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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

miserable, struggling and confused!

25 replies

ilovenewpyjamas · 01/01/2011 19:59

How I wish to be writing for advice for the best tricycle with push-a-long feature ??.I wish but my worries are bigger as my life is miserable. I am miserable, depressed, sad?..I am trapped and I don?t know how to get out. I sometimes feel I am on the edge. Maybe I am writing for advice and maybe I am writing this just for me ? like a cathartic experience. Either way, yes, advice would be good as I am probably too tired to think anymore. I took courage to write this from a really honest thread by Zahora about regretting having kids -I know, very controversial but I could relate to what a lot of the women were saying. I don?t know whether it is because I am a single parent (I?m sure it doesn?t help) or just being an exhausted mother. I don?t know whether the answer would be getting back with my XP. Had I have known MH would be so bloody difficult then I probably would have never left him. It is like deciding between 2 really crap places ? I can?t find an attractive 3rd option. What I would really love is to meet the knight on that horse who picks me and DD up but I don?t think they will happen.

You may get bored of this, but I need to right my life story. Will do the abridged version here.

Met man ? very successful, good looking, blah blah - didn?t feel right ? signs of control - often critical ? wanted to leave ? he got angry ? emotionally abusive ? stayed with him ? wanting to leave ? difficult ? sometimes it was good ? when it was bad, it was really bad ?told him I didn?t want baby ? he got upset/annoyed ? I let him have his way -I know that makes me sound pathetic ? there?s a lot I haven?t mentioned ? but yes, I was pathetic and v confused ? oh shit I?m pregnant ? tried for abortion several times ? couldn?t go through with it ? left him when 7 months pregnant as emotional abuse/control too much ? he said it resulted from the fact that he was hurt as I wanted to leave him ? I didn?t know if I was thinking straight but I was in a mess ? I wasn?t prepared for a baby ? especially with him. But, I decided, I?ve made this choice and now I need to get on with it ? I was actually ok/happy ? had purpose as I got a flat ready with a nursery. Then, CRASH. I never expected MH to be like it has been. The pregnancy dream burst and it became hell. I was naïve not realising how diff being a mother is. Juggling a stressful part time job and with MH, only just making ends meet, she doesn?t sleep well, been to hospital with a few scares. Have hated being alone. I have pined and pined for him. Even now I am crying. I need him. And the most painful thing is that he was begging for me to go back for 2 years ? 2 years! I never knew what I wanted, I was usually too caught up in the chaos of day to day that I didn?t have time to think. When I did panic about him leaving me something came up ? like DD was ill or I was committed to my work (he lives in another city about 100 miles away). Then he would get frustrated. I had many chances and blew every one. Now it seems I have left it too late. This new year, he has asked to move on for me not to contact him. I feel so stupid. I feel in pain. Every day I drema about us being as a family, every day for the last 2 years ? why the hell did I not act quicker? Had I have known life would be so difficult. Plus, a aprt of me does still love him. WHY did he have to be so nasty ? I am living with my mother and finding I have no life at all. With him, we were going to go on all these holidays as a family ? I can?t bear the thought of going away just me and DD. He may have been emotionally abusive but surely being with him is better than this.

OP posts:
BibiBlocksberg · 01/01/2011 20:24

How I wish to be writing for advice for the best tricycle with push-a-long feature ??.I wish but my worries are bigger as my life is miserable.

I am miserable, depressed, sad?..I am trapped and I don?t know how to get out. I sometimes feel I am on the edge. Maybe I am writing for advice and maybe I am writing this just for me ? like a cathartic experience.

Either way, yes, advice would be good as I am probably too tired to think anymore. I took courage to write this from a really honest thread by Zahora about regretting having kids -I know, very controversial but I could relate to what a lot of the women were saying.

I don?t know whether it is because I am a single parent (I?m sure it doesn?t help) or just being an exhausted mother. I don?t know whether the answer would be getting back with my XP.

Had I have known MH would be so bloody difficult then I probably would have never left him. It is like deciding between 2 really crap places ? I can?t find an attractive 3rd option. What I would really love is to meet the knight on that horse who picks me and DD up but I don?t think they will happen.

