Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH said “I’m the main cause of his depression “

121 replies

Needacupofteaandcrackers · 27/02/2026 07:23

Dh says I’m the main cause of his depression. I work full time do food cooking and shopping all chores we have 4 children together, at home 1 starting work others studying. I don’t get on with his family so can only think this is what he is referring to !

OP posts:
Bimblebombles · 27/02/2026 11:35

Its easy to blame you because then he doesn't actually have to take any responsibility for his own life or recovery. Cowardly.

I was depressed after having my daughter and I was irritable and horrible to my DP, because he was the closest to me and bore the brunt of it. But I took responsibility for my own shit, sorted therapy out for myself, started walking 10,000 steps a day, lost a load of weight and sorted my mental health out. I exercise twice a week non negotiably now, and have started a business doing what I love, and a range of other things that give me happiness. Its not my DPs job to make my life perfect and wonderful - I have to go out there and do that for myself. Each person in a relationship is responsible for their own mental health.

He might well be taking it out on you, but you're not the cause. Believe me.

outerspacepotato · 27/02/2026 11:48

So he has self diagnosed himself with depression and says it's caused by you. He wants to work less and have you, the alleged cause of his depression, take on more of the financial burden as well as the entire household burden. Yet he refuses to go to counseling.

First, untreated mental illness is a hill to die on. Don't agree to him working less. He goes to the doctor for assessment and if diagnosed, follows his treatment plan. If he doesn't, this is divorce worthy.

If he is not diagnosed with depression or whatever, that's also a hill to die on. He's trying to put the entire family burden on you. If that's so and he wants to put down any and every responsibility, then what is he bringing to the family to offset his becoming a drain? It sounds like nothing.

Sitting at the dinner table in silence is a parody of family life. How unpleasant and controlling is he about other things?

I think your marriage is done. He resents and blames you for his life, he claims he's mentally ill because of you. He refuses to take steps to change other than less work which will affect you negatively. He won't go to counseling. I think your marriage has hit a point where there's splitting or your life gets worse and you have a husband that's a millstone.

How old are your kids? Is he trying to situate himself as primary carer for your kids by less or no working so you have to pay him maintenance?

saraclara · 27/02/2026 12:08

bananafake · 27/02/2026 10:52

Can’t you see the difference though? Your husband recognised his depression and his responsibility to address it. He also did everything he could to make himself better. He also didn’t blame you for it or tell you to sit in silence or ask you to not make any demands on him. It’s an entirely different situation and you’re projecting.

That's my whole point. That OP 's DH needs to get help in the same way and for the same reasons.

nomoreWLI · 27/02/2026 12:13

Needacupofteaandcrackers · 27/02/2026 08:17

The reduced hours has been agreed anyway, I don’t think it would have helped at all to not be supportive on that. When I suggested counselling he refused to go …. we did some early on in marriage and he didn’t think it was helpful, married 27 yrs

Oh my goodness, it’s so childish isn’t it. I’m afraid if he cared he would make the effort. But sadly very sadly he don’t see it as a priority

what would happen if you left him with the kids at the weekend and went out? I assume he would just have to engage? I‘M petty enough to do this until he gets the message. I would also stop cooking and doing his washing, his life admin and i certainly wouldn’t be having sex with a man who has checked out of the family and blamed me for it.

PrettyPickle · 27/02/2026 13:07

@Needacupofteaandcrackers There is more to married life than the relationship with his family. But to be honest I think I need more info before I can say anything more.

Does he help with the housework and care of the kids or is it just you? Is there still a romantic/emotional side to your relationship or has that gone too?

How you talk to him - is it transactional and short? Be honest. And in saying this if (and this is yet to be ascertained) if he is not pulling his weight and you alone are managing the home and working full time, whilst he just works (soon to be reduced hrs) and doesn't do his bit, I can kind of see why you might be short. Do you struggle with the workload placed on you? Is time away as a family good - say on holidays when you are away fromt he stresses of everyday life.

I'm thinking there must be some ability to talk and appreciate each others point of view, at least on your side, as you have agreed to him reducing his hours at work, or were you cornered into this?

BernardButlersBra · 27/02/2026 13:21

Glad to hear he is taking responsibility then! Off he fucks. It doesn’t sound like he is bringing much to the party

MO0N · 27/02/2026 13:32

OP, he's depressed because you're hard working and capable whereas he is a useless waste of space.
Let him be depressed on his own.

InMyOodie · 27/02/2026 13:34

BollyMolly · 27/02/2026 07:48

Maybe he doesn’t mean you personally, but he doesn’t want family life and the responsibility that comes with it so he sees you as the default person to blame.

Yes, this. I wouldn't let him reduce his hours. That will make it harder for him to live independently from you.

He's looking for you to give him permission not to work, not to do house chores, not to do shopping, not to parent etc. Or he'll be depressed. I'd boot him out.

