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My partner took his own life and I feel responsible

21 replies

HappyKatexxx · 14/03/2022 12:11

I am currently 7 and a half months pregnant. Me and my partners relationship has always been up and down. But we always came out of the bad times into the good. I loved him dearly and im sure he loved me also, we have been through so much in such a short space of time.

He suffered with mood swings and has since I have known him, up and down. We split up for a short while due to us both being very insecure (back then I was not perfect) I drank alot, was very paraniod, insecure which made things toxic but then we got back together. Pretty soon after we found out I was pregnant. Things changed drastically of course. No more drinking so I seen things alot more clearer. Things was really good for a while. He was happy/scared, I was happy but unsure and worried. We decided to keep the baby although I got diagnosed with pre natal depression a little after wards which made me doubt things alot. He was very supportive.

He started with his old tricks. Going to the pub, not returning home till stupid hours, forgetting his key and banging us up (bare it in mind, I have a 4 year old at home and my neighbours kept txting complaning) , ignoring my msgs and phone calls whilst he was out or say he'd be on the way home and he wasn't and this was pretty much every weekend, spending all his money, Lieng to me about where he'd been, swore blind he not touched any drugs, then he'd spend all day in bed. Which of course, caused arguments and things was said which we didn't mean. Even Christmas eve, he never come home when he said he was and returned home at a ridiclous time pissed as a fart and clearly under the influence. We was up and down constantly. It was vicious circles. I loved him dearly and did not want to let him go. I was promised the world, sweet talked, he admitted he was wrong and then the same happened again. Things would be great then the same would happen. No remorse, no nothing. No matter how much I begged and pleaded or upset I was. I just wanted his attention and love and like i was a priority, That we was a priority. So many times we was on the Brink of separation but he would always know what to say and I couldn't give up on him when it came to it.

The drinking just got worse, he accused me of being controlling as he felt like he had to ask for permission to go to the pub with his friends. I didn't care about him seeing his friends. Just be home when you said your going to be home, and keep me updated so im not worrying and be sensible with your money. Is that alot to ask for? I know he sacrificed alot moving over with us. Its around 20 minutes away drive (although he commuted 1.5 hours there and back everyday on bus) from his family and friends but he still worked in that area and seen them after work, or sometimes at weekends.

He started shaking, being sick alot, having diarrhoea, and very bad mood swings. I told him I was worried about his drinking but he always dismissed it or said he was ill or it was stress. He went to the doctors a few weeks before- whether he told them everything I dont know but he come back with propranolol. Which I encouraged him to take but said he would if he needed too. The doctors said he was stressed.

A couple of weeks before, My friend also accused him of nearly touching her boob. He denied it completely - which I still don't know what to believe. I did throw it in his face a few times during arguments and he did seem guilty by his reaction. But agian he was drunk and under the influence.

The lies was getting too much, I caught him taking cocaine and he tried to lie and say id not seen him. He had a empty bag in his pocket once too.

The weekend before he took his own life - I was awful. He told me he felt worthless and a waste of oxygen and I was so mean. Told him to pull himself together and man the fuck up that it wasn't all about him, that he's selfish, he doesnt help himself by drinking and taking drugs and pushing people away. I dismissed his feelings completely, because he use to say them kind of things under the influence or when he'd done something wrong plus in the past when I have asked him about this, he always dismissed me saying nothing my heads just fucked. He was offered help a few times from his dad, work, the doctors and me but he would never take it because he was 'fine'.

Home life must have been miserable for him. I made his life a living hell for months. Although I never gave up on him, and did everything I could for him in the aspect of cleaning up after him, making sure he had clean clothes, dinners made, money if he needed it.

The thought that I could be the cause of his actions next is eating me alive I feel cabbaged. Im here but on a different planet.

On the Friday, he come home after he had been to the pub. Which I knew about. I transfered him some money for a few pints. He turned up abit later than planned so i was abit knalfed off over msg. But all day, he was telling me how much he loved me. That he was stressed, not with us or anything to do with us. That he was trying to give up weed. Told me how much he loved me and he couldn't wait to get home to have sex. He tried ringing me a few times whilst out. But my signals terrible - so he was paraniod asking for my where abouts ect. I was at home with my 4 year old by the way.

