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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Only 6 Months Married!!!

35 replies

dogmumma · 23/01/2022 15:25

This is really difficult to write, but, I have to open up somewhere because I'm too embarrassed with my situation to confine in family or friends.

I have been with my OH for 7 years, married just 6 months.
Since we got married, things have been awful. We had a little fall out with my side of the family just after the wedding which did cause some tension and conflict, and it has just continued and intensified...

It came to blows at Christmas, when I shamefully lashed out, and I got violent, and hit him several times. I absolutely hold my hands up! I was so so disgusted I myself and I would of accepted and understood if he choose to leave after that, because I respect that he may well want to put his hands on me sometimes but doesn't, because it isn't right, and it is in no way right that I did. I apologised immediately, wholeheartedly, and he could see my guilt was eating me up.
He stayed and said we could move past it, and for me I knew that was the wake up call I needed that I needed to sort myself out, I needed to get my head straight, I needed to be thinking before I spoke and react, I've started therapy, I'm already on meds for mental health, have been got a long length of time, it's a personal struggle of mine I've been battling hard with.

Since then, with a clearer head. I'm seeing things differently, while I still hold my hands up in regards to the violent incident... I begun to realise, how out of character that was for me and why, why did I behave that way, and I reviewed the previous weeks and months and how beat down I'd felt, how much guilt I was being made to carry everyday for everything, a messy house, a stressful day, no money, family problems, every argument was my fault, it was me and my mental health, I was crazy, I was delusional, I was a mess, "look at yourself", being called a bitch, having holes punched in my walls, my doors, after being told I'm an attention seeker for saying I felt suicidal, "if you wanted to do it you would, wouldn't you!" Being told again and again, you need professional help you do...

I'm a completely broken women. I recognise that now. And my eyes are fully open...
last weekend, I asked him for help around the house because I felt it was all getting on-top of me and I felt stressed.
Side note - we both work 5 days a week, mon- fri, I take care of absolutely everything, and I mean everything. The only contribution he makes to this household is that he pays half of all the bills: I pay the other half.
I do the food shop, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, putting away, maintenance, decorating, feed and take care of the pets, pay our bills and manage our finances, even had to take out two loans in my name shortly after we'd brought our home because he'd racked up £15,000 in debt behind my back and had shot his credit.

He literally just goes to work, and comes home.. that's all that's required of him.
Yet, his response when I asked him for help was that he doesn't think to do it because I've always done it so it's not his fault is it.
And if he wants to lie in bed until 11am on the weekend he's entitled to, it's his fucking weekend. Not my fault you've done it all before I'm up.
(My point being if I wait until he's up and showered at midday, and then he does all of what I've done whilst he's laid up in bed, we won't get to go anywhere on that day)
Ask any bloke, it's the way it always is. If you want help, you need to tell me what needs to be done and remind me to do it.
To which I said, so, it's effectively still my responsibility to think about it needing to be done and see to it being done, because you aren't capable of seeing it needs doing and doing it without prompting?
To which I then endured a 5 hour argument about how I was being difficult because I don't want to have to tell him/remind him.
Well then I can't complain that I have to do it all because he's willing to if reminded and I'm just being difficult. We then didn't speak for 24 hours... I didn't eat for a full 36 hours. And then Monday swings round and I'm expected to carry on like normal. While he brushes aside what's happened with a 'I've heard what you've said ok, give me a kiss'
The week rolls on, he hasn't lifted a finger. I asked him Thursday to do dinner Friday evening. He said fine, he came home, we're ordering dominos, ok... great. .... 'out the joint account' so the one night he's been asked to take responsibility he's ordered a takeaway that we're both now paying for....

He then wakes me up at 8am on my first day off, because he wants to go and get a car part. 'Go back to sleep babe' then in and out of the house, banging doors, disturbing the dogs, barking, car revving.... so I'm up! I say to him in annoyed that he woke me so early on my day to have a lie in.
Straight up called pathetic and told 'I'm starting again' then continues to talk down to me for two hours. I haven't changed, I'm this, he's done with my shit, he isn't doing this anymore... he doesn't give a fuck about what I have to say. And then repeatedly telling me, I don't give a fuck, shut up, I don't give a fuck, shut up.
And then we spent the remainder of that evening and now following day in separate rooms not talking..

