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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

Old issues...

21 replies

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 03/01/2011 12:11

DH and I are going to start having sex again after about 20 months without due to a difficult pregnancy, twin babies, contraception decisions etc

This time has been good but has also made me have all kinds of worries about various negative sexual experiences I've had before we married (almost 2 years ago). For the sake of not drip feeding I will outline briefly: I had depression as a teen, drank, took drugs, was homeless, indulged in risky behaviour generally. When I was seventeen I was actually raped in the parental home (which i was treating as a doss house) was drunk, was a workmate I knew well and we had been on a night out. I had kissed him in the club, was very drunk, he had stayed later than the train back home and had nowhere to stay, I felt responsible so offered to let him crash and explained very clearly that did not mean I wanted to have sex with him but he still did, even though I was crying. He was very drunk, it was his fault but it was ten years ago and I do not have bad feelings towards him anymore. Because I was a mess anyway no-one believed me. I told my (recently ex) boyfriend and people at work that day because I just couldn't hold it in, they didn't believe me, they bullied me, said they had seen me kissing him and clearly I was a liar. I didn't tell my parents - we have a bad relationship which was worse then.

I basically carried on being a mess and ended up in a relationship with a man who ended up sexually, financially, emotionally and psychologically abusing me for years. I was a mess anyway and this is probably why I sought this relationship. Anyway this relationship was on and off and in one of the break ups I began another relationship with a friend who also had an alcohol problem but who was much older than me (I was now 18). I was homeless but working so was pretty much giving him consensual (as it could be anyway) sex in return for a roof and alcohol/cigarettes. One night he was really drunk and just took the sex he was used to. Again I know his fault but I was also a fuck up and he is now also forgiven, and we are still friends. Why I am wary of him is because another night he drunkenly pushed me down the stairs. This actually lead to me getting back together with my abusive XP who I felt "rescued" me at the time.

Then there is XP. He had MH problems, more serious than mine (mine are now as resolved as they can be). He has a dx of borderline personality disorder. The relationship with him pretty much ended when his usual coercion, pressure and emotional abuse to get me to provide whatever sexual behaviour he wanted failed and he actually just unequivocally raped me. I didn't end the relationship, he did. I think because it was one step too far for him, he had at least one other g/f and knew he had gone too far. I would have stayed with him forever, we had one DS.

That rape resulted in dd. I wanted her so much and she helped me deal with the end of the relationship and everything that had happened to me. One of the contributing factors to my depression was a hypothyroid which I started being treated for just before XP left and improved my MH.

I have been through a lot. I am actually fine. I feel I understand it all and how it can still sometime affect me now. Now I am very sensible about sex and my body and this combined with the lack of sex for a while has made me think about all of these things again. DH knows DD is the result of XP raping me - it was hard to tell him. He doesn't know anything else. I have alluded to much but find it hard to talk - possibly because talking to my parents (not about any of this, I mean generally as a child when I was worried - have lived out of home periodically since 16 and permanently since 19) had very negative consequences so I find it hard to take that first step and speak to people. I also don't want DH to be hurt and upset or for it to ruin our lovely sexual experiences together but I feel it as a weight just ATM, the pressure of him not knowing I suppose. Advice is welcome!

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loopylou6 · 03/01/2011 12:28

You do know you're gonna have to tell DH all this don't you? Think of it as exorcising your demons. Give your DH the chance to help you be at peace with yourself, you sound like your quite near there anyway :) With regards to the sex, I bet once you jump back in the saddle Wink the fear will disappear. Good luck. :)

MyBrilliantCareer · 03/01/2011 12:33

It sounds like you've been through a lot and have come through really well - no wonder things are sometimes still tricky for you.

Agree with loopy that you are going to have to talk to him and give him the chance to understand you.

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 03/01/2011 12:39

Yes, I know. I really just don't know how and I suppose I am quite frightened of how it will make him feel. He was so good about XP, didn't make me feel like I was damaged goods but we have never spoken about it again and I feel a bit cruel not having told him all of this stuff before we got married! I am generally ok. I feel I can see it all clearly and I suppose I'm worried when I speak about it it might interfere with my very clear view...

I suppose I am hoping for a little experience from people who have been through similar or other difficult things which they have had to come clean about with their partners at a later date... I am likely to get drunk, cry and blurt some out at a time... Which would be torturous...

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sadandandgry · 03/01/2011 12:42

Can you write a letter?

Violethill · 03/01/2011 12:45

Yes a letter might be a good idea. You have explained it all very clearly here, and you seem to have a very good understanding of what has happened.

Its paramount that you do tell him, in some form. He sounds like a very understanding and impressive man, and he deserves to know.

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 03/01/2011 12:50

I have tried a few times sadandandgry... I get paranoid about people finding it and it feels quite committed... Writing it is bad enough, then there is the worry it will be found, then the choice to give it to him and then the thought of watching him read it. I have thought about giving it to him to read on the train home from working away once a week but that, whilst helpful to me would be absolutely hard faced and cruel to him... I may give it a go again though, I have never been able to write about it on here before either which is worse and more public than a private letter really.