He got home around 10 ish. There was no arguments. But I knew he had taken something. His pupils was massive, his eyes was nearly fully black and could clearly see he had drank alot. I just said have you took something? Just be honest and he replied yeah, but I havn't bought any. His mood was up and down. He went on to ask me if there was anyone else, if I still loved him, what have I been doing, why wasn't I answering the phone. I reassured him. There is no one else, I loved him and showed him I had no miss calls. He then went on to tell me that he felt worthless, that me and the baby deserve better and I deserved to be treated better. He then said that he'd been taking cocaine for alot longer than I knew of and alot more , for the past 6 months. Thats what has been causing a wedge between us, that's why he hasn't been coming home, thats where his money has been going, he went on to reassure me he hasn't been cheating. I told him he'd been honest and that we could put it past us but he needed to speak to family or professional help. He then went on to say that I couldn't tell his family, and no one cared. Then to say that I would hold this against him and take his daughter away from him..I reassured him that I wouldn't ever do that, that I wouldn't trust him like this though. I said to him he needed to sort his shit out as we have a baby coming in 8 weeks. We went and sat down in the front room. He had his head in his hands muttering things I didnt understand. He asked why I was with him and I told him, because I love you. I want us to be a family and I want us to work. He said your only with me because your pregnant. I said well I am pregnant and I love you. He went upstairs, I presumed to use the bathroom and he took his own life. 5 minutes he was up there for untill I went to check on him as he wasn't answering me. We couldn't bring him back.

My heart aches. I feel like im to blame. Did he feel unhappy with me? Trapped? Was I controlling? Was I emotionally abusing him? Did I put too much pressure on him? Did he plan this?. The guilt is just too much to describe. I cant stop re reading the txts of me giving him abuse over time because of his behaviour and him telling me how much he loves me and things will change. That he feels unwanted. How could I possibly have made him feel like that? How could I have not picked up on the mood swings, shaking, migraines, sickness and vomiting from the withdrawals? What if I found him a little early or reassured him more that night. His parents will receive his phone back from the police and read through our messages where I look like a horrible vindictive controlling bitch who wasn't there for him supporting him constantly threatening to end the relationship and telling him to find somewhere else but that was never the case. I wanted to scare him into changing and it just got to a point where I had enough of his behaviour because it was constantly a re occurrence, so the arguing was . He put me through alot too but none of that matters. Despite what he put me through I didnt care. I just wanted change and I couldn't give up on him.

I cant deal with this and I dont know how I will get through this. My life has been ripped to shreds

OP posts:
MarieInternette · 14/03/2022 12:58

You poor thing! You sound like you have really been through the wringer. Firstly, as I’m sure many people will tell you, you did not cause this. Relationships can be tempestuous at times, some more than others, but in the vast, vast majority of cases this does not cause suicide. Poor mental health does. And in your partners case it sounds as though he has abused various drugs over a long period of time which will have undoubtedly badly affected his mental health. It sounds like he loved you, and you loved him. You did not cause this and I’m sure you would have done anything to prevent it.
I too have suffered a loss through suicide. It is brutal. The guilt is overwhelming. There is always a feeling that you could have done more, or foreseen something, or not said something, or been more supportive. You feel that you failed that person in some way. I would like to say this feeling lessens over time. It doesn’t, you just become better at living with it. You must be kind to yourself and tell yourself that you didn’t cause this, and couldn’t stop it ( you would have done if you could). Guilt is just one emotion. Anger is another, and then you feel guilty for being angry at a dead person. Then there’s the what ifs and if only’s which can tie you up in knots. It is normal to feel this way. It is a head fuck of gigantic proportions. All of your feelings are perfectly normal for someone who has gone through what you have. Maybe it would help to contact others who are in your situation. I can recommend SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide). It’s can be helpful and reassuring to know that you are not alone, and that what you are feeling is par for the course given the circumstances.

You need to think about yourself. You’re about to have a lovely baby. A new start for you, and that baby (and your 4 year old) needs you to be the best you can be. That is what your partner would have wanted I’m sure.

Stay strong and best wishes to you. This is not your fault.

springtimeishereagain · 14/03/2022 13:08

This is not your fault. You are not responsible for anyone else's actions, only your own.

Sounds like your partner's drug and alcohol use had negatively affected his mental health and he wasn't thinking clearly.

The relationship sounds toxic - not a good one for your 4yo to be around. It might be helpful if you do the Freedom Programme to learn about healthy relationships for the future.

For now, grieve for your partner but try to be positive: you have a baby and your dc to think about.

Counselling might help you come to teens with your loss. 💐

lemongreentea · 14/03/2022 13:27

its not your fault OP you arent responsible for his actions. sorry for your loss Flowers

springtimeishereagain · 14/03/2022 15:20

*terms, sorry

coffeeisthebest · 14/03/2022 15:46

Oh love. He was too addicted, he was lost to you, I'm afraid. He was clearly in so much pain (it was his own, not you) and this was his way out. Or so he thought.
Try to stop torturing yourself, you wouldn't have saved him, you couldn't have changed him. It's time now to grieve his loss and somehow turn focus back to you and your children. Take care and good luck.

Libertybear80 · 14/03/2022 15:56

My brother took his own life this week a year ago. The guilt. I should have... I shouldn't have....Every survivor of suicide feels this. The only person responsible is the person themselves. It takes time and you should seek specialist counselling for it.

