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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My husband shouts/swears/storms out whenever something upsets me

92 replies

Losingagain · 12/01/2026 19:50

My husband is generally a good husband.

However over the years his anger has become a lot worse. When we first married I knew he had anger issues from his teen years because he told me about them, involving smashing stuff up and punching walls. He said being in the army helped him with this anger.

over The past maybe 18 months he has done stuff which I feel is just not ok to do when an issue is raised. He shouts, swears, moves to the sofa out of bed, threatens to shout louder etc. over what I think are not big issues.

some examples:

  1. i brought up the fact that he has spent most of his wages on a hobby and was left short to pay our mortgage (we pay half) - met with shouting “well I’m just a shit husband then aren’t I” / “you earn more than me, you pay it” and pulling down books from a shelf
  2. i was expected on holiday to his home country to stay up until 5am playing poker with all male friends. I didn’t want to do this. He continued to do it for the 3 weeks we were there. I said it would be nice to do a date night - met with breaking his laptop, calling me controlling, shouting at me “you really don’t want to push this, I can get much much louder”, packing up our things in a case and saying “well if you feel like you’re not safe here let’s go to hotel
  3. telling him I felt distant from him as he was spending a lot of time in the evenings on his hobby and then expecting sex - met with calling me controlling again, saying he is a free man and can do what he wants, saying I need to get out and do a hobby (which I do anyway) and shouting at me to “fuck off, always fucking talking, fuck you”
  4. i was vomiting in the bathroom one morning and he came in and asked me a question I didn’t hear. He slammed the door. A few days later he asked me why I didn’t answer and that I basically said “fuck off” to him by not replying and I was “milking” being unwell

he’s pulled the duvet cover off me when I’ve been lying down, shouting over me as I was lying down. He laughs when I ask him to stop shouting. He says I’m condescending and act like I’m an angel and he’s the devil.

it sounds awful written down, it is awful. But it’s only about 10% of the time. Which is a lot I know. When things are good he’s funny, caring and like my best friend. When things are bad I cry alone in the bathroom.

I’ve stopped mentioning anything now. I just let him get on with what he wants to do because I can’t cope with the fallout.

I need a plan on what to do and how to do it. I feel sad nearly all the time, walking on eggshells. I just feel like I’m a burden

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 12/01/2026 20:08

You are being unreasonable for putting up with this absolute nonsense. He's not a good husband, that's a fact.

Redgooseberry · 12/01/2026 20:08

I’m sorry you’re living through this. Just imagine this never changing, or getting worse. As I would expect. He is controlling and breaking you, as your statement below shows. Unless you want the rest of your life together like this, suggest ending it (safely).

“I’ve stopped mentioning anything now. I just let him get on with what he wants to do because I can’t cope with the fallout.”

mummypigoink · 12/01/2026 20:10

In addition to all the above: go to your friends. You are not a burden to them.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 12/01/2026 20:16

This sounds like classic DARVO - deflect ‘you earn more than me’ ‘attack ‘you’re controlling’ reverse victim blame ‘I’m just a shit husband, you earn more than me.’

It’s classic abuse and you need to leave but carefully and in a safe way. Talk to woman’s aid for advice.

RonaldMcDonaldTrump · 12/01/2026 20:17

As soon as I saw that the opening line was "my husband is generally a good husband", everyone knew what was coming. He is not a good husband. He is not even a good person, let alone anything else. I would bet my house that he doesn't lose his temper or raise his voice like that in front of colleagues, friends, neighbours etc.

You've mentioned a joint mortgage and that you earn more than him? Can you buy him out? Please don't waste any more years of your precious life on this piece of snot. He will run your self esteem into the ground

MayaPinion · 12/01/2026 20:21

You are being abused, and you are not safe. It already sounds like things are escalating. Please leave before something really bad happens, because it will.

MayaPinion · 12/01/2026 20:22

MayaPinion · 12/01/2026 20:21

You are being abused, and you are not safe. It already sounds like things are escalating. Please leave before something really bad happens, because it will.

And 10% of the time is 35 days a year - over a months worth of abuse every year.

scoobysnaxx · 12/01/2026 20:23

Please please please for the love of God do not have any children with this man and LEAVE HIM ASAP!

abuse often starts or escalates 10 FOLD when a woman becomes pregnant.

it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Please leave and don’t look back.

