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Can't stop obsessing over ex BIL

215 replies

ThisMellowFox · 12/11/2024 22:44

Hi.

As title states - I have split with my ex husband ages ago. Looking back, my ex husband was the ugly sibling. Extremely thin lips, sickly pale, his nose was crooked sideways from having it broken. EXTREMELY squared face. Absolutely not a single really good quality physically - to top it off he was extremely abusive, eventually physically abusing me and cheating on me when i was 9 months pregnant.

I want to add for context I spoke to my ex husband online for 4 years from age 16-20 when I flew out to his country, married him and found myself pregnant within 2 weeks. I came back to the UK when I was 6 months pregnant and haven't seen him, or anyone in his family since as they live in the MENA region.

Postpartum was hell. I don't know why... but after birth I ended up obsessing over my ex BIL despite us only interacting once. Physically, he was the complete opposite of my ex - big lips extremely nicely shaped, small perfect nose - the type people get plastic surgery for. High cheekbones. Gorgeous eyes. just male model material.

I ended up beating myself up so severely for having a baby with my ex husband. I have plump lips, medium nose, lightskinned.
She ended up inheriting his almost paper thin lips... I'm scared she will inherit his very manly extremely square face. I keep thinking she looks like him, like I've ruined her, ruined myself, wasted myself on my ex, wasted myself having a baby with my ex.
My cousin had made sure to also point out i wasted my "genes" with my ex and how stupid I was and that made it so much worse. That month I almost crashed mentally.

These thoughts have become so deep and intense in the worst of my postpartum depression I reached a point I wanted to surrender my daughter due to... her resembling my ex so much... especially those lips. I don't even know why I fixated so much on them, but to this day, they bother me. They bother me less than before, but some days, I simply can't stop wishing I hadn't focused on being a "good girl", blindly devoted to my ex. I WISH i cheated on my ex with his brother. I WISH she carried his brothers features. At least if her looks were an upgrade... I'd feel like it was "worth it"... if that makes sense? I can't stop feeling like I wasted myself and was extremely stupid having a child with my ex husband. I don't know how to cope with feeling like my daughter is doomed. I can't stop checking ex BIL's social media pages, feeling awful that when he has a daughter she will be the beauty standard and have an amazing life that my daughter won't because I chose to procreate with his brother. I have spiralled so out of control I am contemplating reaching out to ex-BIL, flying out there, starting a crazy sort of affair, getting pregnant, and coming back to the UK... and that then, somehow me flying out in the first place will have been "worth it" because at least I'd get an extremely good looking child out of it... These thoughts have taken such a strong hold of me I think about them almost every single day for the past 2 years. I feel ashamed, but I can't stop beating myself up and obsessing over this.

I try to talk logic into myself. Even if I go over there and get pregnant with ex-BIL... wont that just make my life worse becoming a single mom of 2? having a pretty child wont make my life less difficult and how can it "pay off" with something as shallow as looks... but I just can't stop looking at pics of ex-BIL and trying to draw comparisons from him and my daughter, even though there are none. I am close to a mental collapse by how much my daughter resembles her dad, and his conventionally unattractive features. I guess its made worse by the fact he was abusive during my pregnancy, and eventually cheated and has never paid a penny towards our daughter.

Help guys. I dont know what to do. My daughter is around 2 and I have had these thoughts almost everyday since she was born and I feel them getting worse. At the worst of it I wanted to give her up so I can "try again"... for another child.... with the features I'd prefer.... or even giving her up, then trying again for another child by flying out to my ex's country to try for a baby with his brother. specifically his brother. it sounds SO shallow and insane and out of touch but I can't help it. In the worst of my postpartum depression it would get so bad I would outright reject her some days and my family stepped in. Those worst days have since passed - but the obsessive thoughts have not because a part of me truly believes them...

At the same time I spoil my daughter non stop, tell her everyday shes pretty, I have bought her more stufff than myself, I always place her first. I never let her know whats going on with me and how I feel about things. Shes extremely developed for a 2 year old, can speak quite a few phrases in full sentences, sing songs, count to 10, i have done my absolute best to pour the most affection into making sure she develops... childrens play groups.. and gues what... in all those childrens play groups i cant help but fixate on other baby girls especially if they have bigger lips than my daughter. and subconsciously automatically compare her to them. but never outloud or in a way to show my daughter... just all in my head...

is it possible for kids to be born with small lips and they grow and become big when the

i am becoming so depressed i can barely function at some times during the day, i dont know what to do and i dont think this will stop unless i either have a baby with my ex-bil or my daughter starts to magically get his features. i dont even know how id convince my ex-bil to have a kid with me unless i bribe him which would mean saving up money for it. but then id just end up a single mom of 2.... my kids would be half siblings half cousins... and the dads nowhere to be seen because theyd be a continent away.. like you see how insane this sounds... why would a sane woman consider this... yet for me im actually considering this some days more and more.

i just dont know what to do. i am feeling extremely insecure, crushed and depressed.

