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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

H using self help book in row

468 replies

onelastchance · 23/08/2010 00:34

As some of you know from other posts, dh and i have been having a vry tough time.

I bought a couple of books, oe about anger management and one about emotional abuse. We have a weekly chat to discuss what we've agreed to read the previous week.

had a row (ironically about him not doing excercised in the book). It escalated s i was too upset to make u with him despite him making a few attempts. he then started ranting about it beig me who was abusing him and shouting really loudly all in front of ds (4). He stomed out of house and i could't help crying which then made poor ds cry too :(

H bought presents for me and ds in the evening to say sorry and if the shouting/ranting had ben a one off, i'd be ok now. trouble is, i'm pretty sure it'll happen again.

Am i being ureasonable for being upset about him not putting more effort into the reading and then refusing to make up with him?

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dignified · 26/09/2010 23:25

Patience , i couldnt agree more with what your saying about negative energy , its like a boomerang. I used to do that , and worse i used to absorb other peoples ( mainly ex) negative energy too. I can feel it now when im near him , i feel irritable and edgy .

A few weeks ago i could hardly sleep , i felt utterly shit and burst into tears several times , i actually had some seriously dark thoughts . Although it sounds daft , i knew that these feelings werent mine and didnt belong to me.
I spoke to a freind about it and i suspected it might be ex who was feeling that way. It got worse and worse .

I then received a distressing phone call from my sister who i rareley see who was clearly very unwell and severley depressed .I think somehow i had picked up on what was going on with her as it went immediateley.

I wonder Onelast , if something similar is going on with you ? I spent years feeling down , depressed , irritable and anxious . It wasnt mine , those feelings were his , but i ended up feeling them for him somehow . My heart used to sink when i heard his car pull up , or saw his name on caller id, he almost fed off me , at the end of any interaction with him i would feel exhausted and down .
Do you feel better when your not around him ? These emotionally stunted people are often like emotional vampires .

dignified · 26/09/2010 23:39

I might as well cough it, i used to also wish that he would have a horrible accident and be killed.I would daydream about this and the prospect that all my problems would be over. It didnt occur to me to just leave , he " wasnt bad enough " to do that.

He once had an operation. It went wrong and the nurse called to inform me saying i should come asap. For some reason i decided to go home and get changed . I then casually made my way to the hospital , after stopping off for some chips . I knew it was wrong and that other wives would be hysterical.But i was secretly hoping he would be dead. Obviously when i arrived he was still alive but very distressed. The disapointment must have been evident because he always brought it up saying that he knew i hoped hed die and i had a face like a smacked arse when i saw he was alive Grin.

Awful but true.

Patienceobtainsallthings · 26/09/2010 23:50

Couldnt agree more Dig that is so true in my case.The freedom from it is liberating,i would never have believed it if someone had told me that a year ago.Each time something happened whether it was with my X or my inlaws or a work situation it was like i added a link of chain to miles of chain[negative energies]i had wrapped around myself for years.Now if something happens i can deal with it feel the emotion then move on.With forgiveness i can lay ancient history to rest,put it in a jar accept that it happened but put a lid on in and i have no need to open up that time and time again,thus cutting loose from my chains.I literaly feel lighter ,i dont carry other peoples burdens and i think then people sense this and dont suck the life out of me.Its like a laser beam around me ,my self esteem guards me from their negativity like a shield.
Re my previous post i think on my journey i have come to a point of acceptance re my X that he is who he is and it is right to be that way.But the reality will always be that i have a dissapointment that he didnt ever want to change, he was much loved by his family.We both had issues b4 we met but i chose to work on them and work towards inner peace and self aceeptance.He on the other hand chose to numb his demons and run away from his pain.That life wasnt acceptable for me and my dcs ,i have chosen a different path.But i dont dwell on this anymore and the acceptance is a huge step forward for me.I cant control his behaviour ,but i can control my own behaviour and my choice was to bring the dcs up in a calm and stable home filled with love and respect.

Patienceobtainsallthings · 26/09/2010 23:52

XP D im still on about energies LOL!Grin

dignified · 27/09/2010 00:39

My counseller talked about negative energies a lot , she was a little spiritual i think , but she worded it in such a way that it made perfect sense to me. She suggested visualising negative energy as a solid thing that you can see , that when you radiate it off it affects those around you and its passed from person to person , and vice versa , unless you have a barrier or some sort of defence system .

She talked a lot too about absorbing it and suggested various ways of avoiding doing this. I still struggle with this sometimes as i can be a people pleaser. I had a freind whos a chronic complainer / ranter , that ive had to shake off as each contact leaves me feeling stressed and depressed. I realised that for years id been feeling other peoples negative energy and been bogged down by it. I can spot it quite quickly now and take steps to remove myself from the situation or person.

