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Depressed DH, ruined business, I'm spiralling.

143 replies

LittleAnonymouse · 15/09/2023 23:38

I'm posting anonymously - for reasons that will possibly become clear in a second.

I'm really upset, like hyperventilating crying upset, and the only thing that I feel will make it better is to hurt myself. This is something I haven't done in years, and not a soul knows I've done it in the past (very creative with hiding cuts in the creases of limbs etc.).

I'm absolutely not going to hurt myself tonight. My 15 yr old girl is upstairs in her room, she's number one in the list of priorities and thus would never do it under the same roof as her, but she goes to her dad's for the night tomorrow and I'm planning on doing it then. It gives me a sense of control when everything else is going crazy.

My "D"H has broken me, again. He cheated on me in 2013, he gaslit me for years, even when I was begging him for the truth, until I found out for sure in 2018. I stayed, we "recovered", he did so much to regain my trust. Or so I thought.

We own a small business (well smallish, we employ 25 people). I am a director. I was supposed to be an active partner, we argued over the years as I was consistently left on the periphery, I didn't have access to the finances for years, he always gave me an excuse as to why I didn't have replacement bank access details when mine stopped working pre Covid. I regularly asked him how we were doing financially, he sad "not bad", "pretty good", I checked with him
that major creditors had been paid, that pensions had been paid into (they have, I've now checked), every time I knew account submissions to companies house were due I would get assurance after assurance that it was all in hand. Every time there was a letter through our door saying the accounts were late, there was always a reason, always assurances that our accountant was taking care of it. I am a fucking IDIOT for believing him. If I'm honest, I never felt 100% sure deep down. I got myself another job last November, which I love and I've been very successful in so far - it gives me purpose, it gives me a renewed sense of identity and self worth. Thank god for this job.

The shit hit the fan on Thursday when our business partner (owns a very small percentage of the business, he's a silent partner for all intents and purposes but listed as a director) got a call from the bank to say that the ltd company had been struck off due to not filing any accounts (even the extension deadline had been exhausted), and that our bounce back loan of circa 22k and the overdraft that he had managed to run up since the last accounts were filed of 20k were both immediately due in full.

After all my pleas for involvement, information, offers of help and support ad infinitum (even after I started the new job), reassurances from him that all is well, we are now in a position that we may well have to sell our house to pay the debt, and shut a business down that has been running since the 80s (we took it over in 2013). I checked companies house, they have issued no less than 5 compulsory strike-off notices since 2020. I am livid with myself. Covid hit us hard, but that doesn't explain why accounts were submitted late, or not at all in this case. He's submitted a plea in writing to have a final chance to submit the accounts and he's meeting the accountant on Monday (it isn't her fault, she's been sending him emails asking for more information that he's just been ignoring), when they'll complete and file them if they can - in the vain hope that this will appease the Companies House gods.

He is saying all the right things, "I've fucked up, you deserve better" etc. he is telling me he has been depressed for a while, and I know depression takes many forms but all I've see him do over the past year is having fun with his mates, playing in his band, spending inordinate amounts of time on frivolous projects - which I thought he was doing as he was on top of the business stuff. He's been working from home about 90% of the time since Covid (I don't work from home), but unless I ask him to do something specific in the house it usually doesn't get done. Often the breakfast stuff is still on the table when I get home. Our lovely house is currently a shithole - it doesn't help that I'm currently anaemic so when I get home I am dog tired and can only just about make dinner - admittedly he does cook sometimes, and clears up if he doesn't cook, he's pretty good with the kitchen stuff.

He has had some shit thrown at him this year by life - he was very ill a few months ago and was hospitalised, which put him out for about a month, his estranged father died (complex grief is a thing, of that I'm sure). He has every reason to be depressed.

But he's lied and he's lied and he's lied. He's jeopardised us, our house, the livelihoods of 25 people, our friend/business partner and his family (who are godparents to my DD, as I am to theirs), not that I am going to let them financially suffer - this is on us. All because he couldn't say the words, "I need help". Why? Because of his pride? I just don't understand. He's crying a lot to me, suggesting we would be better off without him - I told him that suicide would be the most selfish thing he could do to me. Was that cruel? I'm begging him to see someone, to talk to someone - but I've also told him it can't be me right now as I am so so angry and upset.