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 12/11/2024 23:19

ThisMellowFox · 12/11/2024 22:56

I think the part I struggle the most with some days is how much she resembles my ex husband, how abusive he was and the fact his features were nowhere near nice and this will hold her back in life.

You are unbelievably superficial and focused on looks.

What if you have an accident and your face gets “ruined?” Would you judge yourself as a person on your face?

I really think you need help / for your daughter’s sake if nothing else. As a op said, take this list to your GP and show what you have written.

SweetSugarPlum · 12/11/2024 23:20

Call your doctor and explain your OCD is out of control. Your daughter is 2 years old, a baby, please get your medication amended asap, this is actually scary.

Michiamo · 12/11/2024 23:21

This is so disturbing.

Shoppedatwoolworths · 12/11/2024 23:21

This is deeply sad, your poor, poor daughter.
I don’t care how depressed you are, you’re a shallow, immature person.

AllThatEverWas · 12/11/2024 23:21

This is OCD, mixed in with trauma from the relationship. It sounds like you were groomed online, from 16? Then you met him, married and got pregnant very quickly in real life after talking online for 4 years?

You need help. This needs to be raised as an problem which is growing and not being ameliorated by your current therapy and medication. You need a lot of help. I suspect that you are on the cusp of becoming very unwell and what you're expressing is a significant issue in your bond with your daughter due to trauma / abuse / OCD / post partum issues

For a start, why was a 16yo losing herself to an online relationship for 4 years. You sound as though you were vulnerable long before you had your daughter

TerracottaWorrier · 12/11/2024 23:22

Shame on all of you who are being so rough to someone clearly having a MH crisis.

Scutterbug · 12/11/2024 23:23

This is so messed up.

The obsessive thoughts need treating, you MUST tell a professional.

As an aside though, do you really think thin lips = not pretty? That’s just utterly absurd.

Oh and you are obsessing over your BIL. Again part of your OCD.

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 12/11/2024 23:24

Wow! She’s a person not an Instagram post. Pls get help asap before you f**k her up. This is heartbreaking to read. My Dad has developed MND. It’s not great now as he can’t use his hands but I’m not going to swap him for an upgrade. Man, I wish his issue was thin lips.

Stop telling her she’s pretty. Compliment her on how she is as a person. That’s what’s important. This has made me feel so sad. Pls seek help. These thoughts are off the scale!

researchers3 · 12/11/2024 23:25

You sound really unwell op.
Please reach out to your GP.

Winter2020 · 12/11/2024 23:25

I agree with others that you sound ill with your depression and OCD. Seek help please.

I’m sure your daughter is beautiful but her looks are the least important thing about her. From what you say she is happy, healthy and progressing well and you are lucky to have her.

In the extremely unlikely event that you had a child with your BIL that child is as likely as any other to be born with a disability/health problems - how would you cope with a child with a disability while your mental health is already so poor? Having a child doesn’t come without risk and you are lucky to have a healthy child.

Calliopespa · 12/11/2024 23:26

ThisMellowFox · 12/11/2024 23:04

I have exhausted all my family members with this topic, when brought up after a certain amount of time, almost over half a year now... i get shut down. if i bring it up in my therapy itll just be seen maybe as an obsessive aspect of my ocd, but i know its not. i sincerely feel like she inherited my exs features, and regret him so much. and that she will be held back by them. i dont know what to do to fix this situation, i cant stop obsessively thinking of my ex-bil as a result. im 50/50 considering flying back just to have a kid with him to calm down a side of me that thinks flying all the way to a MENA country and I'd at least have a pretty ish kid from it... i don't know how to help this situation. i feel so overwhelmed. i feel like venting. i just dont know how to cope or what to do. i feel extremely bad for my daughter.

What are you even talking about?

How would having “ a pretty-ish” kid ( and things may not turn out that way anyway) help your daughter? It wouldn’t. It would help your massively misplaced pride about what the child you had produced looked like.

Why would BIL even want to produce a child with you if you randomly turned up and asked him? Do you realise how preposterous this whole idea is - or is that the point?

Should you be considering adoption?

Canonlythinkofthisone · 12/11/2024 23:26

This is fucking disgusting. Get off mumsnet and get some medical help. Your poor daughter. You think her LOOKS are going to hold her back? Jesus. I'd be more worried about you doing that. Please seek help. Now.

