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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for thinking who TF does she think she is?

1000 replies

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 19:57

Aibu for thinking this is overstepping the fcking mark

Long story so will try to condense and keep to relevant details.

Been with ‘D’H for 13 years (married 6). We have 2 DCs aged 4 and 3. He’s 38, I’m 31. He has been bestfriends with a woman, let’s call her Jane, for 25 years (since they were teens) and there’s never been any romantic history between them.

In general she’s not really my kind of person. She’s quite blunt and a bit rude, uses racist language (I’m Asian) like it’s a casual word and tbh is a bit of a bully. However, knowing she means a lot to my husband, at the start of our relationship I made A LOT of effort to be friends with her and she was even one of my bridesmaids when we got married (the theory being that if she’d have been a guy, she’d have been a groomsman so wanted her to feel involved in the wedding as she Hs best friend). We were on maternity leave at the same time, both had baby girls at the same time (she’s married) etc. but around this same time (so 5 years ago) she stopped engaging with me, started ignoring messages, every plan I made with her she cancelled and then we weren’t invited to her daughters first birthday. Throughout all of this she maintained contact with my husband and they met up regularly for coffee. I raised concerns with H at the time and he brushed it off as “it’s just what Jane does, she’s a bit flaky, don’t take it personally”.

I’ve not spoken to her now for about 4 years, bar the odd hello if she happens to be at a family/friends event (a lot of shared mutual friends/large friendship groups). But she frequently meets up with H for drinks, dinner, brunch, they have regular video calls.

H and I have been going through a lot recently (we relocated from California after spending two years there for his job, I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role and have moved 10 times in the last 10 years) due to stress with house moves, redundancy and, me trying to figure out what career to do around the kids following a career in law (I’m a high achiever, degree from Oxbridge) and taking a back step. He works very long hours, lots of traveling as we moved to be closer to family as the girls are starting school soon so I said no more following him.

He met up with Jane last Saturday (they’d both been invited to their mutual friends wedding - I wasn’t) and when he came home on Sunday, he asked me to “make some time in my calendar to meet with him on Friday afternoon” (like I’m a business associate…). He told me today that he “discussed me at length with Jane” and THEY had decided that WE don’t communicate in our marriage enough. SHE also, in her expert opinion as a mental health nurse, diagnosed me with a borderline personality disorder based on everything she’s heard and seen from my husband over the last 13 years and that he should gently suggest I go to the GP. For context, like (so it seems) every other woman in their 30s I’m undergoing an ADHD assessment (VERY different to BPD).

So my AIBU - wtf has DH been saying to her about me that has led her to diagnose me with BPD after not speaking to me for 5 years? And who TF does she think she is?

We had no falling out, no cross words were said, I simply stopped making an effort with her and suggesting meeting up because she never made an effort with me and somehow that’s my fault and she hates me enough to say I have BPD?

Frustratingly H said she’s sent him to information to read up on about it.

So far I’ve not reacted or responded to H. I told him that I needed some time to process the conversation we’d just had and I’d discuss it with him when I felt ready

OP posts:
MrsBuntyS · 27/06/2026 16:27

Time to get a nanny, get back to work and get rid of this man. DH1 had a ‘friend’ like this, part of the reason he is my ex husband. They had dated throughout their teens and split up at uni but she couldn’t let go. She was a bridesmaid at our wedding etc etc. when he started an affair with another friend’s wife, she and her husband invited them out as a couple. Loads of people knew and she covered for him. This was just pre social media so easy to do.

I felt so betrayed by the way he behaved with her and OW that I never spoke to any of them again. I met him through working with her, first job out of uni, and their whole friend group were uni mates. The OW was an ex girlfriend of a uni mate.

Sounds like your husband is excluding you from ‘their’ circle. Don’t be like me and be ignorant and get made a fool of. End it now, he clearly doesn’t give a shit about how you actually feel about anything. Forgot about his high earning jobs etc, you can make your own money and future for your kids.

You can also meet someone who engages with you emotionally. Also just to add, this ‘friend’ is likely jealous of your career options so she is making you out to be mentally ill. Ridiculous. Good luck OP, time to move on.

ScribblingPixie · 27/06/2026 16:30

There is so much wrong with your DH's behaviour. I don't see what he has going for him, to be honest.

HazelMember · 27/06/2026 16:35

ScribblingPixie · 27/06/2026 16:30

There is so much wrong with your DH's behaviour. I don't see what he has going for him, to be honest.

I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role

SummerDive · 27/06/2026 16:38

CFornot123 · 27/06/2026 09:23

I raised the point about how he’s not my back and broken my trust. His response was “give him examples of how I have his back”. So I explained I make him his meals (if I don’t he doesn’t eat because he’s too busy) and I recognized he wasn’t happy/not taking time for himself so I moved my gym sessions from 6am (I used to get up at 5am to go to the gym before he went to work) to allow him to go and I physically booked and put the times in his calendar for his PT sessions to ensure he’d go. But apparently that’s just normal. Writing this out seems laughable but it’s just how things have become?!