You may get bored of this, but I need to right my life story. Will do the abridged version here.

Met man ? very successful, good looking, blah blah - didn?t feel right ? signs of control - often critical ? wanted to leave ? he got angry ? emotionally abusive ? stayed with him ? wanting to leave ? difficult ? sometimes it was good ? when it was bad, it was really bad ?told him I didn?t want baby ? he got upset/annoyed ?

I let him have his way -I know that makes me sound pathetic ? there?s a lot I haven?t mentioned ? but yes, I was pathetic and v confused ? oh shit I?m pregnant ? tried for abortion several times ? couldn?t go through with it ? left him when 7 months pregnant as emotional abuse/control too much ?

he said it resulted from the fact that he was hurt as I wanted to leave him ? I didn?t know if I was thinking straight but I was in a mess ? I wasn?t prepared for a baby ? especially with him.

But, I decided, I?ve made this choice and now I need to get on with it ? I was actually ok/happy ? had purpose as I got a flat ready with a nursery. Then, CRASH. I never expected MH to be like it has been. The pregnancy dream burst and it became hell.

I was naïve not realising how diff being a mother is. Juggling a stressful part time job and with MH, only just making ends meet, she doesn?t sleep well, been to hospital with a few scares.

Have hated being alone. I have pined and pined for him. Even now I am crying. I need him. And the most painful thing is that he was begging for me to go back for 2 years ? 2 years!

I never knew what I wanted, I was usually too caught up in the chaos of day to day that I didn?t have time to think.

When I did panic about him leaving me something came up ? like DD was ill or I was committed to my work (he lives in another city about 100 miles away). Then he would get frustrated.

I had many chances and blew every one. Now it seems I have left it too late. This new year, he has asked to move on for me not to contact him. I feel so stupid. I feel in pain.

Every day I drema about us being as a family, every day for the last 2 years ? why the hell did I not act quicker? Had I have known life would be so difficult.

Plus, a aprt of me does still love him. WHY did he have to be so nasty ? I am living with my mother and finding I have no life at all.

With him, we were going to go on all these holidays as a family ? I can?t bear the thought of going away just me and DD. He may have been emotionally abusive but surely being with him is better than this.

BibiBlocksberg · 01/01/2011 20:26

Hi ilovenewpyjamas.

I'm sorry you're feeling down - someone wiser will be along with some advice soon I hope.

Hope you don't mind but since I have nothing of any sense to contribute I thought I'd just pop some paragraphs into your post so it's easier to read.

Sorry for interference!

ilovenewpyjamas · 01/01/2011 20:34

no,that's okay. Now I feel even shitter as I can't even write properly. JUST KIDDING - I did a cut and paste off word pad - so thanks. See, i still have some sense of humour!

OP posts:
CeliaFate · 01/01/2011 20:40

I know it seems bleak now, but life with an emotional bully would be so much worse than forging a new life of your own. Yes, it's scary, but look at it from a different angle.

You will be teaching your dd how to be a strong, independent woman that won't stay with a bully just because it's better than nothing.

You need a support network - do you have friends and family nearby? You say you live with your mum - will she babysit for you to go out once a week? Join a club, do sport, meet a friend to go for a meal or to the cinema?

The relentlessness of parenthood is one of the hardest things. Look at your dd - you're doing the hardest job in the world and doing a great job I bet.

It's a cliche, but nobody will love you if you don't love yourself. Please ask for help from your g.p. to work on your negative thoughts. Cognitive behaviour therapy can help you "spin" things so you think more positively. Nothing changes, except the way you feel about yourself and your situation.

You are so much better off without this man.

BibiBlocksberg · 01/01/2011 20:44

"Now I feel even shitter as I can't even write properly. JUST KIDDING"

You had me going there for a minute!! Shock Grin

Anabellesmumanddad · 01/01/2011 20:55

Hey ilove. Chin up. Being alone is always better than being with a controling bastard. He wouldn't have been good for your child.

