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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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I need to talk about this

366 replies

Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 20:32

Basically what the title says. And I’m posting in AIBU for traffic.

i am very nervous to post this

35F, he is 32M. We do not live together. I have children from previous relationship and he has not met them - important info.

I am in an abusive relationship. There is no question or doubt about it. We have been together for coming up to a year, yes I know it has not been long. I had rose tinted glasses on up until April/May time this year and I have tried to end the relationship a few times.

i need to tell someone, anyone about what happened this morning. I had stayed at his this weekend whilst my children were with exDP. We had actually had quite a nice weekend up until late last night where we got home from a date night I had organised where suddenly the cheating claims came out etc etc etc. This morning it kicked off again as I tried to express my hurt calmly about something and he just hit the roof and told me to get the fuck out of his house so, I proceeded to do so by getting myself ready, packed my things and went downstairs to say goodbye I shall be leaving now. He went absolutely insane, and I mean insane. He was screaming at the top of his voice against the fireplace wall, punched himself in the head and proceeded to scream at me, in my face calling me all the names under the sun and he ran into the kitchen where the back door is to exit so I could leave and he picked up a knife. When I tell you I was scared, I was terrified so I rushed to unlock the back door to escape. He proceeded to hold the knife against his own wrists and scream at me im going to slit my wrists and your going to watch me die. I obviously begged and pleaded with him not to do that, knife still in his hand and he was shouting that nothing would satisfy him more knowing that he dies and I watched him. He then held the knife in the air so I ran back to the back door and he screamed at me to shut it and I said no, he slammed the knife down and said shut the door so I did. He was screaming at me that I drive him to this, I’m narcissistic im evil, all the usual abuse I get almost daily at this point. I was shaking, sobbing, and he went and sat down and then was accusing me of having another boyfriend, that I’ve manipulated every man I’ve been with. Just tearing my character down with false accusations which again is something I’m very used too. He held his fist up to me too before I went upstairs to get changed, and he chased me up the stairs and got in my face to shout at me to tell him what I was saying to his face.

i physically cannot leave. I am trapped. After this, he acted like nothing had happened. He was laughing at social media, trying to make jokes whilst I was completely numb all afternoon waiting for the time I can leave to have my children back.

in the times I’ve tried breaking up with him before but I haven’t physically been with him, he’s found me and he’s gone hysterical at me until I’ve changed my mind or he threatens to attack me or come into the place I am and confront me, or he’s gotten into his car and screamed at me where I am until I tell him and then he threatens suicide.

please do not judge please be kind.

i feel like I’m dealing with someone who has a serious split personality disorder. I do not want the police involved, but I do need to leave. I’m working with a therapist currently to understand why I allowed this in the first place. I’m a lot stronger now but the reactions I get terrify me, especially today.

i just needed to get this out and I just need to hear that what I am experiencing is not ok. Apparently I’m the evil bitch.

OP posts:
Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 23:20

Brunettesmorefun · 31/08/2025 23:11

I can’t believe you are serious. If she hadn’t gone to see him the whole drama would never have happened. She needs to:
a. Stay away from him and
b. Inform the police

If I were the children’s father or grandparents I would alerting social services.

My children are safe, loved and unaffected.

OP posts:
MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:22

PLEASE PEOPLE, if you have not experienced an abusive relationship, PLEASE don’t feel compelled to say stupid stuff like “just leave then!” you don’t have the skills or insight to be of any use at all to the OP. In fact you’re doing more harm than good.

There are plenty of us here @Lostandscared1 who have been where you are… and got out.

we don’t want to read a headline in a newspaper and wonder if it’s you.

please take the advice of police and women’s aid, you’re going to need all the help you can get, and then some! You’re going to need to be the bravest you have ever been, but you can do this. We’re all here for you.

stay safe, check in with us again if you can. Maybe start a new thread? @MNHQ can help you find the other place if that helps?

WhereIsMyJumper · 31/08/2025 23:23

Shegotanology · 31/08/2025 23:18

There will always be victim-blaming, it comes with the territory. Everyone thinks they know how they would react in a similar situation. People severely underestimate how stress, fear, shock, or trauma can affect decision-making in real time.

This. Like a frog in slowly boiling water will not leap out, they push you and push you, getting slightly worse each time to see where your boundaries are, they make you doubt yourself, you think you’re the problem and you just need to be better, you believe you can fix them, you just want to get back to the happy times when they were charming. It’s not an easy situation to be in.

I am rooting for you OP - posting about it here is your first big step. None of this is your fault and I believe you can break free

Jigglypuff33 · 31/08/2025 23:23

People dont/cant/won't understand unless they have themselves been in the situation and those making nasty comments obviously think they are far above it. Good for them, must be lovely to never experience domestic abuse.
Hope you're safe now, and I hope you find your way out of it. I don't really have any other helpful advice to add.

MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:25

HyggeTygge · 31/08/2025 23:16

like I said, I came on here essentially for a hand hold because I’m not stupid, I know what I need to do and it seriously escalated again and I never expected a knife to be picked up, and this was from me saying “look I need some space so il be on my way”

I know it's hard to actually accept - to the point of believing it - that a physically abusive, angry and volatile man will escalate - but it is the one thing that's been repeated on MN for decades, so I imagine posters are frustrated that it's happened again.

What might be helpful to elicit practical advice is to give more examples of what he's done when you've tried to leave? (Also might help you to put it down to refer back to!)

All that is irrelevant to us, it’s things the police need to hear. Mawkish posters on MN don’t need to know the gory details.

@Lostandscared1 needs real help, in real time. Nothing we can say will change anything, she knows she’s in a bad relationship, that she’s at risk of harm and needs to get out. This is what needs to be her sole focus right now, not spilling details of the past.

NotThePersonYouThink · 31/08/2025 23:26

@Lostandscared1 I hope you have managed to get some helpful info from this post and that you have been able to get the strength to move away from this man.
You are stronger than you think, and by keeping him away from your kids, you are absolutely more in control that he is allowing you to believe.
Can I suggest you let your kids' father or some friends know a little about what is going on so they can be on hand to take the kids if needed? I know that's not always possible, but letting a few people around you know will help you keep safe.

WhereIsMyJumper · 31/08/2025 23:27

MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:25

All that is irrelevant to us, it’s things the police need to hear. Mawkish posters on MN don’t need to know the gory details.

@Lostandscared1 needs real help, in real time. Nothing we can say will change anything, she knows she’s in a bad relationship, that she’s at risk of harm and needs to get out. This is what needs to be her sole focus right now, not spilling details of the past.

I will add, if her abusive partner manages to get hold of her phone or this thread, the less detail she gives the better (ask me how I know…)

MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:30

First thing tomorrow love, get a new phone/number and give it to everyone you know who doesn’t know him. Migrate to that number.

leave the other number live so he’s still got a number to call, but put it on silent and don’t answer it ever again. Get a ring door bell

in the meantime you need the police to help you. Put a marker on your address and contact woman’s aid about a non mol order

you’re going to get out of this.

InsolentAnnie · 31/08/2025 23:30

Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 23:20

My children are safe, loved and unaffected.

@BrunettesmorefunSocial services wouldn’t judge her for this - she has kept her children away from the abusive man and is now doing everything she can to continue to do so, which is exactly what they would want to know. All that would happen is they’d make sure she knew how to get an injunction against him so she could continue to keep them safe.

Brunettesmorefun · 31/08/2025 23:31

Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 23:20

My children are safe, loved and unaffected.

So far they are. I think you are deluding yourself.

MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:32

WhereIsMyJumper · 31/08/2025 23:27

I will add, if her abusive partner manages to get hold of her phone or this thread, the less detail she gives the better (ask me how I know…)

(((Hug))) I’m so sorry. That will have been terrifying.

thanks for that tho, sure it’ll help 🙂

Oldhat10 · 31/08/2025 23:33

This is a toxic situation.
Would you expect your children to stay in a relationship like this? Absolutely not.
You are safe, you are away from him. Just text him & say look, what happened really frightened me. It isn't the first time & so I've decided it's for the best we stay apart.
Do not reply to any other messages or make contact.
Tell the police what has happened, let them give him a warning.
He has a split personality disorder & this will only escalate.
Look after yourself & put your children first by staying away from this man.

MzHz · 31/08/2025 23:33

Brunettesmorefun · 31/08/2025 23:31

So far they are. I think you are deluding yourself.

Enough of you! That’s enough! Leave her alone and go play in traffic.

you’re not helping anyone

Brunettesmorefun · 31/08/2025 23:34

InsolentAnnie · 31/08/2025 23:30

@BrunettesmorefunSocial services wouldn’t judge her for this - she has kept her children away from the abusive man and is now doing everything she can to continue to do so, which is exactly what they would want to know. All that would happen is they’d make sure she knew how to get an injunction against him so she could continue to keep them safe.

Social services don’t judge people … but they would be concerned about the safety of these children.

Oldhat10 · 31/08/2025 23:35

This is a toxic situation.
Would you expect your children to stay in a relationship like this? Absolutely not.
You are currently safe, you are away from him. Just text him & say "look, what happened today really frightened me. It isn't the first time & so I've decided it's for the best we part".
Do not reply to any other messages or make further contact. Whatever is left at his house can be replaced.
Get some cameras on your home.
Tell the police what has happened, let them give him a warning.
He has a split personality disorder & this will only escalate!
Look after yourself & put your children first by staying away from this man.

whoboo · 31/08/2025 23:35

Run, this is life or death serious.

SquishedMallow · 31/08/2025 23:37

Jigglypuff33 · 31/08/2025 23:23

People dont/cant/won't understand unless they have themselves been in the situation and those making nasty comments obviously think they are far above it. Good for them, must be lovely to never experience domestic abuse.
Hope you're safe now, and I hope you find your way out of it. I don't really have any other helpful advice to add.