That’s full on DARVO
Denied theres any issue
Anger at you daring say the issue here is with him
Reverse victim and offender by asking you to prove tge very thing you say he isn’t doing

I mean having moved 10 times in 10 years and given up on your career should have been enough proof you have his back tbh!

If I’m bring very kind to him, I’d say he has listened too much to Jane, who has a bee in her bonnet about you (whatever the reason) and he is now convinced that you are awful, have clearly a MH issue, do nothing for him.

At worst, he is planning his exit, making it all your fault because you’re unstable and never had his back. So ofc he had to seek support somewhere else…..

I also agree with other posyers saying I wouldn’t be surprised he never saw you as an equal. Hence keeping Jane as THE friend to go and see when things go tits up. The fact he has discussed you at length with her and THEY decided you needed to see a GP is very telling 😢😢

im sorry @CFornot123 but I really think that, from now in, you need to protect yourself. Ensure you have a good job, financial trails, knowing all the financial ins and outs of your family etc…. Because he already has a foot out of the door

LouiseK93 · 27/06/2026 16:41

She's trying to make you aound mentally ill because she wants him. How dare he sit there and talk about you to her.

inappropriateraspberry · 27/06/2026 16:45

You are too good for all this crap! He is not appreciating you as a person or all you do for him. He does have time for himself, he swanned off to see Jane on his own - that wasn’t work. Get out while the children are young.
I’m also co fused about the dog - why did you have to get permission from him or wait for him to take the dog to the vet? You should have just taken the dog yourself.

Paganpentacle · 27/06/2026 16:46

Your husband is in a relationship with Jane. It started after your child was born when you were both on maternity leave,
The friendship group knows.
Thats why you’re never invited

HazelMember · 27/06/2026 16:48

Paganpentacle · 27/06/2026 16:46

Your husband is in a relationship with Jane. It started after your child was born when you were both on maternity leave,
The friendship group knows.
Thats why you’re never invited

Maybe the DH is the father of Jane's child?

WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 27/06/2026 16:50

So THEY discussed YOU at length without you being present? With each of them obviously making up whatever version and issues about you they can???

With how it’s all coming about, I think you should let her have him as he seems to value her opinion and time over you and your kids.

LTB and find a husband who deserves and appreciates you

Oldmamabear · 27/06/2026 16:53

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 19:57

Aibu for thinking this is overstepping the fcking mark

Long story so will try to condense and keep to relevant details.

Been with ‘D’H for 13 years (married 6). We have 2 DCs aged 4 and 3. He’s 38, I’m 31. He has been bestfriends with a woman, let’s call her Jane, for 25 years (since they were teens) and there’s never been any romantic history between them.

In general she’s not really my kind of person. She’s quite blunt and a bit rude, uses racist language (I’m Asian) like it’s a casual word and tbh is a bit of a bully. However, knowing she means a lot to my husband, at the start of our relationship I made A LOT of effort to be friends with her and she was even one of my bridesmaids when we got married (the theory being that if she’d have been a guy, she’d have been a groomsman so wanted her to feel involved in the wedding as she Hs best friend). We were on maternity leave at the same time, both had baby girls at the same time (she’s married) etc. but around this same time (so 5 years ago) she stopped engaging with me, started ignoring messages, every plan I made with her she cancelled and then we weren’t invited to her daughters first birthday. Throughout all of this she maintained contact with my husband and they met up regularly for coffee. I raised concerns with H at the time and he brushed it off as “it’s just what Jane does, she’s a bit flaky, don’t take it personally”.

I’ve not spoken to her now for about 4 years, bar the odd hello if she happens to be at a family/friends event (a lot of shared mutual friends/large friendship groups). But she frequently meets up with H for drinks, dinner, brunch, they have regular video calls.

H and I have been going through a lot recently (we relocated from California after spending two years there for his job, I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role and have moved 10 times in the last 10 years) due to stress with house moves, redundancy and, me trying to figure out what career to do around the kids following a career in law (I’m a high achiever, degree from Oxbridge) and taking a back step. He works very long hours, lots of traveling as we moved to be closer to family as the girls are starting school soon so I said no more following him.

He met up with Jane last Saturday (they’d both been invited to their mutual friends wedding - I wasn’t) and when he came home on Sunday, he asked me to “make some time in my calendar to meet with him on Friday afternoon” (like I’m a business associate…). He told me today that he “discussed me at length with Jane” and THEY had decided that WE don’t communicate in our marriage enough. SHE also, in her expert opinion as a mental health nurse, diagnosed me with a borderline personality disorder based on everything she’s heard and seen from my husband over the last 13 years and that he should gently suggest I go to the GP. For context, like (so it seems) every other woman in their 30s I’m undergoing an ADHD assessment (VERY different to BPD).

