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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did DP overreact?

89 replies

TipsyPlumUser · 10/09/2025 15:07

My fiancé and I went to the pub after work yesterday, each just had one pint. We were on great form, talking about a venue we’ve found and are happy to wait for however long it takes to save for it. We have a lot of banter between us, eg he knows there’s certain things I find gross and he will enjoy saying them to watch my face.

His pet name for me is silly pants because I’m clumsy and make lots of faux pas all the time.

After the pub we went to the nearby supermarket. As we walked in he said ‘I really love this supermarket,’ to which I responded ‘good for you,’ and carried on prattling on.

He said ‘why do you always piss on my parade?’ I laughed as it’s the sort of thing we would say in response to the other as part of our silliness. But his face changed and he looked angry.

i was previously in a very abusive relationship- I had to spend time in refuge- and so the shift out of nowhere panicked me. I said ‘are you joking?’ And he directed us down a quiet aisle where he said I was pissing on his parade and he doesn’t like it. Again, not expecting any of it I said ‘are you being serious?’ Not in an incredulous tone, I was saying it in a ‘oh no, I didn’t mean it like that’ sort of tone… he paused, said ok, if you didn’t mean it you can give me a cuddle and a kiss to make up for it.

At that point I didn’t want to as none of what was going on made sense and I felt really unnerved. We walked to the car in silence and he only spoke to me as we pulled up outside the house. He does have form for that- only speaking to me before we get somewhere to smoothe it over, and his daughter was over last night.

When we got in I poured a wine and he said maybe I shouldn’t have a drink considering. I said I’m an adult and would like a glass. I said he made me feel like things from mv past and he said I should blame my past not him, he has to walk on eggshells etc.

i brought up how he also is too interested in my counselling sessions and if I tell him about something I find useful he will go online, research and debunk it. He said his degree was in psychology and it interests him.

was I completely out of order?

OP posts:
MaurineWayBack · 12/09/2025 20:30

He is controlling sorry @TipsyPlumUser

The fa t he is asking about your counselling sessions. He should know better than doing that! (And really your only answer shpuld be ‘it’s private. I’m not telling you’)

But going to ‘debunk’ what your counsellor told you? Why? Why does he think it’s helpful to put down your counsellor and make them look unprofessional? Why the need to piss on your parade and tell you that whatever you’re doing is shit?
Thats not being helpful. It’s negging.

Staying silent until you arrive somewhere to smooth things down sounds like stonewalling/punishing you and then nudging you into acting as if nothing happened.

The wine? Unless you’re an alcoholic, there was no need. Nothing in your behaviour was screaming ‘should stop drinking’.

And the last one about it being your problem due to your past and not his? Well his degree in psychology should tell him he is refusing to take any responsibility into his behaviour, ask himself if maybe he got things wrong or to take you, your feelings into account. Instead it’s all ‘your past, your problem. Don’t care’.

Seriously, it’s only a long list of issue and 🚩🚩🚩 about him for an off cut comment that really didn’t require any comment.

Look, your body is screaming at you something is wrong. Listen to it!
And stop telling him anything about your counsellingq session. Start talking about him instead!!

Nearly50omg · 12/09/2025 20:33

Did you do the freedom course when you left your last abusive relationship so you learnt what to look out for and not to go for an abusive man again? That’s what happens. We end up going for the same type of abusive man over and over again unless we break the cycle ….you haven’t broken the cycle…you’ve just picked up Jekyll and Hyde instead unfortunately

CluelessAboutBiology · 12/09/2025 20:43

if I tell him about something I find useful he will go online, research and debunk it. He said his degree was in psychology and it interests him.

OP, did he mention he had a degree in psychology before this? Maybe I’m overly suspicious to think that he’s only saying that to “justify” his “research”.

I’m a nosey so-and-so, so I’d be trying to find out if a) he has a degree and b) what in

usedtobeaylis · 12/09/2025 20:46

I'm so confused - you haven't been out of order in anything you've said. He sounds like exactly the kind of person that does make people walk on eggshells.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 12/09/2025 20:46

@TipsyPlumUser DO NOT MARRY THIS MAN

Lots of red flag behaviour in this thread alone and I haven't even read your other threads that people have mentioned. 🚩🚩🚩

Confusdworriedmum · 12/09/2025 20:59

GiveDogBone · 12/09/2025 18:21

I see the man-haters are out in force in this thread. You basically belittled him, refused to show him a tiny amount of affection as an apology and then headed straight for the bottle when you returned home. And that’s all his fault, somehow.

