on them (which I organise) with DS, is miserable quite often or worrying about a health issue. Christmas day was spent worrying that he had something wrong with his neck. It has put a lot of stress and pressure on me as I feel like I have been trying to support him and also trying to keep things normal and nice for our son.

This has escalated in the last month when DH had a health scare. It was very worrying for us, and has since sent him into a complete spiral. He has been off work and I have been trying to be as supportive as I can. He felt that being alone with our son was too much for him and made him feel worse and stressed, but he was well enough to book an afternoon/lunch/walks with his friends and his hobby. So I have had to take on pretty much all childcare, on top of work and struggling to even get out for a walk on my own.

When I raised an issue with this, it was met with you are adding more stress onto me when I don't need it and walked away from the conversation. He has now left the house to go and stay with family, so that he can be as stress free as possible so he can get well, and doesn't know when/whether he will be able to come back saying that I'm putting too much pressure on him at home and his mental health isn't in the right place for any conversations like that. He has come to see DS for a few hours each weekend, but has said that pushed him too far and took it out of him. I'm alone with our DS, doing everything and trying to keep things as stable as possible while I feel he has simply checked out.

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 20/05/2025 15:39

I wouldn't allow him back in. That's no sort of life for your child.

Kathbrownlow · 20/05/2025 15:41

You are lucky he went of his own accord. Get rid permanently. And change the locks.

Haemagoblin · 20/05/2025 15:43

It may not feel it right now, but you're lucky. You have your own property and income and he's left of his own accord. Winning.

My only concern is that if you're married (you say DH) he may be entitled to some of your house when you divorce. I say 'when' because he is not adding anything remotely positive to you and your child's lives and you're both better off without him. Drop the rope; stop contacting him or encouraging contact with your child; contact a solicitor and find out if it is better for you financially to proceed to divorce or remain separated. Do. Not. Let. Him. Come. Back. He's a waste of space. i-

Eyesopenwideawake · 20/05/2025 15:44

It might not feel like it at the moment but you are better off without him, at least until he is completely recovered and able to play a full part in your son's life. Until that time best to consider yourself a single parent.

Unbeleevable · 20/05/2025 15:46

Agree with the pp- he has walked out with no consideration how you’ll look after your dc. It sounds like you’ll be better off without him. Sorry for his state of mind, but you have your own MH and the child he has deserted to look after.

He has no right to move back in. Tell him you don’t want him back, and tell him what the CMS calculator says he owes you.

Get your dc in full time childcare and up your working hours to FT.

butteredhorseradish · 20/05/2025 15:46

I would start divorce proceedings. He has no interest whatsover in being part of family life and sharing the load.
He may well have mental health issues but he sounds like one of these types who can use these difficulties as an excuse to get out of doing things he doesn't want to do and to shut down any discussions about any fanily issues.

cestlavielife · 20/05/2025 15:46

Where is the bit where dh is seeing gp and psychiatrist to get treated for his mh?
You and ds better off with him living elsewhere

jeaux90 · 20/05/2025 15:46

What an absolute drain he is. Seriously you have stepped into a relationship where you are the parent and he is the child. You are well shot. I say this as someone who has been a lone parent for 15 years, life can be easier and more peaceful without them in it.

Also the unhealthy relationship dynamics that DS is being taught by him is terrible. Better you show him you can be a strong lone parent.

ImperfectAlf · 20/05/2025 15:47

Good job you didn’t dump life , child and house then, isn’t it? Why is it ok for him? What use is he to your child? A stable home is essential. It sounds like either he’s very ill, in which case he needs medical help, or he’s checked out of adulthood, in which case , he needs to stay away permanently.
sorry, op

Gustavo77 · 20/05/2025 15:49

The man is unwell for goodness sake, give him time and space to get better then you can both see where you are.

Spirallingdownwards · 20/05/2025 15:49

When did you marry? It may be short enough a marriage that with any luck you won't have to buy him out of your property if you get a decent lawyer, which I suggest you do ASAP and get divorce proceedings underway.

Bourbonversuscustardcream · 20/05/2025 15:50

Unless he was actively trying to improve his mental health by all means possible the relationship would be over. I’m sympathetic to health problems but I’d expect DH to be going to doctors, trying medication, seeking therapy and looking for help, not just checking out of family life.

RedToothBrush · 20/05/2025 15:50

If you are a single parent who is not financially tied to him, are you better off? The issue is him trying to come for the house. Do you have a written agreement about him paying rent rather than contributing to the mortgage?

Honestly I would be seeking legal advice here.

Do you want him back?

Spirallingdownwards · 20/05/2025 15:51

Gustavo77 · 20/05/2025 15:49

The man is unwell for goodness sake, give him time and space to get better then you can both see where you are.

Choosing not to share a property and financially contribute equally in a marriage is not down to MH reasons alone. It is a choice he made.

BernardButlersBra · 20/05/2025 15:53

Kathbrownlow · 20/05/2025 15:41

You are lucky he went of his own accord. Get rid permanently. And change the locks.

This. Off he pops. He’s a total dead weight. All of his free time to fixate on his health is really not helping him. But that’s his problem now

Im going to re-write the title of this thread “my lazy, selfish dead best boyfriend has stopped cock lodging and moved out of my house 🎉”

Golidlocksandthethreeswears · 20/05/2025 15:54

What do you get out of the marriage?
What benefit/positivity does he bring to your life?

ACynicalDad · 20/05/2025 15:55

I doubt this is classed as a long marriage, with your child needing a home and him walking out I'd expect you to have a very strong claim on the entire house, also he's paid the bills not the mortgage. I'd get rid, it's no life for you or your child.

Butchyrestingface · 20/05/2025 15:55

It’s still your home, right? You haven’t put him on the mortgage or title deeds?

Good-o.

HiddenInCubeOfCheese · 20/05/2025 15:57

I‘m so sorry he can’t show up for you.

I think you’re better off without him as a dependent on you and your child’s lives.

carly2803 · 20/05/2025 15:58

he is a proper drain isnt he - you will find yourself coping better without another child to deal wtih too - trust me

let him go, go full time and divorce him

burnda · 20/05/2025 15:58

get some legal advice because if you're married to him, he will have a financial claim
on the house

Doyathinkhesaurus · 20/05/2025 15:59

If we are charitable about his behaviour, he is suffering from a mental health problem which has completely overwhelmed him. On the other hand he has used his male privilege to exit your relationship to deal with his health problem. Something you do not have the latitude to do. Change the locks. Submit a claim for child support. I think he has checked out of the relationship and it doesn’t sound as if he was particularly committed in the first place. He’s acting like you’re his mum not his wife and when things got tough he ran straight home to MUM. That’s not the sort of behaviour you want in your life.

Shuttered · 20/05/2025 16:00

What everyone else said. Sympathies, OP. You’ve been dealing with a lot. But I bet as soon as you’re over the shock, you will realise the burden of someone deeply selfish, taking no responsibility for managing his MH, and making any effort to share the load of parenting and household work, has been lifted. I’d change the locks.

MissDoubleU · 20/05/2025 16:04

Change the locks and divorce. I promise you, this is no life. Set yourself free and your sweet child free from this. He has left, it was his choice. Make it permanent. Take time to heal and build your life and your child’s life into whatever you want.

Brightanddrywithsunnyspells · 20/05/2025 16:04

I'm drained just reading this. What about the impact of his behaviour on your MH? You have the patience of a saint. Imo: for the sake of your boy and you, get those locks changed and get legal advice.

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