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Neurodiverse Mumsnetters

Use this forum to discuss neurodiverse parenting.

I had meltdown yesterday

2 replies

AnonymousMum37 · 28/10/2025 06:26

In front of the kids (9 and 13)
I came home after a day at work (12 hours NHS) and the house was a tip. My husband was with them all day but kids were in pajamas still and there were dirty cereal bowls out from breakfast, dry Weetabix all over the floor and crisps and chocolates wrappers all over the sofa. Noone has fed the pets or cleaned litter trays.

I tried to do everything while they called me a nag and then sat down after dinner and refused to help me. I was trying to book my daughter a birthday treat and my phone kept glitching and I just lost it. All the washing up was still there to do then I had to help my daughter detangle her hair. I started shouting "shut up!" And hitting my forehead with my fist, hard. My husband and son said I should be in a lunatic asylum and made batman Arkham asylum jokes. I was hyperventilating and crying and they just laughed and said I nag everyone and they dread me coming home.

I still did all the washing up and my daughter's hair and bedtime. But I'm just so tired and broken today. I was completely out of control.

OP posts:
TheCorrsDidDreamsBetter · 11/11/2025 22:31

My husband and son said I should be in a lunatic asylum and made batman Arkham asylum jokes. - Have you ever heard about gaslighting?

I don't mean the word that is thrown around on mumsnet, I mean the proper definition of gaslighting.

gaslighting
/ˈɡaslʌɪtɪŋ/

noun
noun: gaslighting
the practice of psychologically manipulating someone into questioning their own sanity, memory, or powers of reasoning.
"he said he was the victim of gaslighting"

Your husband, and son, have both accused you of being a lunatic for experiencing significant neurological distress out of your control.

Your environment was overwhelming and overstimulating, your workday was overwhelming and overstimulating, and your central nervous system was overloaded with sensory information, so you had a very normal response (for you and your neurotype) to your environment.

Gaslighting is a form of abuse.

I'd even go as far as saying telling you that you're nagging is gaslighting. They're making you feel like you asking for help and support around the house is extreme and disproportionate. Nagging isn't real. Nagging is the result of repeated attempts to ask for help and support for yourself or for others, and it's called nagging in an attempt to minimise you making these requests and doing things yourself because they don't feel that they should contribute.

Your children aren't going to grow up and learn that neurodivergence is a way our brains work and deserves support and accomodations while you have this man in your life, and this man is already showing your son that it's OK to mentally abuse you.

Can you contact womens aid and your local DV risk assessments team?

They can be invaluable sources of support for making short, medium and long term exit plans, as well as helping you with housing, financial and legal support so it doesn't feel entirely overwhelming. I obviously can't make you leave your husband, but I can say that I've been where you are and it doesn't get better.

There is nothing you can do that will make him educate himself, learn to have patience, pick up the slack, pull his weight or respect you.

He doesn't love you if he is willing to let you get to this point, because love is something we do in every action we choose. It's having a relationship where it's 60/40, and each other is trying to be the 60. It's learning and knowing and loving the differences in eachother, and respecting boundaries, and not needing to be asked to be an equal partner in a partnership.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you my love.

Also check your employers DV policy, because a lot of employers will allow some time off work in order for you to get your ducks in a row and leave, as it's incredibly stressful.

Before you continue to Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=2286498253ea9ec4&sxsrf=AE3TifO5iF8zZxB1fVGzjKxl3cXJ6CmF_Q:1762899515338&q=how+to+pronounce+gaslighting&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyy3w8sc9YSmTSWtOXmPU4-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLnYglJLcoV4pfi5eJOTyzOyUzPKMnMS7diUWJKzeNZxCqTkV-uUJKvUADUlg_Ul6qApAoAOupILGEAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=gb&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSvIu7kOuQAxUPRfEDHb5DCgAQ3eEDegQIHRAN

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 11/11/2025 23:14

You don't have a neurodivergence problem, you have an abusive husband problem. And he's teaching your son to copy his behaviour.

Calling you a "nag" when you've been at work for twelve hours and he's done nothing all day? Calling you mad because it overwhelmed you?

A good man would have fed his kids and pets proper food, got the kids washed and dressed, skipped out the litter trays, and done the dishes.

Nah, he can get tae fuck. Leave this prick.

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