But please do take their advice to dump him, he’d be so much better off with you.

So giving OP the silent treatment is okay?
And trying to ruin any progress she makes in therapy is also okay?
And him demanding affection when she doesn't want to is okay?
I usually defend men if they deserve it but this man doesn't deserve defending. He's abusive.

arcticpandas · 12/09/2025 21:01

You are in an abusive relationship @TipsyPlumUser. You're not allowed to go out without him, coercing you for sex, silent treatment, undermining your therapists advice.

Run!!!!

RogueFemale · 12/09/2025 21:06

BauhausOfEliott · 10/09/2025 16:49

No, it isn’t fucking concerning. And neither was the OP rude to jokingly say ‘good for you’ when her fiancé praised a bloody supermarket. It’s a completely normal bit of jokey conversation that normal couple would have.

OP, your fiancé’s behaviour worries me. He sounds manipulative and controlling. I’m particularly worried about his over-interest in your therapy and the fact that he constantly wants to undermine the progress you and your therapist have made by proving it ‘wrong’ with his ‘research’. That’s a really insidious form of control/manipulation. Particularly from a man who knows you have been in an abusive relationship.

Not mad keen on him highlighting your clumsiness/occasional mistakes by calling you ‘silly pants’ either.

If I were in your shoes I would be thinking very carefully about whether I carried on with this relationship because I think you’ve spotted some red flags here.

100% agree

Pallisers · 12/09/2025 21:09

His pet name for me is silly pants because I’m clumsy and make lots of faux pas all the time.

Did he tell you that? Does anyone else in your life call you silly pants. I'd dump him for that tbh. He is supposed to admire and love you not denigrate and play games with you.

Gawwwd · 12/09/2025 21:14

BauhausOfEliott · 10/09/2025 16:49

No, it isn’t fucking concerning. And neither was the OP rude to jokingly say ‘good for you’ when her fiancé praised a bloody supermarket. It’s a completely normal bit of jokey conversation that normal couple would have.

OP, your fiancé’s behaviour worries me. He sounds manipulative and controlling. I’m particularly worried about his over-interest in your therapy and the fact that he constantly wants to undermine the progress you and your therapist have made by proving it ‘wrong’ with his ‘research’. That’s a really insidious form of control/manipulation. Particularly from a man who knows you have been in an abusive relationship.

Not mad keen on him highlighting your clumsiness/occasional mistakes by calling you ‘silly pants’ either.

If I were in your shoes I would be thinking very carefully about whether I carried on with this relationship because I think you’ve spotted some red flags here.

Agree very much with all of this

ReadingTime · 12/09/2025 21:20

outerspacepotato · 10/09/2025 15:29

If he has a psychology degree, he should know NOT to try to weasel out what you're saying in your counseling sessions. He doesn't respect confidentiality and that is a giant, giant red flag. I think he's trying to find out if you've recognized he's emotionally abusive yet.

His debunking of techniques you find useful is also another giant red flag. He's tearing something you find supportive down.

He doesn't respect your autonomy, shown by him negging you having a simple drink after you got home. Also shown by his trying to find out what you're talking about about in counseling. Also shown by him enjoying saying gross things you don't like to see your reaction.

His saying he has to walk on eggshells was what is called DARVO. It's a technique used by abusive people to play the victim. I hardly see him walking on eggshells when he's saying gross things to you he knows you don't like and tearing down techniques you've found supportive.

His change of face in the supermarket, my thoughts are he thought you were a bit rude and he's trying to scare you

You need boundaries with this guy ASAP. No questions about your counseling. Those sessions are private. Do not share anything about that with him. Those are private. You can't be really open in the session if you have to worry about reporting to your fiance after.

I think you've found another abuser who hides it better. He negs you, he tramples your boundaries, he's controlling, he tries to tear down your supports. I think he'll try to stop your counseling at some point.

I'd be gone.

