Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Will he have really changed? Sertraline?

17 replies

Summerlovin28 · 03/08/2025 09:29

Long story short - was with my ex partner for 8 years, we have two children together who are 6 and 3. Throughout the 8 years, I stayed with him through so many things hoping he’d change, this included sleeping with his older sons mother at the start of the relationship, a drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling issues, drink driving ban (disgusting I know), endless emotional abuse and manipulation, and finally steroid addiction. Not sticking up for him as he never did anything to try and resolve the root cause, however he has a lot of childhood trauma which I believe contributes to why he is the way he is. I tried to leave so many times, which always resulted in threats to kill himself and promises to change and that he would go to the doctors and start therapy like I’d been asking of him since forever, which obviously never came.

The guilt of making him leave when he made out he had no one to turn to always got to much, so I could never stick at it. 6 weeks ago however, he actually left me and I have never felt so happy. Prior to this, he went on a ‘lads holiday’ to Ibiza where it came to light he wasn’t on his best behaviour. When arriving home he was already arranging his next trip with ‘the lads’ to which I told him I felt uncomfortable about due to his behaviour on the previous trip, bare in mind that this is the first time in over 8 years that I had ever caused any kind of issue about him doing something like that. Following this he told me he couldn’t do it anymore and he was fed up of me controlling him (by controlling him he means getting him away from the drink and the drugs etc etc) and he left!!! All I could say is don’t let the door hit you on the way out 🤭 I’ve felt like such a weight has been lifted and I can feel my spark coming back.

However, the past couple of weeks he has slipped now the novelty of going out all the time has worn off. He’s got a new Mercedes on finance which he definitely can’t afford (he’s 1000% having a midlife crisis and just wants to be seen as ‘the kiddy’ at 37 years old), he’s also living in a caravan with his mate because he can’t afford to privately rent somewhere, this means that he is only able to take the children out for food twice a week and not have them to stay.

So I know the obvious answer would be of course don’t let him back. However, he has finally gone to the doctors and been prescribed Sertraline and got on the list for therapy, typical that it’s once I feel free and happy eh! He has told me that he can see things differently now the medication has started working and that it’s completely changed him. I’m happier without him, however the idea that he is finally on medication that could potentially change him and we could finally be a happy family together is just playing on my mind. Does anyone have experience with how well it can work? Would I be unreasonable for considering letting him back because of this?

OP posts:
CeciliaMars · 03/08/2025 09:31

Good lord - I have never seen such a long list of all the awful things he has done to his wife and family!! Yu are well rid of him, sertraline or not. I think you have lost sight of what normal good behaviour is in a relationship - this is so far from it. You would be MAD to take him back. Enjoy your freedom and work on building a safe and happy environment for your kids.

Patcherdog · 03/08/2025 09:35

Please don't continue to inflict this man on your children.

Octavia64 · 03/08/2025 09:36

Nope.

sertraline will not fix all these issues.

Praying4Peace · 03/08/2025 09:36

Enjoy your freedom of being released from the chains of this relationship

StrawberryCranberry · 03/08/2025 09:37

OMG please don't do this OP.

ScrambledEggs12 · 03/08/2025 09:39

No, Sertraline can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can't fix being a complete twat.

FancyNewt · 03/08/2025 09:39

No amount of Sertraline is going to turn a no good, useless, unfaithful, addict and waste of a space into a decent man.

He is playing you.

QueenAstrid · 03/08/2025 09:40

He is an awful human being. Sertraline will not cure him of that.

Gallowayan · 03/08/2025 09:41

He is an imature dickhead with no moral compass. That is the nature of his personality; taking Sertraline, may improve his mood, or reduce anxiety, but it will not change who he is.

He is tired of living in a fartbox caravan with his mate, and is plotting to move back in and mug you off again. Do not take him back.

Fleetheart · 03/08/2025 09:42

don’t be so silly ☺️. see how he is in a year and then maybe consider it.

TenderChicken · 03/08/2025 09:42

sleeping with his older sons mother at the start of the relationship, a drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling issues, drink driving ban (disgusting I know), endless emotional abuse and manipulation, and finally steroid addiction.

No, sertraline does not stop these - jesus christ.

frozendaisy · 03/08/2025 09:42

I think the very best option here is he does sort himself out, gets a place he can have the children over and in time you become co-parents.

This is the absolute best case.

Taking him back would be a fucking disaster

Two weeks of taking a pill after that list Jesus OP

Just wait, and see, if he gets his act together, without you, gets a flat, steady job, sees the kids, doesn’t let them down, like two three four years of this then maybe.

A man sharing a caravan will promise you the world.

See how long his car lasts first. Or if he gets barred from driving again - or if he gets bored of being sober and becomes the kiddy again

A pill doesn’t change who someone actually is

GardenGaff · 03/08/2025 09:43

It’s been a couple of weeks.

Tell him you’ll talk again when it’s been at least 18 months of him being off the drink and drugs, consistently employment, own accommodation, seeing the children regularly and paying child maintenance in the meantime.

Your poor children, having him inflicted on them.

BCBird · 03/08/2025 09:47

I am hoping he gets his shit together, becomes stable and responsible. This would be wonderful when your children see him..in his new accommodation during sleep overs etc. Don't move him back in. Keep your home as the safe haven for you and your family.

Summerlovin28 · 03/08/2025 09:50

I guess I already knew the answer! I just needed that reassurance that I was being an absolute idiot for even questioning it. So thank you everyone for giving the hard truth, it was needed! Me and the children have our safe haven and this is how it will stay. ❤️

OP posts:
Glitchymn1 · 03/08/2025 09:51

You are happier without him and no I wouldn’t take him back.

AmusedOpalShaker · 03/08/2025 12:09

He sounds like a twunt. Not sure what you’re expecting Sertraline to do.

You’re well rid.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page