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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel like I was made a fool of by DH again

1000 replies

MonicaGeller010203 · 28/06/2026 22:55

Almost nine years ago, DH started getting mentionitis and a pretty obvious (to me) crush on a neighbour of ours. We frequently hung out together and DC's played. Got really awkward, she knew how I felt and I always believed it highly entertained her and gave her a sense of power. She was unemployed, cash strapped and with both DC in kid , she was under pressure from her H and family to find a job. She used my DH for a lot of small favours and help and used me and the DC at times too.

Cutting to the chase, moved to a new neighbourhood to upsize to the suburbs 4-5 years ago. Lost touch with them. Last week was our 20th wedding anniv and I decided to invite them too.

H had always maintained it was a good familial friendship that i ruined with suspicion even though there was nothing there. In our new community I have a fab gang of girlfriends while he has struggled to make any, he gets along like on an acquaintance level only with their husbands, and hasn't made any other friends

I genuinely thought we had moved on from all that re 8-9 years ago low key drama. But no. He swears when I tried calling him inside to plate up his food that I was seething that he was talking to her (I swear I did not even notice who he was talking as they were sitting out in the garden in a circle, everyone else had their BBQ, and other food on plates, only he had not started yt). His friend asked me why H was not eating with the rest of us. I wish to God I had plated up food for him and taken it to him rather than call him in (for just a minute to take his food).

Later for the rest of the party, he avoided me - I had planned games in the garden for the 6 couples - like musical chairs, a couples duet singing competition that our teen kids were meant to be judging us on (all in fun) - he bailed on the whole thing , took the husband of this lady (not the other men, though one tagged along behind, and the other 2-3 were at a loose end) for a walk, and left us ladies to it, though I had told them the plan was going to be couples stuff, maybe even a little music and dance.

He sulked for the next couple of hours, though was back to something like normalcy by the time the last couple who stayed back (not the ones from the old neighbourhood) to chat and share silly stories, tea and some laughs before leaving. But for me the afternoon felt spoilt

I am not sure what my question is I think the main one is Am in AIBU to feel I was trying to do something nice for him , to show him I was more secure now or I trusted more and to feel like I was made a fool of again. Or was he somehow in the right.

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 15:45

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 15:41

He earns better now Sparkly, from 8/9 years ago actually now that I think about it he has started trying to.

From around the time he met a real woman worth being a provider for, maybe

OP posts:
OneSparklyGoat · 29/06/2026 15:46

Whowhenwhat · 29/06/2026 15:18

@MonicaGeller010203

Meant to quote you rather than myself!

Absolutely mean every word. As someone who's escaped a gaslighting narcissistic abuser, I recognise that how you have behaved may appear strange at first (inviting the OW for example), however in the context of a husband who's been chasing other women for decades and gaslighting you, while leaving you to do the lion's share of everything including the breadwinning, your reaction makes complete sense.

Btw, IME such sustained cheating is also a form of abuse given the amount of lying, gaslighting and withholding the truth that goes into it.

Those posters who've piled on and criticised you have probably been lucky enough never to have had such relationships. I really believe you'd have had much more support and understanding had you posted in Relationships rather than Aibu. Consider posting in Relationships for your follow-on thread, you will need one I think.

Sending you support and a handhold.

Edited

This is ridiculous. He hasn’t cheated any more than the OP has.

murasaki · 29/06/2026 15:47

One could say that you've been gas lighting him for 9 years ,pretending to be ok with whatever may or may not have happened when in fact you clearly weren't.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/06/2026 15:55

OneSparklyGoat · 29/06/2026 12:52

It’s a breakdown. You’re probably hungover, got little sleep, and not in your right mind.

Are you working today? You need to hydrate and start taking care of yourself. Take a good shower, take a long walk in nature, do some breathing exercises and clear your brain. If you pray, do that. Look yourself in the eye in the mirror for a few seconds and remember who you are.

This isn’t your life. It was a bad few hours and it’s over now.

Please consider doing as @OneSparklyGoat has suggested.

And please call your GP and ask for some help.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:01

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/06/2026 15:55

Please consider doing as @OneSparklyGoat has suggested.

And please call your GP and ask for some help.