I've been in an insidiously abusive relationship thankyou very much.

You know what ? If I knew he was blatantly violent and had shown me that and I was aware of it pre any kind of moving in . I'd have been thankful for the blatant revelation and not put myself in that position willingly.

Women don't end up in abusive relationships when their adults living separately from a man that is blatantly violent , who they admit they know is violent abusive and controlling and have means to report and escape and then go and volunteer themselves into it.

The whole point is they're unaware until it's too late. It starts off slow and insidious.

This man is already violent the op is aware and is in no denial or excusing it or telling us she thinks he's just really damaged etc etc or saying "but I love him ".

Yet.... She lives apart from him (with her kids) and instead of popping out for a weekend jolly with a man she states is violent , she had the freedom (what a luxury!!!) to report him, call WA, the lot.

She is not physically trapped and she is not in denial. You're missing the key differences in this situation!!!

whoboo · 31/08/2025 23:41

I managed to be abused when I wasn't even in a relationship with the fat fuck, quite an achievement. It's within your power to cut him off.

AnyoneWhoHasAHeart · 31/08/2025 23:42

StandFirm · 31/08/2025 22:55

Whatever the reason OP decided to see him that weekend is neither here nor there. 100% of the situation is on the abuser, not her.
Sorry but to me it's a bit like 'why did you wear that skirt and got drunk the night you got raped'.

What rubbish.

no woman chooses to be raped. OP is choosing to be in an abusive relationship. She has choices. She doesn’t want to leave or she would. And yes. If you don’t live together, you have no children, no shared assets, it is that simple. you don’t even have to leave. You just don’t go back.

all the posters telling the OP that if she leaves he’ll kill her are part of the problem. You’re reinforcing why the OP should keep going back for more.

If there were children involved would people still be telling her how hard it is? No didn’t think so.

no woman deserves to be abused, but if she chooses to keep going back then she absolutely does need some tough talking.

Chickensky · 31/08/2025 23:44

@SquishedMallow I'm sorry for what you went through, I understand.

But surely, and let's believe every word the OP has said, you wouldn't want her to not have help?

TheArtfulNavyDreamer · 31/08/2025 23:44

Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 20:37

I am home, with my children and I am
safe. I’ve blocked him in the past and he ends up calling me from a withheld number constantly until I answer

Then you hang up and block that number. If he threatens suicide, tell him you’ll notify the police to check on him then hang up and call the police. Block every number he calls you from and report harassment.

Ditsydally · 31/08/2025 23:44

My advise would be to ring womens aid, you could even ring them now just to talk to somebody.
They was a life saver for me and many of the volunteers have been in similar situations, they will make you feel so empowered, and help guide you on how you can make yourself feel safe.
It's hard for people to understand why you can not just leave and be done with it if you are not living together. Unless they have experienced DA. I was with a partner for over 9 years and I had nobody that understood why I stayed. It wasn't untill I had to call the police for the safety of myself and my children that I could finally end the relationship once and for all
Womens aid were a massive part of that and in my recovery journey.

MumWifeOther · 31/08/2025 23:45

Your children come first. For their own safety they need to stay with their dad for the time being and you need to go and stay somewhere else. You need to report this man to the police and cut all contact. You need to have cameras set up all around your home. Be very careful. I’m genuinely terrified for you.

ThePithyFinch · 31/08/2025 23:46

@Lostandscared1 Do you have anyone in real life who you can talk to about this? When I found myself in a similar situation - in my case he quit his job, which came with accommodation, and wormed his way into my home - the turning point came when I opened up and told a friend. Knowing that I could call her and she and her husband would be at my house in minutes gave me the strength to end things. Abusers make you feel like you have to keep it all a secret. They thrive on your shame and embarrassment. Tell someone and you take that away from him.

Ilovelifeverymuch · 31/08/2025 23:46

Lostandscared1 · 31/08/2025 20:45

I think you are missing the point of my post. I am trapped in the relationship. I am not physically with him right now, but that does not matter

No you are not trapped in the relationship unless you allow yourself to be. You can and should walk away, it's not your problem if he decides to hurt himself and it's most likely just a manipulative tool to keep you.

You should call the police to report him and make sure it is recorded and let him know that if he contacts you again you will report him, you need to be strong and decisively end this once and for all.

He insulted you and kicked you out of his house and you still felt the need to go tell him goodbye... Why? He was defending at you, threatening you, taking a knife to chase you and the to hurt himself and at no point did you think to call the police???

Many times when women find themselves stuck in relationships like this, it is due to past trauma or issues creating a cycle of being in abusive relationships so as I said stand strong and end this but also you may need to do some work to figure out any room causes and give you tools to avoid future abusive relationships, how to identify red flags and more importantly how to priorize yourself and walks way once you sense any craziness and not feel stuck in a relationship.