RobotValkyrie · 14/03/2022 16:35

So sorry for you OP. Some people are beyond help. It's not your fault. Focus on yourself and your little ones. You can't change the past, but you've got a whole future ahead of you that needs building.

Quartz2208 · 14/03/2022 16:40

It sounds like his addictions and whatever drugs he took caused this and not you

Vapeyvapevape · 14/03/2022 16:49

I'm so sorry you have had to endure all this but you would never have been able to save him, never. None of this is your fault, you loved him but it sounds like he was too deep into addiction. Look after yourself, get some counselling xx

nearlyspringyay · 14/03/2022 16:51

It's not your fault.

Hbh17 · 14/03/2022 16:51

When someone dies by suicide, the only person responsible is the person themselves. If I should ever choose to take my own life, that will be down to me & me alone - it won't matter what anyone else may have done.
You might like to call Samaritans for free on 116 123 - they don't judge and are very used to supporting people bereaved by suicide.

ElvisPresleyHadABaby · 14/03/2022 17:17

Oh OP, what a hell of a lot to deal with. You are not to blame. It was his decision to end his own life, and by your post it seems like you were nothing but supportive and enforcing boundaries. All you can do is focus on yourself and your little ones now, remember him, and the man you loved, but don't direct your pain inwards. It was not your fault, and you are not to blame. Flowers

HappyKatexxx · 16/03/2022 22:57

thankyou so much ladies. My heart is breaking, I feel so numb. Thank goodness I have plenty of support in place with family/friends. Thankyou everyone for your kind comments. Its the funeral on Tuesday and im struggling to come to terms with my final goodbye. Its such an up and down roller coaster xxxx

OP posts:
UpcycledToenail · 17/03/2022 07:12

I am so, so sorry. This was not your fault.

Weatherwax13 · 17/03/2022 07:21

I lost my son to suicide.
The guilt is excruciating after suicide. You question everything obsessively.
You feel sure it's your fault. That you should've saved them.
If only you'd said/done something different.
It goes round and round in your head.
I really, truly get it.
And I'm so, so fucking sorry this has happened.
It'll take you a long time to believe it.
But I absolutely 100% promise you this is not your fault.
It was HIS decision. And his alone.
The grief after a suicide is worse than any other kind of bereavement .
Please take any and all support you can. You need and deserve it.
You are not to blame. I mean it.

GeneLovesJezebel · 17/03/2022 07:23

It was his choice to end his agony, not your fault at all.
Be kind to yourself 💐

something2say · 17/03/2022 07:33

Hello. I'd just like to say, as someone who works with people like your ex, they teach us not to try and achieve too much when they are high or drunk, simply because it doesn't go in and their thinking is not there at that time. There is even a part of mental health training that says, a person can have impaired capacity when under the influence. Say coming out of surgery, high as a kite, not knowing what you're doing or saying.

That's what you're dealing with xxx it absolutely is not you. He was unwell. Now you are the one who is traumatized xxx take good care of yourself xxx

HappyKatexxx · 17/03/2022 18:34

@Weatherwax13, I am so so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. The grieving is so much harder, so many more emotions. Its unbelievable 😔 you do torture yourself dont you. Its just bloody hard not too. Thankyou so much for your kind words ❤

OP posts:
HappyKatexxx · 17/03/2022 18:58

@something2say Thankyou, his behaviour was arratic that night. Laughing, paraniod, depressive, laughing agian, depressive. They was so up and down his emotions. I knew he had taken something. I didn't realised he was addicted. I did expect him to do that. I feel I ignored his cry for help the week before. He told me he felt down ect but I was so angry with how he had been treating me. I brushed it off and was so mad . Told him he was selfish, that he didn't help himself and pushed the people he cared about away. I called him so many nasty names (but again he was under the influence) so I thought that was why he was saying these things :( . xxx

OP posts:
something2say · 17/03/2022 19:03

It wont have been just that tho. It would all have been set in motion many, many years before you entered the scene.

Yes you got angry with him. But had you not loved and cared for and believed in him, before you lost your rag? Those things stand too x and I bet you never call people names again either x

HappyKatexxx · 17/03/2022 21:57

@something2say, no it wasn't. He'd been struggling with his MH when before we got together but never ever really explained why just his child hood. Although the drugs and alcohol had definitely made an impact on his MH and worsened his moods. I did, so so many times. He had so many chances and I literally did everything for him. I never wanted to give up on him. Even after he lied so much, hurt me so much due to his actions, made me paraniod and so insecure. I couldn't give up on him. I didn't realise how bad things was at all. Although he never talked to me about things unless he'd had a drink, there was help there and he never took it!! I was at the end of my tether with it all. No never :( xx

OP posts:
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