This is how I read it too. I think he’s testing the waters OP to see if it’s time to start messing with your head.

Twilight7777 · 12/09/2025 21:34

outerspacepotato · 10/09/2025 15:29

If he has a psychology degree, he should know NOT to try to weasel out what you're saying in your counseling sessions. He doesn't respect confidentiality and that is a giant, giant red flag. I think he's trying to find out if you've recognized he's emotionally abusive yet.

His debunking of techniques you find useful is also another giant red flag. He's tearing something you find supportive down.

He doesn't respect your autonomy, shown by him negging you having a simple drink after you got home. Also shown by his trying to find out what you're talking about about in counseling. Also shown by him enjoying saying gross things you don't like to see your reaction.

His saying he has to walk on eggshells was what is called DARVO. It's a technique used by abusive people to play the victim. I hardly see him walking on eggshells when he's saying gross things to you he knows you don't like and tearing down techniques you've found supportive.

His change of face in the supermarket, my thoughts are he thought you were a bit rude and he's trying to scare you

You need boundaries with this guy ASAP. No questions about your counseling. Those sessions are private. Do not share anything about that with him. Those are private. You can't be really open in the session if you have to worry about reporting to your fiance after.

I think you've found another abuser who hides it better. He negs you, he tramples your boundaries, he's controlling, he tries to tear down your supports. I think he'll try to stop your counseling at some point.

I'd be gone.

This!

BellissimoGecko · 12/09/2025 21:37

outerspacepotato · 10/09/2025 15:29

If he has a psychology degree, he should know NOT to try to weasel out what you're saying in your counseling sessions. He doesn't respect confidentiality and that is a giant, giant red flag. I think he's trying to find out if you've recognized he's emotionally abusive yet.

His debunking of techniques you find useful is also another giant red flag. He's tearing something you find supportive down.

He doesn't respect your autonomy, shown by him negging you having a simple drink after you got home. Also shown by his trying to find out what you're talking about about in counseling. Also shown by him enjoying saying gross things you don't like to see your reaction.

His saying he has to walk on eggshells was what is called DARVO. It's a technique used by abusive people to play the victim. I hardly see him walking on eggshells when he's saying gross things to you he knows you don't like and tearing down techniques you've found supportive.

His change of face in the supermarket, my thoughts are he thought you were a bit rude and he's trying to scare you

You need boundaries with this guy ASAP. No questions about your counseling. Those sessions are private. Do not share anything about that with him. Those are private. You can't be really open in the session if you have to worry about reporting to your fiance after.

I think you've found another abuser who hides it better. He negs you, he tramples your boundaries, he's controlling, he tries to tear down your supports. I think he'll try to stop your counseling at some point.

I'd be gone.

Exactly this. He doesn’t sound like a good person at all. Too many red flags.

TreadLightly3 · 12/09/2025 21:48

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

ReadingTime · 12/09/2025 21:48

I haven’t seen your other threads OP but from what other posters have said they all sound really concerning. Also his nickname for you is demeaning and designed to crush your confidence in yourself, and you using the phrase “prattling on” when describing your own speech has probably come from him too - you were having a sensible conversation about logistics when he said something random to derail you, and when you carried on with the original topic and didn’t respond in the way he decided was appropriate, he got angry and scary. He is playing with you, manipulating you, and now ramping things up to scare you.

He knows all about your previous abuse so he knows exactly how vulnerable you are, and he’s using that knowledge to hurt you and undermine you.

Please please please get out of this relationship and do not marry this man.

XiCi · 12/09/2025 22:09

Oh come on OP, you know this isn't right don't you. Everything you have said about him sounds horrendous.

moose62 · 12/09/2025 22:13

On all your threads people have given you their opinions that he is not a good man or partner.
You don't seem to want to listen or take advice ...why keep posting....do you expect to hear anything different and if so, what?

valentinka31 · 12/09/2025 22:19

PsychoHotSauce · 10/09/2025 15:13

It's a fucking supermarket. If anyone said, 'I really love Asda' to me, my face would be Confused 'ok then!'

hm I wouldn't. I'm a softie. I'd hold on to his arm and say aw that's so sweet, yeah I do too.

I really would.