I wonder if its worth you looking into this Onelast , theres some great articles on the web about it.

Im thinking of changing my name . On a recent thread " pair the mn names " someone said " Aristocrat - Dignified ". Im sat in tatty jammys surrounded by a pile of ironing , 2 empty wotsit packets , 1 empty kit kat wrapper and a glass of beer . I dont think it describes me very well.
Someone once tried to insult me by calling me Digsy , i quite like it.

dizietsma · 27/09/2010 01:05

Onelast, the money is only important to you because you have nothing else to feel good about. Trust me here, I have a lot of experience of this, you can live on a low income and be blissfully happy. Once you are shot of your abuser, you'll realise that the money doesn't matter any more, simply being free of abuse will make you happy.

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 08:22

Thanks for all your replies. I spoke to a couple of solicitors last year and she said that as we have so much equity tied up in our house, it'd have to be sold :(.

My only option would be to move out and rent somewhere with ds (and live on benefits til get a job) and in th meantime sell the house. Althought i not sure i'd be ab;e tp buy a plac e for me and ds with my share of the house sale proceeds. Houses are vv expensive where is live.

Maybe it's my negativity tht makes him this way. He's always telling me how negative i am :(

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dizietsma · 27/09/2010 08:45

So you have to rent for a while and live on benefits for a few months? It's not the end of the world. I speak from experience Smile

You said you had 200K worth of equity in the house, I'm pretty sure you'd be able to find somewhere with half of the proceeds? Perhaps it wont have everything you want from a house, but you'll find somewhere. If you got a decent solicitor you might not even have to sell your house until your DS leaves uni, plenty of time to build up a nest egg for somewhere better.

It's not negativity, you're afraid of change, don't want to rock the boat. There's nothing more normal than that! How about you see a solicitor, lots of them have free consultations, and see where you would stand with the family home if you were to separate? I really don't think you would have to sell. You don't have to act on the consultation, but at least you'd know where you stood so you could make an informed decision not based on nebulous fears and what ifs?

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 09:16

Thanks Dizie. Unfortnately even 2 get a small 2 bed flat/house here is around £200k so no i wouldn't be able to buy anything.

I think i will atrrange a consultation with another solicitor, just to get more of an idea of where i stand.

H says i'm negative becuase i complain about htings he has/hasn't done, start arguments, dwell on problems and the past and don't just "get on with things" like he does

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 27/09/2010 09:25

OLC,

re your comment:-

"Maybe it's my negativity tht makes him this way. He's always telling me how negative i am"

Absolutely not is my response to that first sentence; your supposed negativity is a direct result of his malign inflyence on you. He is making you deeply unhappy. As for telling you how supposedly negative you are he is simply projecting his feelings onto you. A common tactic too employed by abusers.

You may not want to sell the house but what is worse here; selling the house or a still uncertain future with your abuser H not to mention the effect seeing all his behaviours will have on your son. You need to dig yourself out of this hole you are in rather than grow flowers in it.

I recently read an article where a woman saw violence of many different kinds within her household. She is now a domestic violence counsellor and states that women cannot fix their men's pain by allowing themselves to be abused.

dizietsma · 27/09/2010 09:48

Well, no, you wouldn't be able to buy outright, but with a deposit that large I'm pretty sure you could get a mortgage, right? And then your H would have to pay some kind of child support which would help with the repayments etc. And that's if you would have to sell, which I'm pretty certain you wouldn't.

Glad that you're seeing a solicitor though. Just to see where you'd stand, worth knowing isn't it?

Atilla is spot on, "women cannot fix their men's pain by allowing themselves to be abused." What wise words.

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 10:03

Thanks Atilla :)

I'll only be able to get a mortgage if i have a job which i don't atm.

It'd be hard for me to go back to the sort of job i did before, firstly becuase i hated it and that also made me miserable and secondly becuase i can't really do any type of desk job becuase my twisted pelvis gives me so much pain when sitting for a long time :(.

Before becoming pg with ds, i was seriously considering going part time to reduce the number of hours sitting becuase of the pain. And now because of ankle, which is like to take several months, possible alot longer, before even being 80% back to normal, i can't do an active job either.

I'm completed at a loss :(

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onelastchance · 27/09/2010 10:05

I've just emailed my counsellor and she said i can email this thread.

Sill question probably, but how do i copy it to her or is there a way of emailing it from this site?