I definitely agree with the support network idea. I literally hung up a sign in the local cafe and three years later I am still friends with four awesome women from that coffee group.

posting on here was a great first start. Following your hobbies/interests is another. Joining a bookclub or something that you have an interest in.

Parenting is SO hard. You are not the only one who struggles with it.

It seems to me that you would really benefit from some supportive counseling. You were so brave and strong for leaving your partner when you were pregnant. I admire you for your courage and braveness. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!!

hugs

BibiBlocksberg · 01/01/2011 21:11

"I literally hung up a sign in the local cafe and three years later I am still friends with four awesome women from that coffee group."

Sorry to hi-jack but am fascinated by that idea since I need to start making friends and building a support network.

What did your card say pls Anabellesmumanddad

  • did you ask if anyone wanted to be friends or were you setting up a new coffee group?
TheVisitor · 01/01/2011 21:18

You don't need him, but you do need friends. Being on your own with a small person can be hellish, but if you get out to toddler groups, or setting up a coffee group, or even put your postcode into the local Mumsnet to find local people.

anokhi · 01/01/2011 21:54

Hi ilovenewpyjamas

I am usually a very casual lurker on here, but felt so much empathy for your post, I finally joined to post a reply!

I don't have any useful advice other than what the others have said - all I can offer is my complete and utter sympathy.

I am having a terrible New Year's Day too, and that's exactly why I came on here....to try and get some moral support, as I knew others must be feeling down too.

Feeling crappy on NYD is awful....you reassess your life and it is not a good day to do it. So many people feel down on this day.

I know that doesn't help your problem, but the the fact that it's a new year and you're supposed to feel bright and full of optimism makes it worse.

Hope you know you are not alone. All the best. X

Anniegetyourgun · 02/01/2011 13:45

Why did he have to be so nasty, you ask? Some people just are. You can't reason them into being nice. You can do everything they want exactly how they want, they'll just move the goalposts. And you're expected to put up with it forever, just because.

I'm not surprised you find single parenthood extra hard as you were pretty much coerced into having the baby. That doesn't mean you don't love her or do your very best by her, but that resentment for your situation (rather than for her existence) is bound to simmer somewhere in the background. It's not her fault she's little and helpless and sometimes ill, or that PND has kicked in, but it's his fault you have to deal with it. It may not be a healthy feeling but it is very natural. Are you getting some help for it? GP? Counselling?

Why has he now told you the door has closed, he doesn't want you back? Because begging you to come back wasn't working. Now he's trying the "playing hard to get" card. It's almost working, isn't it? You're so used to pushing and pushing back against the leaning brick wall, it feels all weird when you suddenly have nothing to push against. Once you've got used to its absence, though, you'll feel so much lighter and happier.

Just, for heaven's sake, whatever else you do, do not go crawling back to the emotional prison your ex kept you in. You rightly recognise that you need support from other human beings at this time, but he is the wrong option.

ilovenewpyjamas · 02/01/2011 22:12

thank you to everyone who replied. I noticd some of the damage he has done (2 years of daily insults/criticism) when I saw that severla people replied I didn't know whethr to read (self-protection) and then cried when I read the replies- you know, when someone is being nice to you.......It sounds self-pitying but it is a long time, I have jsut realised, that I have heard nice things.

I wanted to reply earlier but have not had mmuch time today. DD sleeping :?

I have read all the repsonses over again - thank you to all of you.

OP posts:
kittywise · 02/01/2011 22:21

Honest to God, being with an abuser is NEVER better than being on your own. You are lonely, but NOT for him.
I can't really help only to say that you are very very lucky to be away from him. You don't know how lucky.Hang on to that.

ilovenewpyjamas · 02/01/2011 22:46

Before I forget,
BibiBlock. Forgot to say thanks for your sweet message before I joked with you

Everyone, I had a better day because of your postings x

answers:

there are a lot of shit things. I think he has damaged me - a lot. I'm trying to get over it but at the same time I am a busy mother. I find that diffiuclt. I find that I am worrying about how I will cope and what to tell her about not having a father.