I can see why he felt what you said was a bit of a put down, tbh. And he tried to say he felt kind of humiliated and wanted a hug and you just didn't respond. Then at home you went straight for the wine.

Sorry OP but I do get him. And him analysing what you've been through, I think that's amazing of him. He wants to understand, support, be there for you.

:( he sounds pretty great to me.

valentinka31 · 12/09/2025 22:24

ah but I hadn't rtft
so I didn't realise you've had other posts about him being abusive

Ratafia · 12/09/2025 22:33

Juicymed · 10/09/2025 15:11

Well this sounds like a relationship that should definitely go to the next level and marry one another. Or not

I really love this supermarket,’ to which I responded ‘good for you,’ and carried on prattling on.

what a peculiar response from you. Rude actually .

I don't agree. If my DH suddenly said something like that, my response might well be very similar, because frankly what is there to love about supermarkets? And he then went well over the top with all the nonsense about pissing on his parade. I simply can't imagine being that invested in the wonders of any supermarket that I would feel completely let down if my companion didn't enthuse to the same degree about it.

I mean, what's so great about any supermarket that it's worth getting so worked up about it? I'm not surprised OP was taken aback and felt like a glass of wine.

Ratafia · 12/09/2025 22:42

valentinka31 · 12/09/2025 22:19

hm I wouldn't. I'm a softie. I'd hold on to his arm and say aw that's so sweet, yeah I do too.

I really would.

I can see why he felt what you said was a bit of a put down, tbh. And he tried to say he felt kind of humiliated and wanted a hug and you just didn't respond. Then at home you went straight for the wine.

Sorry OP but I do get him. And him analysing what you've been through, I think that's amazing of him. He wants to understand, support, be there for you.

:( he sounds pretty great to me.

You think using the silent treatment, demanding to know about counselling and debuniking a major source of support for OP sound pretty great?

Raise your standards.

PennywisePoundFoolish · 12/09/2025 22:43

He calls you silly pants as a pet name, "debunks" your counselling strategies, but your reply to his adoration of a supermarket was a sign you're always pissing on his parade? It sounds like he can't take even a tiny proportion of what he gives out.

Take him back to his true love; the supermarket, and leave him there.

Okiedokie123 · 12/09/2025 22:45

I’ve read your other threads op. This guy isn’t a keeper. Huge red flags.
ditch him immediately. Being single would be a far better option.

CabbageWater · 12/09/2025 22:50

outerspacepotato · 10/09/2025 15:29

If he has a psychology degree, he should know NOT to try to weasel out what you're saying in your counseling sessions. He doesn't respect confidentiality and that is a giant, giant red flag. I think he's trying to find out if you've recognized he's emotionally abusive yet.

His debunking of techniques you find useful is also another giant red flag. He's tearing something you find supportive down.

He doesn't respect your autonomy, shown by him negging you having a simple drink after you got home. Also shown by his trying to find out what you're talking about about in counseling. Also shown by him enjoying saying gross things you don't like to see your reaction.

His saying he has to walk on eggshells was what is called DARVO. It's a technique used by abusive people to play the victim. I hardly see him walking on eggshells when he's saying gross things to you he knows you don't like and tearing down techniques you've found supportive.

His change of face in the supermarket, my thoughts are he thought you were a bit rude and he's trying to scare you

You need boundaries with this guy ASAP. No questions about your counseling. Those sessions are private. Do not share anything about that with him. Those are private. You can't be really open in the session if you have to worry about reporting to your fiance after.

I think you've found another abuser who hides it better. He negs you, he tramples your boundaries, he's controlling, he tries to tear down your supports. I think he'll try to stop your counseling at some point.

I'd be gone.

This is spor on, sadly. I'd be very, very careful and try and leave the relationship.

valentinka31 · 12/09/2025 23:08

Ratafia · 12/09/2025 22:42

You think using the silent treatment, demanding to know about counselling and debuniking a major source of support for OP sound pretty great?

Raise your standards.

Raise your bloody standards! I refuse to be spoken to in such a rude way, and to have my reasonable opinion mocked. By you.

OP gave him the brush off to start with, as I read it. She belittled him and went for the wine. And I personally would love it if a partner was interested enough in my emotional wellbeing to try to understand what I'd been through and how the counselling was working.