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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this abuse or is he mentally unwell

162 replies

Deletingafter · 21/07/2025 22:46

Me and DP have been together 7 years

Relationship has plod along and he seems to be quite dependant on me. Doesn’t do anything really around the house, doesn’t take me out really. I often pay for everything

The reason I ask is for years DP has had what I think are delusions? Every argument is my fault and I have to resolve it and apologise.

For example - He is a nasty person when he’s drunk, will ignore me all night, stay out without telling me or come home and just verbally abuse me or start an argument. For this reason my anxiety is through the roof if he’s had a drink. He will stay out all night then shout at me in the morning for being annoyed that he doesn’t contact me or even let me know he’s staying out. I will then have to apologise and he will call me controlling.

Another example - I had a laparoscopy for endometriosis recently as I’m struggling. The anaesthetic put me out for almost a week and I felt so run down and tired, also severe menstrual cramps. I hadn’t done any washing in 3 days. DP claims he doesn’t know how to use the washer. He then screams at me that I’m lazy and a tramp and once again I apologise and do the jobs.

He will clean up once every month, then like clockwork will shout at me and call me names because he “is sick of cleaning and cleaning the whole fucking house whilst I’m sat on my arse” once again - I’m lazy and a tramp. I again apologise.

I want to leave the relationship anyway, he calls me names and isn’t attentive or nice in any way except when he wants sex. Which I no longer want to do with him because he is so unkind to me.

It’s frying my brain, I don’t know whether I’m allowed to be angry, whether I’m unreasonable for being angry or whether I am actually controlling or if he’s mentally ill. He truly seems to believe these delusions that every single issue is caused by me.

I am confused.

OP posts:
FuriousInventions · 21/07/2025 22:48

Leave him.

it doesn’t matter why he acts this way - he’s abusive.

Elfie23 · 21/07/2025 22:49

I think you know the answer to this question but I’ll spell it out for you - he is abusive, controlling, and gaslighting the life out of you.

My first MumsNet LTB goes to you x

Allthesnowallthetime · 21/07/2025 22:51

He does not sound ill.

SummerFeverVenice · 21/07/2025 22:51

He’s not delusional, he is trying to gaslight you into being deluded and believing his alternative fake reality that you are lazy, a tramp, controlling and he does most of the housework.

It’s a form of abuse. He is abusive.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 21/07/2025 22:53

He’s sucking the life out of you. This is no way to live. Of course YANBU. If he’s so unhappy, why hasn’t the coward had the courage to end things in a fair way? The answer is because, as it stands, he has you to depend on for his cleaning, laundry and paying for stuff. Get rid of the fucking nasty man. See who else will put up with his shit. He abused you after a major op - he’s an absolute disgrace of a man.

Dunnocantthinkofone · 21/07/2025 22:53

Well even if he WAS ill, (he isn’t) it doesn’t mean you have to put up with his abusive, controlling and abhorrent behaviour

Stop apologising, it’s not you that’s done things wrong. It’s him
Leave, now

Kendodd · 21/07/2025 22:53

Ok, let's say it is all because of a mental illness, does that mean you should then stick around and be shouted at and abused?

Fleetheart · 21/07/2025 22:54

He has affected you so much you doubt yourself. You can’t live like this. You have to leave. You need to let him work out that he need help. He won’t take it from you and you need to stop trying. Please plan to make your escape.

MuckFusk · 21/07/2025 22:54

It's unquestionably abuse. Don't wait around until it becomes physical. Run.

Why he abuses you is irrelevant. What's relevant is that he won't ever stop.

Btw, all abusers blame the victim for everything. It's not because of mental illness, it's to give themselves an excuse for their behaviour.

myfriendsfamily · 21/07/2025 22:58

Please leave him - life is too short to be with an abusive piece of shit.

Deletingafter · 21/07/2025 22:58

He dumps me usually after the stay out all night drinking episodes. Stays at a family members texting me all day how I’m a control freak and it’s over and he’s not coming back so that I apologise and the usual.

I wonder partly if it was mental health issues would I be able to get him help.

OP posts:
Charliecatpaws · 21/07/2025 22:58

You deserve so much better, he’s abusive and you need to leave. Do you any support?

Endofyear · 21/07/2025 23:00

Just leave. He's not mentally ill, he's a nasty abusive drunk. Don't put up with this for one more day. If he's moved into your house then don't leave, kick him out.

Deletingafter · 21/07/2025 23:00

He is surrounded by yes men. His family know how he is with me, especially after a drink, yet will encourage him to go round theirs, sink 6-7 cans of Stella then send him back here so I can be called all the names under the sun and clean his piss off the carpet.

My family absolutely hate him and are quite sick of us being together because I guess I too have turned into a yes man.

OP posts:
StormsAreDue · 21/07/2025 23:01

He's abusive please leave him. Hes abusive.

Laura95167 · 21/07/2025 23:01

2 things can be true at once. He may be mentally ill.

But hes definitely an abusive pig. You are angry for good cause. LTB

FreewomaninParis · 21/07/2025 23:03

He’s not mentally ill, he’s an abusive cunt

IsItTheBlackOneOrTheRedOne · 21/07/2025 23:04

FreewomaninParis · 21/07/2025 23:03

He’s not mentally ill, he’s an abusive cunt

Came here to say this word for word.

Applecrumble24 · 21/07/2025 23:05

Absolute scum, get rid.

HowToTrainYourDragonfruit · 21/07/2025 23:07

You can't "get him help", he would have to get him help.

Say for a minute, you're right, he is mentally ill. You're actually enabling it by sticking around, clearing up his piss (eughhhhh!!!) and making him feel like a functional member of society.

You must leave him, say look Fred, your drinking and mental illness is so out of control you have abused a person who loves you. Please get yourself help. Bye.

You won't help him by sacrificing yourself. He is abusive. He can't love you and you can't help him. Whatever the reason he is like this, it will not be improved by you sticking around to be abused.

BountifulPantry · 21/07/2025 23:08

He is abusive love you need to leave him 100%

SpinachSpinachMoreSpinach · 21/07/2025 23:10

Deletingafter · 21/07/2025 22:58

He dumps me usually after the stay out all night drinking episodes. Stays at a family members texting me all day how I’m a control freak and it’s over and he’s not coming back so that I apologise and the usual.

I wonder partly if it was mental health issues would I be able to get him help.

Just in case this is real…

WTF are you tolerating this shit?

SilverHammer · 21/07/2025 23:10

Stop making excuses for this piece of shit. He is not going to change. Tell him it’s over and kick him out.

Theunamedcat · 21/07/2025 23:12

He can be mentally ill and still be abusive he can also be abusive and not be mentally ill the point is

You deserve better

You need to leave

unsevered67 · 21/07/2025 23:13

He is abusive and you need to get yourself out of this relationship.
Its actually unfair to people who have genuine problems with mental illness to even suggest it causes this kind of horrible behaviour.
If you stay than it’s your mental health that will be at risk