He's currently on a golfing weekend - it was already paid for and to be honest I told him to go, I needed him away from me. It also happens to be an annual memorial golf weekend in memory of his friend that died by suicide.

The only thing I feel will help me feel better is to cut myself. I can't call Samaritans, not with my DD upstairs. They don't offer an online chat service yet, does anyone know of a service that does? I think I need to talk to someone.

OP posts:
inigomontoyahwillcox · 15/09/2023 23:38

CALM (Campaign against Living Miserably)? Or are they just for men? Think they offer an online service.

Lamelie · 15/09/2023 23:43

Oh shit love.
Do call Samaritans- you’ll get a lot of LTB and frothing but you need to talk through your sh ideation now Flowers

Duckingella · 15/09/2023 23:44

@LittleAnonymouse

Get your arse out to your car,your shed,in fact anywhere out of the house and call them;pour it out,cry as much as you need.

Then tomorrow call a solicitor;you need to end your marriage to protect yourself and your daughter.

LarryStylinson · 15/09/2023 23:44

Mikeysline do a text service - 07786 207755

SMS Text ServiceThe Mikeysline SMS text service was launched in December 2015. We have been supporting both adults and young people in their times of need ever since.

spiderlight · 15/09/2023 23:44

I don't want to read and run, but you can text or email the Samaritans and there are other listening services that might have online chat - links here: www.samaritans.org/wales/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/text-us/

Coyoacan · 15/09/2023 23:53

I'm so sorry, OP. This too will pass. It won't be easy but you can do it

inigomontoyahwillcox · 15/09/2023 23:57

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

BIossomtoes · 16/09/2023 00:00

Think you might have forgotten your name change. This is absolute shit. Please, please call Samaritans and talk. Please, please don’t hurt yourself, you don’t deserve this. Talk here if it helps - a lot of us are insomniacs and will be here for you.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 16/09/2023 00:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

BIossomtoes · 16/09/2023 00:05

Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you get through the night.

LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:06

DD has gone to bed and has taken some melatonin (she has ADHD, it counteracts the effects of the stimulant medication and her general insomnia), so will give it half an hour when she'll hopefully be comatose and call Samaritans I think.

OP posts:
LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:10

Thank you all for being so lovely. I have some lovely friends, but don't feel able to call them so late. I've asked to talk to some close friends tomorrow, one of whom is actually a trained Samaritan volunteer (and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet), mainly to ask him to watch out for my DH (they're in the band together and good mates), but I'm sure he and his wife will be supportive of me also.

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 16/09/2023 00:10

Good idea. Please do it. I found them so helpful and kind when I hit rock bottom.

Blueeyedmale · 16/09/2023 00:15

OP please call Samaritans you mention hurting yourself and that concerns me,nobody wants you to do that, there are people out there that care about you and what you are going through, seek support and you will be supported without judgment please keep yourself safe and reach out if you feel things are getting too much

BIossomtoes · 16/09/2023 00:17

I’m going to have to go to bed in a minute - fine time for my insomnia to beat a retreat. Will you promise to call Samaritans? I’ll check in in the morning. I know it’s not the done thing to hug on MN but fuck it - I’m sending you one anyway. Take care.

MariaAshley · 16/09/2023 00:18

You can also call 111

LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:24

BIossomtoes · 16/09/2023 00:17

I’m going to have to go to bed in a minute - fine time for my insomnia to beat a retreat. Will you promise to call Samaritans? I’ll check in in the morning. I know it’s not the done thing to hug on MN but fuck it - I’m sending you one anyway. Take care.

Thank you. You are lovely. I am going to, going to give DD another 15 mins or so and call, guaranteed she'll come down if she hears me talking to someone. Will close all the doors as well.

She's a sweetie, pretty sure she knows something is going on as she came down about half an hour ago, kissed me on the forehead and just went back up to bed. She's a eye-rolly, moody teen 98% of the time, but clearly some empathetic traits in there somewhere.