ThisIsSockward · 12/11/2024 23:28

Beauty standard...? I hate to break it to you, OP, but not everyone idolises thick/wide lips the way you seem to. Maybe they're fashionable at the moment, but in ten or twenty years, thinner lips might be all the rage. Regardless, this sounds like an incredibly unhealthy obsession. Your family and friends are tired of hearing this for a reason. It's ridiculous!

Birdsongsinging · 12/11/2024 23:29

I agree with others that you need psychological help but I think you said your psychiatrist had ruled out talking therapies. I am not sure why as it seems likely that this would be helpful. I would speak to your GP about how you are feeling and see if they can point you in the direction of some help.

Unknowndepths · 12/11/2024 23:31

I'm 50 years old next month, and never got the chance to have children. I would have her from you if it was in any way legal.

Calliopespa · 12/11/2024 23:32

ThisMellowFox · 12/11/2024 23:05

it is slowly becoming a massive full blown phase of self hate for picking my ex and struggling to forgive myself. because i cant name a single good thing about him, and since shes inherited his features i feel like i doomed my own kid because i was stupid.

One way of looking at it op is she MUST have half your genes. If his are in her looks, in her essentials ( personality, way of thinking) there is a good chance she is more like you and unlike him - and to some extent those things are nurture anyway.

But op, please do get help. This is not the right mindset to be raising your little girl. None of the BIL obeession makes the slightest bit of sense, really it doesn’t.

Tbry24 · 12/11/2024 23:32

You are having a MH crisis. Please be kind to yourself and your little baby girl as you both need some love and support.

Call the NHS tonight and ask for some immediate help as you are suffering from an acute illness. It’s the illness taking over you and causing you to obsess about things, probably linked to trauma.

I hope things start to make sense again soon for you and you get some support. I suffer with my MH too so I know how hard it is.

Bubblebuttress · 12/11/2024 23:33

Time for a psychiatrist

DamselinDistress24 · 12/11/2024 23:33

the fact his features were nowhere near nice and this will hold her back in life

Hold her back, how?

They don't ask in A levels "do you have thin lips, yes or no? Fail!'.

They don't ask in medical or law or engineering degrees; "do you have thin lips? Yes or no? Fail".

They are only interested in whether you know what you're supposed to know. Employers are almost entirely interested in whether you can do the job and get on ok with people.

Do you not want her to get a decent job, so it doesn't matter if her relationships work out or not ..she'll be comfortably off and have a fulfilling life??!!

Also, do you not think people who aren't "perfect" or have thin lips can get partners? Because I know lots and lots of people who aren't perfect looking and don't have thick lips who have decent partners.
It's utterly ridiculous.

You have no idea what she'll look like until she's an adult!

But even if she doesn't end up being beautiful in your eyes, lots of people have lots of different tastes in looks. Lots of people care about things other than looks and lips.

And relying on looks to be successful or happy in life is a shit strategy! Because your marriage might break down, you'll age..... Wouldn't you be more interested in her building a decent career?

You sound shallower than a (very shallow) puddle.

Mummyoflittledragon · 12/11/2024 23:33

Please seek help. You sound mentally unwell. Your dd loves and needs you and she needs you to be well for her.

TriesNotToBeCynical · 12/11/2024 23:34

ThisMellowFox · 12/11/2024 22:58

Even if neither my looks or personality are much of a catch it just makes it that much worse feeling like I cursed her by picking my ex husband to be her dad, because his features are astronomically worse than mine... it is causing me to become really really depressed again. I am waiting for a new dose of antidepressants, but I don't see how talking therapy or antidepressants will change the fact she inherited bad features from her father and how to cope with it.

Firstly looks aren't everything. Secondly no one but you will know who she takes after and everyone will accept her for who she is. Your fears are unfounded and part of your illness.

TheDeepLemonHelper · 12/11/2024 23:35

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

GivingitToGod · 12/11/2024 23:36

OP, you desperately need to get some help and support with your mental state, thoughts and feelings. NOW!
Urgent appointment with GP or health visitor

TrishM80 · 12/11/2024 23:36

I think social services need to step in on this case, that kid is in danger.

TerracottaWorrier · 12/11/2024 23:37

Unknowndepths · 12/11/2024 23:31

I'm 50 years old next month, and never got the chance to have children. I would have her from you if it was in any way legal.

You'd take a child from their biological mother to satisfy your own need? If only it were legal. My fucking god.

Let's try to stay civilised, people. We support those who are unwell. We don't fantasize about stealing their children.