So my AIBU - wtf has DH been saying to her about me that has led her to diagnose me with BPD after not speaking to me for 5 years? And who TF does she think she is?

We had no falling out, no cross words were said, I simply stopped making an effort with her and suggesting meeting up because she never made an effort with me and somehow that’s my fault and she hates me enough to say I have BPD?

Frustratingly H said she’s sent him to information to read up on about it.

So far I’ve not reacted or responded to H. I told him that I needed some time to process the conversation we’d just had and I’d discuss it with him when I felt ready

My god. Everyone's different and can tolerate different things. If it were me I would put together a very carefully thought out letter to each of them giving them a few of the labels they deserve and have evidenced they are worthy of. I would then make arrangements to move out and divorce him and cut her dead. Of course none of that would come as a surprise as she knows everything so should have worked this out if she ever has her head out of her arse for more than half hour. You easily get divorce on unreasonable behaviour grounds. With any luck he will be so busy he won't even notice unless someone has put it in his diary.

You deserve so much more. I hope you are only in love with the man you thought he was, not the one he is showing himself to be. It will be easier that way. If you do truly love him, you need to set boundaries for your husband and that cheeky bitch hes hanging out with or they will always disrespect you xx

Lemonraider · 27/06/2026 16:56

Hundreds of people have now vilified your husband OP. He's been called dozens of names like scum, and remote diagnosed as an abuser or narcissist on a thread where people are also demanding you attempt to destroy a woman's career for a remote diagnosis.

She's also now vilified as a racist and called dozens of names.

I have a family member that behaved like this about me, and another family member thinks the person she described actually is me. A lot of it was prompted by me not wanting to spend time with her because of her behaviour towards me. I have to keep explaining that the person they think I am doesn't exist, it's not me and never has been.

It's very destructive. Your posts remind me of what was done to me. "Jane" may well be right. The rage you have generated here will now be directed at me.

Oldmamabear · 27/06/2026 16:57

My god. Everyone's different and can tolerate different things. If it were me I would put together a very carefully thought out letter to each of them giving them a few of the labels they deserve and have evidenced they are worthy of. I would then make arrangements to move out and divorce him and cut her dead. Of course none of that would come as a surprise as she knows everything so should have worked this out if she ever has her head out of her arse for more than half hour. You easily get divorce on unreasonable behaviour grounds. With any luck he will be so busy he won't even notice unless someone has put it in his diary.

You deserve so much more. I hope you are only in love with the man you thought he was, not the one he is showing himself to be. It will be easier that way. If you do truly love him, you need to set boundaries for your husband and that cheeky bitch hes hanging out with or they will always disrespect you xx

tenderbee · 27/06/2026 16:57

If we say anyone that is not cool with you should not be close to your spouse or children, they call us insecure, controlling, manipulative, whereas the real controlling, insecure and manipulative people are those who despise you but wants to be close to those around you at all cost.
You have enabled a lot of BS from the beginning:

  1. Trying so hard to get into her good books, you've carried yourself like someone who thrives on validations.
  2. As an high achiever that you said you are, I'm puzzled you paused it all for about 10 years, I mean nothing on the side? Even volunteering.? Personal development?
  3. Acting "mature" while your husband keeps meeting up regularly with someone that does not like you? Why was that enabled? So they will not call you controlling? Oh well, they were controlling you because what they were doing is evil. You were been hurt emotionally repeatedly.

Ofcourse you need to have serious talks with your husband. Marital issues SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED with people randomly. You didn't give him consent to discuss your health issues with her, how dare he take it outside? How? You're not posing a risk to him or the kids or to yourself and if you are, he should be talking to the appropriate quarters not some lady he's secretly in love with but for whatever reason they cannot be together.
And he needs to come to terms with that, if she's that good, reliable, a shoulder to lean on, he should have married her, he's married to you and not her for a reason. He should wake up and smell the coffee.

Doteycat · 27/06/2026 16:59

All you are short is the martin bashir interview where you say " there were three of us in the marriage".

Not making light of this at all but its screamingly obvious whats happening.
Leave this bastard of a husband and he can marry the one who truly "gets him".
Fucking cunts the pair of them.

MyNeedyLilacBird · 27/06/2026 17:08

Your husband is the problem here. He should have backed off from jane years ago. If I wanted to stay in the marriage the first stipulation would be the friendship with jane ends. However if I'm being honest I don't think I could stay married to this man.

I'd get yourself back to work ASAP and start planning to get away from this toxic man. I actually can't believe he'd even want to be friends with this awful racist woman- that should have shown you years ago were you stood!