I am ok, fine really but might not be after telling him - it is a risk...

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Curiositykilledhaskittens · 03/01/2011 12:53

I don't want to show him the thread but maybe I could just print the OP if you think it articulates it well. Are there any bits you think I should change or explain better? That way at least I wouldn't have to sit down and write it all out again.

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sadandandgry · 03/01/2011 12:54

Then write it, let him read it, and then destroy it. Give him the heads up that you've got some stuff to tell, and ask if you could organise a time for you to give him the letter. Then go and have a shower or go shopping or something while he reads it and digests it.

Maybe it might be worth having the idea of counselling as a back up plan if you think it might be difficult?

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 03/01/2011 14:11

May well write it tonight while he is at the pub and give it to him to read when I go out tomorrow. I am a little worried about it though, not sure it will be very kind to leave him at home on his own with it.

I think he will be upset. He wanted desperately for bad things to just not have happened to me plus he has no experience with any of this kind of stuff as far as I know. His life and the lives of his friends have almost all been entirely stable and mostly happy with no major trauma bar one girl who had a really tough time. I was DH's first girlfriend.

Maybe I should give it to him after I have been out or when he comes home. Then if he needs a bit of space from me he can have a little walk. Last time he wanted me closer though. He is a lovely man, shame he has to put up with all my drama but then he must have married me for a reason.

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sadandandgry · 03/01/2011 19:29

He married you and he is a lovely man.

Explain all the things you've said here in your letter. Maybe go to the next room if you would rather not leave him with it while you go out.

Good luck, you sound lovely x

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 04/01/2011 12:04

We "got back in the saddle" again last night after I had chickened out of writing the letter all day. It was lovely and close but afterwards I did feel quite sad and fragile so when he went to work this morning it spurred me on to write the letter which I will now have to give to him.

I am quite confused now though. I know I often passively accept sex, I feel I have a high sex drive but often feel detached emotionally from sex and I know I have often used sex to hurt myself. I have such negative thinking patterns it is hard to trust myself at all and I don't want to get him involved in hurting me... So, now I am frightened that telling him all this would just be doing that - getting him to hurt me with sex... It is very confusing. I am trying to think I shouldn't overthink it and just enjoy things I enjoy but then feeling frightened and exposed after is confusing.

Sorry, I am fine really but I think temporarily in a knot about this, probably quite understandably and I find it quite hard to talk about all this stuff.

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Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 09:07

Ha ha! Ok, not fine... Actually totally freaking out in a mess... Spoke to RASA yesterday, waiting for a call back about counselling. Stupid. Hope someone can talk to me a little till they call... Worried I'll be on a waiting list for months...

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Horopu · 05/01/2011 09:25

Curiosity, i have no experience of what you are going through, but don't want your post to go unanswered.

You have been through a lot and sound like you are really trying hard to be fair to your dh.

Look after yourself, be proud of all you have achieved.

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 09:31

Hate being in a mess, makes me feel angry with myself. Stupid. Thanks horopu for responding. RASA lady thinks wait for counselling before doing anything, I agree... Oh but it is hard to sit by the phone and then I am expecting to wait a long time to actually talk... Feel like I'm trying to keep a lion in a cage.

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Horopu · 05/01/2011 09:36

Well I can't even organise myself to go and put the dirty plates in the dishwasher. You have been through so much for so long.

You have a lot to be thankful for now. Can you focus on that? Cuddle a small child while you wait? or a personal favourite of mine, eat chocolate or cake. Only until the phone call comes of course, not until the actual appointment. If you eat chocolate until then you'll end up like me, which frankly is not a good look!

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 09:50

Yes, lots of cuddling going on - benefit of having so many children. Think I'll be better when I have to take dd out to preschool later. Haven't actually left the house since Saturday!

Calming down a little now. Side effect if feeling stressed like this is not eating... Cake doesn't even sound attractive - very unlike me normally. It is all normal though, being stressed out waiting to resolve something when you aren't in control. Does make "ostriching" seem attractive though.

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Horopu · 05/01/2011 10:11

Keep calm. I'd say go for a walk but you need to wait for the phone.

I need to go to sleep now (I'm in NZ and its 11.10pm here) as I have a long drive tomorrow - 50mins to the library to take back a video and then get groceries. Sometimes I really miss Sainsbury's!

Anyway look after yourself. Remember lots of people love you, you have got through so much, you will get throught this.

Good night!

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 10:22

Thank you! Sleep well!

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Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 11:39

Oh they have called! Appointment on 21st then the dreaded waiting list...

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dontdisstheteens · 05/01/2011 11:53

Ah good. The wait will, of course, be horrid but you have been very brave to take this first step.

I am sure that it will make your husband happy to know that you want to tell him the whole story, that you trust him and that you wanted to be able to support him when he knows. This is a major step on the way.

Try very hard to be proud of yourself and the waiting will be easier.

Curiositykilledhaskittens · 05/01/2011 12:19

Thanks dontdisstheteens. I think DH will be ok if I'm ok and if I can be calm about it. I think I probably need to be able to actually speak about it though... So we'll see...

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