About the support network - I agree it is important. When I left him I had no job and no money left. I came back to live with my parents. it usually varies between tolerable and bloody awful. The advantages are I get some help (not that much) and it is quite reassuring to have other heart beats i the house. I'm not very good at living alone with baby. i miss my own place/freedom but I think I might find it stressful. PLus I can't afford my own place. He left me pretty much pennyless.
My parents are judgemental and often critical too. I am living in my childhood bedroom and fantasise about jumping out of the window a lot.

Which brings me to the next point. I often feel like I dont want to live but I am sure I would not commit suicide becasue of DD. If DD wasn't hear I would not be living here but I would have started a fresh life somewhere - make up for lost time.

That's why I feel trapped as I am v restricted. hen i left him, I imagined doing all these things with baby - like i said, I was naive.

I suppose I have depression - but I dno't know how I can feel happy. The only happiness I have is from moments woith DD (15mths)

We live in the mmiddle of nowhere. I work 2.5 days a week which is good but has come with added stress. I do take the train in to the hearest big towna nd go to a playgroup. I did meet a v nice woman but she is often busy. I tink I will keep trygin it just became hassle with the train etc.

I have one friend who lives 30 minutes away - the rest are far. There is one who would help me a lot but she is 4 hours away. Iam 32 and left here when I was 18, came back in deperation 2 years ago. I had a very good friend who helped me through the early pregnany time but I think she doesnt want to hear anymore moaning. She was v supportive at beg and kept saying it will get better. But, it hasn't really.

My mum could have baby for a few hours at the weekend but she is also tired from working FT. She can't do bedtime as DD quite unsettled.

Maybe if I focus on improving her sleep I would be able to have more tiem for myself - I would love to exercise, bath, read.....although I don't know how I could meet people.

Yeah, you are right - being lonely is the worst thing at moment. I know I am a big whinger. i know that I am not dying, and sometimes I feel grateful for many things (healthy baby who smile a lot, for one). Just....well, i can't help crying myself to sleep.

SHe rang the other day to talk about if I had a nice Xmas and asked me questions about what I did. I jsut played along. Im unhappy.

The best thing I did was go to a counsellor. I pay 30 pounds for nursery and drive 45 mins to a counsellor - 20 per hr with discout. i can only jsut afford it but it has helped. she has reassured me it is emotional abuse - like the reassurance I have had from you. she suggested mumsnet. I may talk about some things he did as i think i have deined a lot of it.

My other problem is that i presume people with H/P are all honkeydorey.

There are too many negatives going on - dealing with abuse, no time for me, loneliness, no money, lack of sleep, hate the way i look (Possible from XP), ruined my career, can barely hold my job down, living in an awkward environment, I had a miserable labour. Haven't even detailed parents, I get v angry when I think about what he did and how he has got away with it. I'm not going to hurt him physically(!) but I do get some sort of peae when I think about exposing his abusive emails etc.

maybe my problem is that I am a big romantic and i had big expectations of my life. And not jsut romantice, I am quite raditional but not judgemental. I get a lot of people gossiping about me (even my father sas he is ashamed to talk to people - doesn't know what to say) in this small town - people suspecting I had a one night stand etc etc. When really, I was pressurised into it. I was on holiday with him an I was too scared to refuse although i said v v clearly that I didnt want unprotected sex.

Anyway, I supose I am sad to the core - it started with being alone at labour and then I stayed in hosp for a week and couldn't handle H/P visiting hour - used to hide behind curtain. I cant stand seeing husbands.

Mayeb in future I will have hope that someone will want to be with me and even have another baby with me.

I don't think XP will take me back now anyway.

Sorry to moan. For the first time in my lif, I jsut don't knwo what to do - where to go - I have never been so restricted and all my aspirations have had to change.

On that note, don't worry about DD, i don't blame her. i tihnk abotu her in a good way and she seems v happy.

OP posts:
ilovenewpyjamas · 02/01/2011 22:55

this is the last tiem I am going to apologise for dreadful spellings! I'm sure you all know why.

Did any of you ever experience emotional abuse?

You have all taken me on my word that I was emotionally abused. He says I am just too sensitive or that he was jsut hurt becasue i hurt him. On the doubt that I have, I feel stupid to have risked a life with someone, never having to worry about money, giving DD a father, having someone to share all the good/difficult times with DD.