I'm so lost, I know his behaviour isn't ok. I feel like my marriage is over already, 6 months in.
He doesn't change, he doesn't even acknowledge there is anything wrong with the way he behaves.. as soon as you say anything against him, it turns into a 6 hour long argument. He is incapable of taking any criticism, he just manipulates the situation and twists it to make it seem like it's me and my mental health....

I don't know what to do?? I'm so so embarrassed. We've had arguments in the past, but they've always resolved and we move on and don't argue for months on end...
but since we've been married, it's horrendous. It's every single week and it's drags into days...
it's really toxic and it's breaking my heart. I feel like I don't know my husband. He isn't the man I knew before we said our vows. We've haven't been intimate since our wedding day. Yet we agreed to start trying for a baby after our wedding, that was always the plan, I've even stopped contraceptive. But, we haven't been close enough to even contemplate it.
My friends around me are all falling pregnant, some for the second time, and it hurts me a little each time.
I feel like I'm living a lie. Like, the relationship people knew us to have prior to the wedding isn't what it is now.... now, it's awful. I've always been told marriage can be hard work and you have to work at it, but then I think, surely it isn't meant to be anything like this!!!

I have doubts about throwing it all away.... we've been together 7 years. Is that worth more than the 6-8 months of this shit?
Is it going to get better? Or has this set the tone of what our life together will be like?

I feel crushed, honestly, broken. This is nothing like what I imagined married life to be. I feel so so lonely. I'm far too embarrassed to talk to my friends or family about this, I know they'll all judge, and I honestly can't handle that judgement.
Am I the problem?
What would you do? Have you been in a similar circumstance and it's got better?

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
GrandmasCat · 23/01/2022 15:29

OP, it is very well and good you are taking responsibility for the violent incident and taking steps to avoid it repeating. But if you really want out, just go now and before things get more entangled. Most people who divorce do not regret divorcing, what they regret is not leaving much earlier before things got so toxic and nasty EVERYONE was hurt badly.

GoodnightGrandma · 23/01/2022 15:31

One of you needs to leave, you both need thinking time.

Treacletoots · 23/01/2022 15:37

OP. Violence is never ever acceptable. But before you think I'm going to bust your balls, I'm not.

I think you're both utterly toxic. I believe he's been winding you up to the point of no return and you can't deal. Lashing out is your response.

The solution to this is not to be with someone who makes you feel so stressed that it even becomes a consideration. I knew my marriage to my exH was over when I had dreams about pushing him down the stairs. I hated him so much, how shit he made me feel, how he never did anything and pulled me down constantly.

It's time to leave. It's toxic and you need to get out before something worse happens.

MsTSwift · 23/01/2022 15:38

Starter marriage. People will be less judgemental/ interested than you think. Sounds like he brings out the absolute worst in you too.

Alfixn · 23/01/2022 15:43

Just because you've been together X amount of years, that's NOT a good reason to remain in a relationship that's so unhealthy for you.

It sounds like this relationship is taking a huge toll on your mental health, to the point you've become suicidal. That's so scary. What is this guy actually adding to your life? Really? I think you would be much happier, and probably have more freedom to enjoy your life, without him in it.

Yes marriages all have some difficult moments occasionally. But all his gaslighting, emotional abuse, physical intimidation, punching walls - NO. That's NOT normal and it's not OK.

Stop caring so much about what he and others think for now OP, for your own sake. Call the Samaritans. End this marriage. Start counselling. Start living life for you.

Wishing you all the best.

merryhouse · 23/01/2022 15:43

No, it will not get better. It will get worse.