Dweetfidilove · 12/01/2026 20:24

He sounds awful in your introduction, awful in points 1-4 and the paragraph following.
Nothing about him says good husband.
Just one who knows to sprinkle enough 'niceness ' to confuse upu into staying.

SandAndSea · 12/01/2026 20:25

Please secure yourself before you speak to him about leaving.

Eg: Could you pack a case and keep it at work or in your mum's loft, or something like that? You could include clothes, all your important ID and any precious things you don't want destroyed. You will also need your financial/mortgage etc records so you can show exactly what you both have contributed. Perhaps some cash too?

Please make an appointment to see a lawyer to get proper advice.

Gilead · 12/01/2026 20:26

This is how ex DH started, it was a lot worse after three children and 23 years. Please leave now.

Abd80 · 12/01/2026 20:27

He has shown you his true self. Believe him.
This is domestic abuse.
Leave.
if you are afraid to leave contact women’s aid to help you secretly come up with a plan to leave.

Bestfootforward11 · 12/01/2026 20:29

Leave. This is no way to live. Think what your advice would be to a friend or daughter who told you this is how their husband behaves. It’s not acceptable. So you need to take steps to leave. But you must involve other people in real life to help you be able to do so safely. Good luck.

PragmaticIsh · 12/01/2026 20:30

Nobody expects abuse, you weren't to know it would develop like this. However you can now see how volatile and explosive he truly is, and people like this get worse, not better. Please leave.

ThejoyofNC · 12/01/2026 20:31

Photograph every inch of the house as it is right now if you think he will smash it up once you tell him it's over.

Mybestdecadeyet · 12/01/2026 20:42

Losingagain · 12/01/2026 19:58

I do work, full time. I earn more than him. I do have friends I could turn too but all busy with their own families and I don’t want to burden them. My mum and dad are too sensitive to deal with all this, I wouldn’t ask them to.

If I go to a solicitors without him knowing I could see what would happen with the house. I put a large deposit down and he’s paid half the mortgage (but it’s in my name). I’m so sad I would never have married had I know this, I never expected it.

I thought at the start maybe it was me being controlling but deep down know it’s not

Yes do this! Get your ducks in a row, then leave.

I’ve been with my husband for 26 years, married for 10 and can honestly tell you what you are experiencing is not normal.

There are plenty of lovely men out there, don’t get stuck with one of the b**tards for life. Everyone deserves happiness.

susiedaisy1912 · 12/01/2026 20:44

Get advice from a solicitor and start to accept that you are in an abusive relationship op. Ask yourself if you want to spend the rest of your life and maybe your future children’s lives being exposed to this behaviour.

AvocadoJam · 12/01/2026 20:47

Someone who treats you like that isn't worthy of you. Please realise you are worth so much more.

Hopefully one day very soon you look back and ask yourself Why the hell you didn't leave sooner.

AvocadoJam · 12/01/2026 20:47

Someone who treats you like that isn't worthy of you. Please realise you are worth so much more.

Hopefully one day very soon you look back and ask yourself Why the hell you didn't leave sooner.

godmum56 · 12/01/2026 20:51
  1. Get your ducks in a row
  2. leave
CatsSleepFatandWalkThin · 12/01/2026 20:52

I can’t believe you’re making excuses for this utter arsehole. Leave him, your life will be ruined if it isn’t already.

Ellie56 · 12/01/2026 20:55

My husband is generally a good husband.

NO NO NO. He is not a good husband. He is a nasty abusive arsehole and it will only get worse.

Contact Women's Aid and make a plan to leave. You deserve better than this shit.

JudyMoncada · 12/01/2026 21:09

If you were told that a chocolate dessert had 10% shit mixed with it, would you still eat it?

You don't say how long you have been married but if it is not a long one and there are no kids, he is not guaranteed 50% of the equity. The sooner you get out, the better chance to argue that you keep your deposit and split the balance.

Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 12/01/2026 21:16

You're not a burden, he's awfil. Why on earth are you with him?

Greenlandss · 12/01/2026 21:21

That is a terrifying read.
You are being abused, shut down, terrorised by him.
He is a really bad man.
Thank god you don't have children.
He would destroy them.
Get legal advice.
Offer to repay his morgage contributions and divorce his arse.