I wonder if any of you are LP. If so,would you really not try to get back to someone like my XP?

OP posts:
mumonthenet · 02/01/2011 23:11

hi ilove - I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad but there is soooo much support and solidarity on mn I just know you will get through this black time.

People who have experience of emotional abuse(EA) (whether directly or indirectly) can recognise it a mile off. There are certain keys like in particular when the abuser always blames the victim.

Telling you you're too sensitive is a classic. Telling you he was just hurt because YOU hurt him is another classic. You see the way abusers turn it around to make the victim responsible? That's why we have no doubts.

Your DP's current behaviour is still in fact abusive...he's punishing you by telling you not to contact him. He's still trying to make you feel responsible....he's still trying to control you.

Have you read Lundy Bancroft or Patricia Evans?

ilovenewpyjamas · 02/01/2011 23:24

no, I haven't read them. It's probably said befoer but I wished he would have hit me or somethign then it would have been more obvious.

The think is he so Jekyll and Hyde. WHen I thikn of a nice day out, I am full of wonderful memories and dream about being with him. Then I think about the things he said I jsut recoil. He used to call me a loser all the time, and criticise my weight. He hated my glasses and used to take them off me all the time so tht I couldnt see! He would complain about the housework constantly. And, what I really felt was the final straw was when he screamed at me during pergnancy. he didn't like me lying down - he said I was lazy but I was v tired during the 1st trimestre.

yeah, now I feel he was out of order. Just wished this feeling stayed. You wouldnt believe how popular he is. More friends than I would ever have. he was on 70 thousand 2 years ago, dines out.....and I have had to sell soem DVDs to but DD some shoes. I'm annoyed. At me. At him. he is going travelling around AMerican in Feb and then in Summer spending 2 months in Carribean. Where is ter justice?

OP posts:
ilovenewpyjamas · 02/01/2011 23:26

oh god, I've become a bitter woman.

He always complained about my age. IN the middle of coffee. taking about a film he would say 'gosh - you look old'

COnstantly telling me how he wanted a younger woman. I think my lack of hope comes from him. he has told me over and over again that I am too old, too this, too that......how men don't want someone like this...blah blah

OP posts:
mumonthenet · 02/01/2011 23:33

Yep where is the justice? But there is some, there must be some, I believe in Karma, what goes around comes around. You are so much better off without him (sorry about the cliche.

Listen ilove, you SIMPLY MUST get those books. You will read about all the other women who have been through this.

You will recognise your x in those pages.

You will learn how charming the abuser often is, how he's often the life and soul of the party until he gets behind closed doors.

You will learn how EA does your head in, destroys your self-esteem and makes you question your own judgement.

And you will get some peace of mind from learning all this.

And then you will get angry, and then you will be soooo pleased that you, alone, recognised the EA and told him to feck the feck off. Well done.

mumonthenet · 02/01/2011 23:36

Patricia Evans

mumonthenet · 02/01/2011 23:37

Lundy Bancroft

BadSkiingMum · 02/01/2011 23:41

Well, it seems that you are well shot of him, to be honest.

Horrible, horrible man.

You are doing lots of good things: being a mother and providing stability for your daughter, getting counselling, coming on MN.

My suggestions:

I think you need to try to work through and release your feelings about him, so continuing to see the counsellor is a good idea. Would writing a journal help?

I think that some self-help reading would be a good idea.

I am also not sure that your parental home is the best place for you in the long term - maybe try to set yourself some goals for where you would like to be and what you want to be doing in 1, 2, 5 years time. Could you go on the housing list to try to get your own place?

Does he pay for your daughter's upkeep? Consider going via the CSA.

You possibly seem depressed - have you talked about any of this with your GP?

mumonthenet · 02/01/2011 23:44

He sounds awful.

Everytime you find yourself recalling the odd nice day out with him, remind yourself of the emotional cruelty he is capable of. Remember, even in a normal relationsip's ups and downs you would never be subjected to that kind or cruelty.

