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Relationships

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

I find my partner so cold - am I being pathetic?

6 replies

mostlyhappy · 01/09/2010 10:31

I feel completely let down by my partner but don't know if I'm over-reacting so would really appreciate someone else's point of view.

I recently found a lump in my back and my doctor referred me to have it looked at in case it was suspicious. I'm a pretty optimistic person and felt confident that this was just a formality but never the less I couldn't help thinking the worst occasionally and have talked to my partner about it a few times over the past few weeks whilst waiting for my ultrasound. He was supportive in that he'd say it's probably nothing etc.

We have a three year old and a six month old baby so I have to say that during the odd pessimistic moments that I had I got quite upset worrying about the possibility that I might not see them grow up. I know this sounds like an over-reaction but I didn't speak about this to my partner and never told anyone else that I had a lump because I knew there was no reason to think there was necessarily anything wrong.

I had the scan yesterday and, thank god, the lump is just fatty tissue developed during pregnancy weight-gain so, of course, I'm releived and very happy about that.

The night before the scan my partner and I had an argument - it wasn't a really bad one but we went to bed without talking to each other. Because I was having the scan the next morning and he knew how nervous I was about it I presumed he would be normal in the morning. I wasn't expecting an apology - it was both of us who argued and not really a big deal. However, in the morning he wasn't talking to me and just went to leave the house, telling our three year old to say goodbye to me before he took him to nursery. I was really upset by this because I found it heartless considering how nervous he must have known I would be all morning (he was coming back with the car before my appt but even so I presumed he would understand I was going to be feeling bad during the morning). I started getting upset and we had another argument, I told him he was a callous bastard etc. He did try to resolve things but I was too upset and didn't want to talk to him. When he came back he made no attempt to talk and didn't say anything like 'good luck' before I left - he just didn't look at me.

I worry a lot about our relationship and this is partly because I do find him to be really lacking in empathy or compassion. He tells me that I'm over-sensitive, which I'm sure is true but I do feel that his lack of compassion can be quite extreme. If he is annoyed with me/we are not speaking (and I do hate the fact that we don't speak for two or three days at a time and don't think that's normal for one minute!)it doesn't seem to matter what happens - it seems like nothing would stop him from being in a mood with me. Once I found out my father was being taken in to hospital with a heart condition and my partner continued not to speak to me even though he knew that I was crying and upset.

I don't know where to go from here - I know it's all very childish that we're not speaking and it's certainly not good for the children but I feel so let down by him and his apparent lack of empathy. He did ask how it went when I got back but when I said 'fine, nothing to worry about', he said 'really?' and then we went back to not speaking! I know I'm being childish and stubborn as well for not resolving things - I just feel quite let down by what I think is a cold and uncaring attitude.

Am I over-reacting or would you feel the same?

OP posts:
dignified · 01/09/2010 19:44

I think thats shit , sulking in anyone other than a small child is ridiculous, and it must be awfull for a three year old to be in an atmosphere like that. And as for over sensitive , its a common statement said to suggest the problem is yours and also to minimise their behaviour.

Presuming he doesnt do this to his boss or anyone else you might have to look closeley at whats going on.

www.heartless-bitches.com/rants/manipulator/emotional_abuse.shtml

mostlyhappy · 01/09/2010 20:33

Thanks Dignified. I have often thought about the fact that he doesn't have rows or apparently lose his temper with other people (apart from family members in the past). It seems that he's able to control it then but not with me. I find the sulking pathetic too - I end up feeling trapped and so irritated by him.
Thanks for your response - I'll look further into the link.

OP posts:
Booboobedoo · 01/09/2010 20:42

mostlyhappy: I know each relationship has a different dynamic, but the fact that this makes you so unhappy and frustrated should be enough for a serious talk.

My DH used to pull the same trick: sulk for days, and any approach I made was used as an opportunity to say something hurtful/reiterate what I'd done 'wrong'.

It was only counselling (which helped me to trust him again) and then CBT (which helped me to draw boundaries and control my behaviour and responses), which helped to sort us out.

It sounds as though you verbally minimised your worries, though, and he will probably have taken that at face value. This suggests to me that you have trust issues (with him? everyone?). I do understand this, but maybe you could try being more open with him next time you're worried about something. Some people men just need things S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G O-U-T.

mostlyhappy · 01/09/2010 21:21

Thanks Booboobedoo - what is 'CBT'though?

I don't think I did verbally minimize my worries, to be honest. I didn't really have a reason to think it was anything serious and I suppose a lot of people would then wonder why I was so bothered that he wasn't sympathetic and caring on the morning of the appt. I just thought that he should put his own annoyance at our argument to one side and think that imminent appointment was more important than that.

Maybe I do have trust issues - I'm not sure - I think I just don't like to moan or be self-indulgent.

You have made me think, though, thanks for that. Yes - maybe I need to be more open with him.

OP posts:
Booboobedoo · 01/09/2010 21:31

CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Bit about it here.

I used This book which sounds awful, but is wonderful (imo).

Glad to hear your lump wasn't anything scary, btw.

mostlyhappy · 01/09/2010 21:37

Thanks for your support - both things look really interesting.

OP posts:
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