I am on Prozac /antidepressants already since when this began 8 to 9 years ago

I went in 2018

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:06

I am nervous now, that he is going to be angry when he finds out I am going to see a therapist, or have an intro free session at the very least

will try to call from outside

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:09

He is talking to his sister now about how well I had sorted everything out for the party yesterday, food organising getting everyone together etc

if he gets angry about the therapy booked, I am going to say what some ppl on here have said - that I am going to get help for being so suspicious of such a lovely man. He does not deserve this drama from me

Actually I believe that the supporters on here have his measure accurately. But will keep an open mind and listen to the therapist. That will be the point of going, right? Clarity, Objectivity

OP posts:
TheJoyousHiker · 29/06/2026 16:11

OP, I hope you get the help you so clearly need.

BeardySchnauzer · 29/06/2026 16:14

The therapist isn’t going to give you answers. She will help you find the answers yourself. If you go in and have a good complain about him you won’t get anywhere. It’s about your feelings and reactions and the things you can control. You can’t control how he behaves.

your feelings towards this other woman need exploring because you seem unhealthily fixated and you need to get to the point where she isn’t even a thought in your head

BettyJoanPerske · 29/06/2026 16:19

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MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:21

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??

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:27

Sorry just wondered what brought on that vindictive harshness.

The part about them not reading books I suppose

Not my finest hour. Sorry.

OP posts:
murasaki · 29/06/2026 16:30

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BettyJoanPerske · 29/06/2026 16:32

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MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:34

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Ah okay. Not much I can do about that

Why would someone come on here and spend time faking a horrible life of disrespect that they are too ashamed to tell family and friends about?

But okay. Too horrific to be believed. And this prince is the guy I wanted sing a duet with yesterday

Some of us get too tied up in big house, no mortgage, perfect body or loss thereof, job work taxes, kids - to see what is glaring them till it hits them once every some years

And even then they don't leave and they don't know why they do not have the courage to leave

Came and said will you do evening coffees now. And I said 'OK'.

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:35

@murasaki @BettyJoanPerske

would you leave just over the fatty thing if it were you

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:37

Never mind

Will see what the therapist thinks....

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:37

Thanks again

OP posts:
BeardySchnauzer · 29/06/2026 16:38

The therapist isn’t going to tell you what she thinks of him

HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 16:39

Why would someone come on here and spend time faking a horrible life of disrespect that they are too ashamed to tell family and friends about?

People invent things on MN all the flipping time. I'm not saying you are one of them, but trolls are hardly unknown here.

But okay. Too horrific to be believed. And this prince is the guy I wanted sing a duet with yesterday

I don't think anyone is suggesting that your thread is "too horrific to be believed." I haven't seen anything horrific at all TBH. Your reactions seem extreme and your interpretations of incidents may make some people question your narrative.

murasaki · 29/06/2026 16:40

BeardySchnauzer · 29/06/2026 16:38

The therapist isn’t going to tell you what she thinks of him

Yes, I think she misunderstands the role of a therapist.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:40

BeardySchnauzer · 29/06/2026 16:38

The therapist isn’t going to tell you what she thinks of him

I changed. I have gone with a He.

His profile says he challenges his counsellees to see if there is a better way of thinking - he won't give his opinion , I know , directly.

Can't wait, never had therapy or counselling before

I am going to ask my work if med insurance will cover some of it, no harm asking

H will have less to object to that way

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:42

HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 16:39

Why would someone come on here and spend time faking a horrible life of disrespect that they are too ashamed to tell family and friends about?

People invent things on MN all the flipping time. I'm not saying you are one of them, but trolls are hardly unknown here.

But okay. Too horrific to be believed. And this prince is the guy I wanted sing a duet with yesterday

I don't think anyone is suggesting that your thread is "too horrific to be believed." I haven't seen anything horrific at all TBH. Your reactions seem extreme and your interpretations of incidents may make some people question your narrative.

Murasaki and betty do not believe that H called me fatty, Sam.....

I cannot help seeing the humor in my day.....

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 16:43

All he has to do is leave the group with her and her H, and block her

But instead he is going to whine , cry, object, ridicule, bully, object, did I say whine, about the 50 pounds an hour therapist

OP posts:
Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 16:44

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