Incidentally, you're beating yourself up over the hitting because "he would never do that" but in the next paragraph you casually mention that he's punched holes in the doors and walls. That's the first step, done to intimidate you without actually hurting you.

Don't get pregnant: not only is that likely to ramp up the abuse, but it will make it so much harder to get away. Get back on contraception immediately.

Then see if you can move out. You could tell people it's because you hit him, if you wanted.

File for divorce, citing the holes in the doors.

What was the disagreement with your family?

Beowulfthethird · 23/01/2022 15:44

You sound so unhappy. I'm sorry.

oviraptor21 · 23/01/2022 15:46

Time to leave. He thinks he's trapped you now so he can get away with his misogynist behaviour. But he can't. Divorce now while it will still be relatively easy to unmesh everything. Hopefully the debt he took out is in his name only. And just in case it's a possibility, I'd advise going back on the contraception to ensure you don't have a baby.

freeatlast2021 · 23/01/2022 18:26

Oh dear, my heart breaks for you. You start this post telling us what you did to him, but it is very clear from the rest of the post that he drove you crazy. You are saying you do not know what to do, but you do know. You have to leave. Please remember you do not not owe anybody anything, not your family or your friends, you do not even have to explain anybody why you are leaving. This is your life and your future is at stake. It is clear as day that this man is not good for you. Things will not get better, they will only get worse. First, I would like to echo what @merryhouse said, get back on the contraceptive DO NOT get pregnant with this man. You have to run as fast and as far as you can and do not look back. You are right, relationships are hard work, but what you are having is not hard work, it is torture.

Good luck OP and keep posting..

Aquamarine1029 · 23/01/2022 18:30

Get away from him immediately and get a divorce. Get a solicitor as soon as possible. Your relationship is a toxic nightmare that should have ended years ago.

No one will care that you are getting a divorce, and even if they did it's none of their concern.

Get out of there, op. This needs to end.

VodselForDinner · 23/01/2022 18:31

For both your sakes, you should start divorce proceedings ASAP.

DoodleBelle · 23/01/2022 18:38

Do not bring a child in to this mess. People won’t care even half as much as you think about you divorcing. This is no way to live.

BluebellsGreenbells · 23/01/2022 18:39

Your friends and family already know. This won’t be news to them. You think you’re hiding it but you’re not. They will be relived you’ve come to you’re senses.

Friend in similar situation, two kids, now has an assault charge, lost her job. He’s attempting to goad her into another argument so she gets jail time … whilst on a suspended sentence.

walk away while you still can. It won’t get better.

Aquamarine1029 · 23/01/2022 18:47

Your friends and family already know. This won’t be news to them. You think you’re hiding it but you’re not. They will be relived you’ve come to you’re senses.

Exactly. This is always true. To the people close to you, there will be no surprise at all.

dogmumma · 23/01/2022 18:55

Firstly, thank you all for taking the time to not only read a complete strangers post, but also take the time to reply. I really appreciate it.
I think I'm hesitant to instantly file for divorce because it wasn't like this before the wedding. We got along well, we laughed a lot, we did lots together we genuinely enjoyed our time together. And I feel like if the fall out with my family hadn't of happened immediately after the wedding (it was due to some disrespectful comments made by a family member regarding the wedding venue/food) we wouldn't be were we are right now...
i feel like we were thrown right into shit the minute after we said 'I do'. And I'm angry with my family about that too, but, life goes on and we start to build bridges... but, it's like we are stuck. And even when I'm trying so so hard to dig us out of it. He doesn't seem to be.
And what I'm struggling with is, is this who he is now? Or, is this a phase, is this something deeper, something that requires GP attention which would help resolve it.. and I need to be understanding and patient to allow the change.
Or is that me just being overly empathetic because I'm thinking of how my mental health can make me act out of character sometimes.

I know I love this man, I said yes when he proposed for a reason. And we'd discussed starting a family after the wedding, for a reason ..... because that's the direction we were travelling toward, happily. And I feel like it all just changed over night. And I like to believe I'm not naive enough to have not noticed if this was all an act and he'd pulled the wool over my eyes for the last 7 years... because, I'd have definitely spotted that and he introduced me to every aspect of his life, it was all real.