OP posts:
Definitelynotem · 16/09/2023 00:28

Hope your call with Samaritans goes well. This is a shitty situation and I can imagine it feels like the world is ending right now, but please hang in there ❤️

Blueeyedmale · 16/09/2023 00:32

Of course she has lots of empathy OP its her mum and she loves you very much,I was only 7 years old when I seen my mum self harm many times,she ended up going to a secure hospital and I did not see her for over 3 years,I was left with a friend of the family things happened that I won't go into as its a trigger for a lot of people ,but no matter how bad things are right now there is someone who cares for you and wants to support you,you are never alone the messages on this post are a shining example of compassionate humanity

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 16/09/2023 00:35

I'm so sorry OP, I hope you get some support tonight. I probably don't have anything useful to add but didn't want to read and run. Can you plan a couple of things for tomorrow, to help you feel a bit in control? Plan to contact a friend to keep you company in the evening while your DD is away? Contact someone who might be free for a short walk outdoors tomorrow? Pick a room or small corner of your lovely house and plan to sort it out so that it starts to feel less like a shit hole (not that how tidy your house is is really important). That might be rubbish advice, but when I feel overwhelmed, fresh air and/or organising/sorting out something helps me regain a bit of balance and start to restore some resilience.

LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:37

That's exactly what it feels like. The world is ending. Our our world at least.

If only he had come to me and said "I've fucked up" instead of lying. He did the same with the cheating, I begged him to tell me the truth, even with the evidence I had, but he denied consistently, I felt like I was going mad. And in hindsight I've felt the same way for the past few years with the business - begging to be let in. Feeling like I'm being unreasonable, neurotic, paranoid.

But he's crying, he's accepting all blame (just as he did when I eventually found out about the cheating), he's telling me he's struggling. He's saying he feels like ending it.

OP posts:
LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:41

Funny you should mention cleaning/tidying @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo, it's exactly what I did when I got home earlier. The kitchen and hallway are now pristine 😁 It's my go-to when I'm feeling stressed. When I was with my ex-husband (who also screwed me financially, I see a pattern forming) the house was absolutely spotless - but that was an indication of my depression/stress/anxiety rather than being house proud!

OP posts:
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 16/09/2023 00:46

It's funny isn't it @LittleAnonymouse when my brain is scrambled, and it feels like things are collapsing in, physically clearing/tidying/organising something tangible helps me regain a sense of control.

You can come through this. You keep thinking of your gorgeous DD.

DreamTheMoors · 16/09/2023 00:49

LittleAnonymouse · 16/09/2023 00:37

That's exactly what it feels like. The world is ending. Our our world at least.

If only he had come to me and said "I've fucked up" instead of lying. He did the same with the cheating, I begged him to tell me the truth, even with the evidence I had, but he denied consistently, I felt like I was going mad. And in hindsight I've felt the same way for the past few years with the business - begging to be let in. Feeling like I'm being unreasonable, neurotic, paranoid.

But he's crying, he's accepting all blame (just as he did when I eventually found out about the cheating), he's telling me he's struggling. He's saying he feels like ending it.

Call his bluff, then. Because that’s all it is - a big, fat pathetic bluff.

But that doesn’t mean you have to spiral, does it? You are stronger than this urge to cut. You’re tougher, meaner and damned if you’re gonna let this SOB’s fuck ups to make you lose it.
You’ve got too much sense and guts and love in your heart for your little girl upstairs to jeopardize yourself - right???
You’ve come too far to see everything fall back into the abyss. You can do this.
You know strength like no other. If you need to, go upstairs and climb into bed with that angel who depends on you for her very life. Listen to her heartbeat. Listen to her breathe. Every beat and every breathe is another reason to keep yourself safe.
You got this. ❤️

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 16/09/2023 00:53

I'm heading to bed @LittleAnonymouse I hope you're on the phone to the Samaritans.

You mentioned having lovely friends - would you mind if they were in a crisis and called you at this time of night? I bet you wouldn't. Let them be there for you.