In fact, type out ALL the foul, vicious, cruel, abusive things he did to you. Either here or on a word doc - print it out and read it when you need to

splishsplosh · 03/01/2011 00:07

I think you did really well to leave him when you did. And it sounds like your current situation is far from ideal - it's no wonder that the good memories you have of time with him are making you wonder whether you would be better off with him. But hanging on to the good bits is what keeps so many people trapped in abusive relationships for so long.

You need to concentrate on all the terrible things he said and did, you don't deserve to be treated like that.

I also agree with the other poster who said he was seeing if a new technique would work to get you back, by telling you to move on. He is just trying to manipulate you.

Is there any way you could afford to rent somewhere on your own? Are you entitled to any benefits if you're only working part time? Is your ex contributing?

I was in an emotionally abusive relationship, and life has been difficult, so much of what you say does resonate with me

ilovenewpyjamas · 03/01/2011 22:59

hello
mumonthenet - I have ordered one of the books from Amazon. Thanks for your recommendations. When I first thought about him being an EAer I went on the WomansAid sites and could pretty much say yes to everything. I think I need to focus on believing he is an abuser and it was not my fault. Hope the book will help. COunselling helps. She has also suggested writng it all down.

Badskiingmum - I'm also a very bad skiier. And straightaway I think about how he is a black scope skiier and turned heads when ever we went skiing...Stop it (talking to self). i will start the list asap. It needs to be done. In the last few days I have realised I now have a bit more time and strength(Sthing I didn't have when DD was ickler)to write it down. I may out it in here, or some of it if I am doubting whether it was my fault/e.g. of EA

I still get a bit 'oh God waht have I done' and it is worse becasue I have heard he is being fixed up for dates - it hurts to imagine him with another woman and possibly settling down with someone.

As for the money issue, he wont pay/contribute and he is not governed by British law as he is not British - but he is European. We used to live in Oxford together. There is a lenghty proces to apply but it is difficult to enforce. The few times I asked, he said I was obsessed with money (I'm really not) and why should he pay as I left him. I really have been penniless at times and rang him once as I needed to gt nappies. he posted me 20 pounds and that is the only amount i have had. he doesnt realise that I have experienced a massive loss in earnings and its not really money for clothes and nappies......

Housing - I tried this. I couldnt afford it. I would have to give up job to get free housing and c tax. But you still have to pay bills etc. I am a bit better off when working but no way I could afford it wokring jsut 2.5 days. What I plan to do is work more and then i should be able to get a small flat. Money is a problem but, thining positively, I am grateful for my job, it was v diffiuclt financially when pregnant and when she was younger.

GP can only offer medication. I'm not sure I want to take anything - probably too scared. I mightt think about it.

Thanks for your postings - it has helped so much

OP posts:
splishsplosh · 04/01/2011 13:54

The Lundy book is really good, certainly helps with realising it was HIM, not you. Living with the Dominator by Pat Craven which is the basis of the Freedom programme that Womens Aid run is also worth a read. A quicker read, very straightforward.

Yes he might settle down with someone - and he will probably treat them the way he treated you Sad

It might help remembering the effect on your dd if you had stayed / gone back to him - that she would learn that was the way men treated women, and possibly end up in a similar relationship herself.

Also - this is a man who thinks he only needs to support his child if you are with him - who doesn't think she is worth providing for in her own right? Is this a man you want to be with?

I do know how it's possible to think about how life would be easier if you were with them... I put up with abuse for 4.5 years, and some of that was because i was so scared and worried about what life would be like on my own, especially as he ran up vast vast debts in my name. I would quickly forget the bad moments - one minute i would be saying to myself that i couldn't bear 1 single second more of it, the next morning i would wonder if it was really that bad, was it me like he told me it was, maybe he'd change, maybe it would be ok.... so I do understand how you're thinking now. I left once, and allowed him back, got him to leave and let him back because of his persistence. But the last time, I stayed til I couldn't imagine anything could be worse than staying, so didn't fear the future so much any more, and got right away and was never tempted to return. And however hard life is now, at least I don't have to be treated badly.

It will get easier, but going back to him would make life a lot worse other than perhaps in a financial sense.

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