I'm scared if I jump into divorce proceedings this soon into our marriage, I could be walking away from something with incredible potential, which is why I married him to begin with, it just needs to be nurtured and aided in the right direction. Or, am I being completely deluded and I've fallen for the biggest dupe of all time?

I feel so venerable at the moment, I'm looking at everything I've just worked so hard for over the year possibly fall apart very quickly. We have a home together with a mortgage and pets, we had plans...

Feel broken.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 23/01/2022 19:00

And what I'm struggling with is, is this who he is now?

This is who he's always been. You ignored the red flags, and the his true colours didn't really show until a hard time came to pass. He's just fine when everything this going his way, right?

This is who he is and you've been given a warning shot.

Aquamarine1029 · 23/01/2022 19:03

Blatant, obvious abusive behaviour rearing it's ugly head after marriage is very, very common, op. He thinks he's got you well trapped.

oviraptor21 · 23/01/2022 23:48

This is who he is.
It isn't just the fallout from the family issue.
It's the debt he racked up without telling you. It's the goading.
The lack of emotional support.
The lack of practical support.
Do you really want this to be the rest of your life? Won't you always be treading on eggshells trying to pacify him and accepting his disrespectful behaviour for the sake of appearances?

DowntonCrabby · 23/01/2022 23:55

It’s over and honestly that’s great. To get out now rather than 15 years down the road when things will be 100x worse.

You’re strong to have realised it now, step up for yourself and get out. He is not a good man. Xmas Angry

DowntonCrabby · 23/01/2022 23:56

Ah shit meant to post flowers!! Flowers

Batoutofhell70 · 24/01/2022 18:20

Don't feel bad. I left my first husband after 7 months. He wasn't a bad person.

WeThreeKingsofOrientAre · 24/01/2022 18:33

Have a read of this:

valuetortoise.com/20-examples-of-sunk-cost-fallacy/

merryhouse · 24/01/2022 18:41

Hang on, you had a massive fall-out with your family because one of them said the wedding breakfast was shit?

You have lost all sense of perspective here. That's what an abusive relationship can do to you.

Get out.

StrictlySinging · 24/01/2022 19:45

You (both) had fun and you value that. But it’s not happening now.

You also did all the adulting and chores and still
do. If you dare suggest otherwise it all goes to pot.

While you were adulting for you both he humoured your plans and lapped up your mothering and entertaining him.

He insults you and throws his weight around runs up debt and shows no commitment to your family plan.

You were struggling a bit and on meds anyway but now it is too much.

You are good at being the adult and worth so much more than this.

Please don’t think a baby will fix this.

Sorry x

GrandmasCat · 25/01/2022 08:14

OP, when we get married, the stereotypes we grew up with kick off and it is very difficult to battle the effect of them. We grow up looking at patterns around us and learning from them ie. I was always a career woman but after marriage it suddenly didn’t sound so stupid to leave a job I loved with great potential to move away to support the career dreams of my husband even if that meant I needed to stay at home for a while. Why did I do that? Unconsciously, because my mother did.

Same goes for my ex husband, the years before the marriage it was all like a dream, the day after we married, he had turned into his dad, and expected me to accept a lot of shit the same way his mother did from her MIL, why? Because that’s the way the world worked in his family. Interestingly, he went and fell in love with an abusive woman after divorce because he needed to have a dominant controlling figure to his side that replicated the relationship his parents and grandparents had.

You cannot repair this, you simply can’t. I spent 90% of my marriage trying to get it to work as nicely as our relationship pre marriage was. Finally I told my self that I would wait another year and if things were still the same I would put all my ducks in a row and leave. In your case, I would not give it more than 3 months, and please do start on contraception again, because believe me, what hurts the most is not having a nasty husband that makes you feel miserable every day, what does is seeing your nasty husband destroying, little by little, your kids.