Donsyb · 27/06/2026 17:09

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 21:03

yes actually I never saw the wedding invite. I just got told one day in November that “he’d been invited to the wedding and the invite was addressed just to him” so I wasn’t invited.

about two months ago I questioned him on his relationship with Jane (based on an incident last year where he lost his job in California, took the next flight out to the UK and spent 10 days in the UK, meeting with her to discuss his prospects and options, leaving me and my two children in the US alone with no answers).

the response was “he could see where I was coming from but there was nothing going on between them and he will always love Jane as his best friend and perhaps I needed therapy to explore why I was clearly jealous of her”

I’m sorry but I would have left him at this point! He left you in California with 2 small
lids to go and discuss his options with Jane?!!WTF has it got to do with her? It’s you and your kids that are affected by him losing his job, not her.

Purplerain1985 · 27/06/2026 17:18

I would be so annoyed at this,he’s crossing a big line by clearly oversharing stuff about you.She’s overstepping and I find it really strange why she stopped communicating with you.I hope for your sake it’s not an affair of any kind.She sounds a bit odd if you ask me

independentfriend · 27/06/2026 17:20

I think I'd start by messaging the uni friend who got married. Explain you understand weddings are expensive/ sometimes need to be child free / venues are the size they are so you understand if you actually weren't invited but you're concerned about your husband's behaviour so want to confirm.

You've moved closer to family - if it's yours are they likely to be supportive? If so it may be time to make use of them as a support network - for some childcare so you can job hunt etc

Sometimes the Law Society runs returners courses. There's some help available from university careers services especially if you're thinking of changing direction all together.

Even if you think you and your husband will stay together, it's probably advisable you find a divorce lawyer and talk through the possibilities around finances.

Finding yourself a therapist isn't a bad idea but avoid joint therapy - he's being manipulative and would probably try to use therapy to continue that behaviour.n

Donsyb · 27/06/2026 17:21

CFornot123 · 27/06/2026 09:23

I raised the point about how he’s not my back and broken my trust. His response was “give him examples of how I have his back”. So I explained I make him his meals (if I don’t he doesn’t eat because he’s too busy) and I recognized he wasn’t happy/not taking time for himself so I moved my gym sessions from 6am (I used to get up at 5am to go to the gym before he went to work) to allow him to go and I physically booked and put the times in his calendar for his PT sessions to ensure he’d go. But apparently that’s just normal. Writing this out seems laughable but it’s just how things have become?!

You “had his back” when you gave up a good career to follow him around the world, allowing his career to flourish whilst yours didn’t!

Challenger2A7 · 27/06/2026 17:22

He's sexually involved with this woman and has been so for a long time. Just because they go back a long way doesn't mean it's all platonic. Sexual involvement can stop and start again many times.

MyHorseAndMe · 27/06/2026 17:24

It sounds as though he’s not listening to you and your conversations are ‘tit for tat’, which will never resolve anything.

example ‘could you put your cups in the dishwasher before you go to bed so I don’t come down to dirty cups in the morning’ - ‘but I do the hoovering’. This was the type of conversation I had with my ex. Rather than him thinking ‘ok I understand you don’t like coming down to dirty cups in the sink, and it’ll take me 2 seconds to put them away’ he’s just thinking of ways to retaliate.

Rather than your DH taking on board you don’t feel he has your back, he retaliates with ‘well how do you have mine’, you then end up explaining how you do this for him and he doesn’t actually take in board what you’re saying. Maybe a joint councilling would help you?

NOTANUM · 27/06/2026 17:30

Lemonraider · 27/06/2026 16:56

Hundreds of people have now vilified your husband OP. He's been called dozens of names like scum, and remote diagnosed as an abuser or narcissist on a thread where people are also demanding you attempt to destroy a woman's career for a remote diagnosis.

She's also now vilified as a racist and called dozens of names.

I have a family member that behaved like this about me, and another family member thinks the person she described actually is me. A lot of it was prompted by me not wanting to spend time with her because of her behaviour towards me. I have to keep explaining that the person they think I am doesn't exist, it's not me and never has been.

It's very destructive. Your posts remind me of what was done to me. "Jane" may well be right. The rage you have generated here will now be directed at me.

Did you encourage a man to leave a wife and spend 10 days with you after he’d just lost his job?
If you did, I would indeed look in the mirror.

JennyForeigner · 27/06/2026 17:32

Personally I'd be finding out where Jane works and reporting her for inappropriate processing of your highly sensitive health information ;-)

Or just tell her and your husband to fuck off together. How fucking rude.

JennyForeigner · 27/06/2026 17:35

Also, you really need to get divorced. Your husband is a gaslighting arsehole.

shhblackbag · 27/06/2026 17:35

So many reasons you should divorce this man. But the dog? Complete dealbreaker. I would have been livid.

I would have taken the dog myself. I'm surprised you didn't. But I would also have divorced this man a while ago.

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