BernardButlersBra · 27/02/2026 13:45

InMyOodie · 27/02/2026 13:34

Yes, this. I wouldn't let him reduce his hours. That will make it harder for him to live independently from you.

He's looking for you to give him permission not to work, not to do house chores, not to do shopping, not to parent etc. Or he'll be depressed. I'd boot him out.

100% this. You might even have to give him more of your pension or house equity if you split up

supersop60 · 27/02/2026 14:20

I find my DP’s constant talking very wearing. Especially as it’s very repetitive ( electric cars, Donald Trump, money)
Maybe I’m depressed.
OP you need to have a serious conversation.

OfficerChurlish · 27/02/2026 14:23

Has he received a formal diagnosis of "depression" or is it self-diagnosed? Speaking very broadly, if he's really suffering from situational depression (as suggested by his claim that you are "the", or a major, cause of it) it's often relatively easily treatable with talk therapy. If he is already in therapy; I'd be asking questions - a competent therapist will NOT have told him that his partner is the cause. If he isn't - I appreciate there may be long waiting times or there may even be a cost issue depending on where you live, but he has to explore the available options and determine a reasonable course of action. No one else can do it for him.

IF he has clinical depression, it's still possible that his relationship with you (or more likely his feeling "trapped" in a situation - not just the marriage but also parenthood, household, work, friends, family, community - that he doesn't feel is ideal for him or that isn't always comfortable for him) could be intensifying his feelings, but he still has to get help for the root cause. What he is apparently doing now - avoiding the root issue, blaming you, refusing or failing to seek expert help - is unfair to you and the children and gives no hope for improvement. I may sound harsh or mean, but if he indeed is self-diagnosing, or has a diagnosis but is refusing help, you may need to give him an ultimatum. At least don't tiptoe around him and make accommodations out of respect for his MH issues if he's determined to prolong them through inaction.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 27/02/2026 18:31

Tell him he's a grown up and to take responsibility for his own happiness. You are not the cause of his depression. If he needs to go find himself he is welcome to do so.

kiwiane · 27/02/2026 19:02

Remember you’re not responsible for him or his happiness; you may as well put yourself first for a change and focus on your life.

Needacupofteaandcrackers · 27/02/2026 19:09

lessglittermoremud · 27/02/2026 10:54

Are you sure he’s not paving the way to leave/get you to end the relationship?
It sounds like it’s you he’s particularly finding fault with, rather than anything else?
I couldn’t sit in silence at the dinner table and I offer advise/ask about our children’s day etc surely that’s normal?!
When my BIL was depressed (diagnosed by a gp and put on medication) he blamed himself for everything and thought my sister was better off going alone.
He didn’t sit there criticising her and the things she did. It took quite a number of years for him to work through it and is now out the other side.
Your DH seems to be aiming his dissatisfaction at you and doing nothing to help himself.

This resonates a bit…seeing it written out. I don’t really want to believe that. But I do find myself wondering what I said wrong!!!! He reducing hours but is still working, he does the garden and does cycling.

OP posts:
Sugarsugarcane · 27/02/2026 19:53

Needacupofteaandcrackers · 27/02/2026 19:09

This resonates a bit…seeing it written out. I don’t really want to believe that. But I do find myself wondering what I said wrong!!!! He reducing hours but is still working, he does the garden and does cycling.

Please don’t lose yourself in all of this OP x

Dozer · 28/02/2026 12:06

Alarm bells ringing for me too that he’s reduced his hours.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 28/02/2026 12:21

Then tell him to leave and find his happiness on the far side of fuck off.

Uticary · 28/02/2026 12:28

Just the type to look for spousal support.
Be very very wary.
I would be getting legal advice.
When my friends husband did this some years ago, she immediately applied to reduce her hours too, after legal advice.
She moved on divorce too when she realised he was waiting for her large inheritance to come in.
He stupidly thought he could get half.
His loud sister let the cat out of the bag.
He declared undying love suddenly when he realised she was far ahead of him.
Fortunately her lovely brother was executor and dragged his heels.
I think you are being played.
Prepare for the worst.

PinkyFlamingo · 28/02/2026 12:29

You haven't done anything wrong.

Busfriend · 28/02/2026 13:37

I think you need your own counselling just to support you. They’ll ask you what you want and they’ll help with your boundaries. You can ask your DH to go to the doctor, counselling etc but if he won’t you can’t force him. This was me a few years ago. Walking on eggshells, being blamed for his depression, working full time, doing all housework and childcare, listening to him, trying to help him etc. We did joint counselling which didn’t help but my own counselling did and we’re now divorcing. It was a difficult decision but I couldn’t live like that any longer. It’s very difficult to help someone when they won’t help themselves

zanahoria · 28/02/2026 13:44

I have suffered from depression but would never blame anyone for it

It is a lot more complex than that

New posts on this thread. Refresh page