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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:
TallulahBetty · 20/05/2025 16:08

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

Might* have. The legal advice will uncover if he has.

Over40Overdating · 20/05/2025 16:08

So he’s refused to make himself an equal partner in your relationship the whole time you’ve lived together and is too drained to be even a weekend dad because it’s too much pressure because he’d rather sit and pontificate about every ache and pain. But he’s not so drained he can’t do his hobbies and meet friends.

That’s not an unwell man, that’s a lazy, uninterested man.

Twiglets1 · 20/05/2025 16:08

Change the locks, drop the rope ... he has left and with a bit of luck he won't come back or if he does, you will be strong enough not to engage with him.

Tell him it's over (after first consulting a solicitor re a divorce). He sounds like a complete drain on you.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 20/05/2025 16:10

He may have mh issues. But, separately, he is a terrible husband.

Ltb and raise your son in your house. You don't need him and I imagine that your life will be easier.

When he's ready he'll come back around banging on about his 'rights', I'm sure.

Weekend visits every second week, is what I'd advise once he decides he wants to be a dad xx

viques · 20/05/2025 16:11

I would be thinking about getting a lodger in to use his former room, income to cover the bills and another , sane , adult in the house. I think it will lead to a calmer and more relaxing atmosphere for you and the child.

PruthePrune · 20/05/2025 16:11

As others have said he has done you a massive favour by leaving. Having poor MH is no excuse to not be a parent/husband. Seek legal advice and don't have him back. You are more than capable of doing this on your own.

Cardinalita90 · 20/05/2025 16:12

Is he having treatment for his MH? If not, why not?

It sounds like he's always had one foot half out of everything by refusing to make any financial commitments. Although that's certainly worked to your favour now.

Spirallingdownwards · 20/05/2025 16:12

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.

Unfortunately if they are married this makes no difference. However it is good evidence that she may not need to buy him out in a short marriage where he contributes little.

SwingTheMonkey · 20/05/2025 16:14

Lucky escape, op.

CrotchetyQuaver · 20/05/2025 16:15

Very important to get the legal advice about a possible claim on the house before deciding what to do next, but honestly if he was mine I'd not be letting him back in, he sounds like a great big mummy's boy and it's all about him. I hope you'll soon start feeling a lot happier and secure without him there.

ThatCyanCat · 20/05/2025 16:15

I'm sympathetic to mental health troubles, but you cannot simply opt out of parenting or make no effort to get better when you have a family. It doesn't sound as though he's got any interest in trying to manage his health and you're his life partner, not his mum. It's ultimately his responsibility to try to manage his condition and if he won't, then you need to ensure he doesn't take the rest of you down with him.

OriginalUsername2 · 20/05/2025 16:15

Pack his stuff up and make your home nice and pleasant for you and the children. This is an opportunity for a new life with none of his weird energy in your home.

You don’t need him, you’ll see.

MaybeMrs · 20/05/2025 16:17

Get those locks changed.

PinkyFlamingo · 20/05/2025 16:18

I bet he isn't getting any treatment for his "mental health issues".

loropianalover · 20/05/2025 16:19

You’re a single parent now OP. It will be a hard adjustment with routine etc but you will adapt quickly.

Change the locks, pack up his stuff, and get legal advice asap on where you stand with the house.

maybein2022 · 20/05/2025 16:20

The OP mentions rent, so maybe doesn’t own the house which actually would make things easier. Is he on the tenancy OP?

I have every sympathy for mental health disorders, but this is not someone who simply has a mental health disorder, it’s someone who is opting out of any kind of family life or responsibility. And not for a short time, for years without seeking help (presumably?).

OpenDoorMuriel · 20/05/2025 16:20

Sounds like a trial separation would suit you both. What do you want, longer term? It could be that having time apart would help you both figure this out. Time to think about your boundaries? For example, he could go and see his GP, be referred for MH support, schedule time with your son, make a plan for his return to work or work PT and factor in housework/childcare while you work longer hours. There are lots of little changes that bit by bit would show he is prioritising his family as well as his MH.

If though, he’d prefer to do the bare minimum while you slog away, I might conclude this was not a man who was ready for marriage and fatherhood. Sometimes we just don’t know that our partner isn’t a coper until it’s too late because parenthood is the first time someone has been pushed to their limit. I think that’s why a lot of marriages breakdown when the kids are little.

It’s ok to want more from a partner. He can still be a dad while living elsewhere. But this way, you only have one child to look after.

Rememberwhatthedoorknobsaid · 20/05/2025 16:20

Cut him loose, it sounds like all he does is drag you down

JanetareyouokareyouokJanet · 20/05/2025 16:21

He sounds like an absolute nightmare. Change the locks and move on.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 20/05/2025 16:24

@Drowning8453 aside from his bad mental health, you are better off without him. your house, change the locks. do not let him back in. he is taking the piss!

Jujujudo · 20/05/2025 16:25

It’s not as easy as just saying good riddance is it though.. you obviously love him and expected that you’d build a family together, that’s hard to walk away from. He needs a psychiatrist and he needs medication. He is extremely self absorbed and you’re never going to get your needs met which isn’t fair or healthy.
You’re in a great position in that you’re living in your own home and you’re working so you’re not financially dependent on him. I would leave him be, maybe talk to his family if you have a good relationship with them they’re not as self obsessed as he is.

MagickTrick · 20/05/2025 16:26

Wow! This is no life for either you or your child. This is not how being a family works.

Whatbloodysummer · 20/05/2025 16:27

I'm sorry OP, but the time has come for you to put yourself and your DC first.

Your DH has buggered off and was 'checked out' of your homelife, parenthood and relationship anyway, so don't 'mourn' for something that wasn't there?

I'd not contact him at all, as he appears to view 'contact' as 'stressful' and he's been clear that he's putting himself 1st, so that's exactly what YOU need to do from now on.

His mental and physical problems have been dragging the whole family down with him, and enough is enough.

You and your DC are equally important and deserve to be prioritized.

You have, in effect, been abandoned by him on a physical, emotional, financial and practical level, so you are now a 'single parent'. You now need to recognise this and step up for yourself and your DC.

Start thinking about long term finances etc because you're going to need to apply for benefits to be able to continue to pay the bills etc, and you simply cannot rely upon him for anything at all. (Not money, not parenting, not housekeeping, not even bloody sleeping ffs !)
So get yourself organised with applying today so that you can get back to being self sufficient again

EggnogNoggin · 20/05/2025 16:27

Kathbrownlow · 20/05/2025 15:41

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

This 💯

Give it 3 months for the shock to wear off and to adjust and you'll feel 100x better.

He has scraped by doing less than the minimum and had you treading on eggshells for far too long.

GiraffesAtThePark · 20/05/2025 16:28

He’s selfish and a drain. Be glad he’s gone. All the best going forward