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newnamethistime · 27/09/2010 10:10

just copy and paste the link at the top into your e-mail OLC

spiritmum · 27/09/2010 10:13

Onelast, I am so glad that you are going to see a solicitor. I agree with Dizie, the house has become like a consolation prize to you. And have you thought that once ds is at school you can build for yourself a career that is just as good as your h's?

If I were in your shoes I would appear negative, too. I agree totally with dignified, it sounds like he is drainng your energy. You know how when you are with someone who is genuinely happy and open, you feel something of that and take on some of their happiness and positivity. Your husband is the opposite.

Right, the visualisation. It's something I've written for a spiritual e-course I run for mums so the wording may need tweaking a bit for anyone without dc. You can read and memorise it, record it and play it back or ask a friend to read it to you. Don't rush, allow 15-20 mins minimum. For this visualisation a 'sacred space' can just be a quiet place where you will be comfortable and undisturbed.

Grounding and protecting in this case helps you to feel anchored and safe in your body. Briefly, you ground yourself by imagining roots extending down from your feet into the ground (I suggest sitting in an upright chair would be good for doing this - if you sit on the floor imagine the roots coming down from your tailbone also)) and protect by imagining that you are encased in a beautiful bubble of golden light. To undo your g&p, just do it in reverse.

Any questions, just ask or PM me.

We learned many of the negative ideas that we believe about ourselves in childhood, and still carry that little child who was hungry for love inside us. This meditation helps you give your inner child the love that they need.

Go to your sacred space, close your eyes and breath down to your still centre, and ground and protect.

Now, picture yourself as a child, during a time when you felt that you were not loved. Maybe it was a time when your parents were angry with you, when they did not take action on your behalf, when they split up or when you were bullied.

What age were you? Imagine yourself clearly, the clothes that you wore, the things that you like to do.

(Pause)

Now become aware that you are watching this child. Notice how lovable she is. You notice that the child is crying. You are aware that all this child needs is love and approval.

(Pause)

Go over to the little girl and talk to her. Ask her what is wrong, if she is old enough to tell you.

Open your arms and embrace this amazing little girl. Reassure her. Tell her how wonderful she is. Tell her how much you love her.

Keep talking and reassuring until you sense that the little girl accepts that she is loved and is lovable.

Notice that you feel the love in your own heart. Give the little girl a hug, and tell her that you will be there for her whenever she needs you. Now imagine this little girl residing in your heart, as your own children do. Know that she is safe and loved, and that you can send her love any time you choose.

Leave the time and place where you met your inner child, and come back to the present. Undo your grounding and protecting, touch your face, and open your eyes and stretch. Have something to eat or drink to ground you.

Record your experiences in your journal.

This is a very powerful exercise that may bring up all kinds of memories and emotions. It is very useful for releasing old hurts prior to forgiveness, and for changing old patterns of self-sabotage.

spiritmum · 27/09/2010 10:15

If you could do anything, Onelast, what would it be? What do or would you really love to do?

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 10:18

Sorry, what do you mean about link at the top?
Not very computer literate as you can tell!

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spiritmum · 27/09/2010 10:24

Onelast, you can c&p the URL address in the box at the top of this thread. Copy it into the e-mail that you send to your counsellor.

Alternatively you might be able to go to 'file,, click on 'send', and do it that way.

newnamethistime · 27/09/2010 10:26

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1026649-H-using-self-help-book-in-row?pg=16

copy and paste the above (or go to the first page of the thread and do the same)

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 10:28

When i'm in my mail, the url for this discappears help!!

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newnamethistime · 27/09/2010 10:32

first go to this thread
copy the link (control 'C')

then go to your email programme or open a new window in your browser if it is gmail etc.

create a new mail ('compose'?)

then paste the link into the e-mail body (not the subject space)(control 'V')

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 10:34

Thanks :) Think I've done it by clicking on file and send by email

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Patienceobtainsallthings · 27/09/2010 10:44

"You need to dig yourself out of this hole you are in rather than grow flowers in it." I did this for years now i understand i can grow flowers in a much safer place and be surrounded by love.I think this is a trap many women fall into.What scares me is how i thought my life was "normal"when i was living like that,i truly thought that was as good as it gets .OLC my house has been sold by the landlord this summer ,i rent an old cottage in the middle of nowhere,i thought i would have been able to stay here, i now have to try and find a home by oct 31st.X doing hee haw to help[another thing about him i would never had imagined] so prob will need emergency accomodation if i cant find something soon,but this is just a phase in my life .To give me and my kids a better chance i have given up loads .

onelastchance · 27/09/2010 13:44

Poor you patience, is there nowhere else you can rent nearby?

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onelastchance · 27/09/2010 13:46

I'm wondering id he's really taht bad again now - he's just sent me text to say he hopes my day's going ok and is my ankle any better

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