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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

Support thread for those in Emotionally Abusive relationships number *8*

999 replies

foolonthehill · 12/04/2012 09:54

Am I being abused?

Verbal Abuse A wonderfully non-hysterical summary. If you're unsure, read the whole page and see if you're on it.
Emotional abuse from the same site as above
Emotional abuse a more heartfelt description
Signs of Abuse & Control Useful check list
why financial abuse is domestic violenceAre you a free ride for a cocklodger, or supposed to act grateful for every penny you get for running the home?
Women's Aid: "What is Domestic Violence?" This is also, broadly, the Police definition.
20 signs you're with a controlling and/or abusive partner Exactly what it says on the tin

Books :

"Why Does He Do That?" by Lundy Bancroft - The eye-opener. Read this if you read nothing else.
"The Verbally Abusive Relationship" by Patricia Evans ? He wants power OVER you and gets angry when you prove not to be the dream woman who lives only in his head.
"The Verbally Abusive Man, Can He Change?" by Patricia Evans - Answer: Perhaps - ONLY IF he recognises HIS issues, and if you can be arsed to work through it. She gives explicit guidelines.
"Men who hate women and the women who love them" by Susan Forward. The author is a psychotherapist who realised her own marriage was abusive, so she's invested in helping you understand yourself just as much as helping you understand your abusive partner.
"The Emotionally Abusive Relationship: How to Stop Being Abused and How to Stop Abusing" by Beverley Engels - The principle is sound, if your partner isn't basically an arse, or disordered.
"Codependent No More : How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself" by Melody Beattie - If you a rescuer, you're a co-dependent. It's a form of addiction! This book will help you.
But whatever you do, don't blame yourself for being Co-dependent!

Websites :

So, you're in love with a narcissist - Snarky, witty, angry, but also highly intelligent: very good for catharsis
Dr Irene's verbal abuse site - motherly advice to readers' write-ins from a caring psychotherapist; can be a pain to navigate but very validating stuff
Out of the fog - and now for the science bit! Clinical, dispassionate, and very informative website on the various forms of personality disorders and how they impact on family and intimate relationships.
Get your angries out ? You may not realise it yet, but you ARE angry. Find out in what unhealthy ways your anger is expressing itself. It has probably led you to staying in an unhealthy relationship.
Melanie Tonia Evans is a woman who turned her recovery from abuse into a business. A little bit "woo" and product placement-tastic, but does contain a lot of useful articles.
Love fraud - another site by one woman burned by an abusive marriage
You are not crazy - one woman's experience. She actually has recordings of her and her abusive partner having an argument, so you can hear what verbal abuse sounds like. A pain to navigate, but well worth it.
Baggage reclaim - Part advice column, part blog on the many forms of shitty relationships.
heart to heart a wealth of information and personal experiences drawn together in one place

If you find that he really wants to change

I stay or should I go bonus materials this is a site containing the material for men who want to change?please don?t give him the link?print out the content for him to work through.

The Bill of Rights
bill of rights here is what you should expect as a starting point for your treatment in a relationship, as you will of course be treating others!!

OP posts:
PillarBoxRedRoses · 04/05/2012 14:40

Yes...if we listed any such man's fundmental fucked up sense of entitlement values, I am sure we'd get very similar lists...

Little I know....I'm trying to do it, but it's a hard habit to break!

LittleHouseofCamelias · 04/05/2012 14:43

Hmm My FWH isn't charming as such but he exudes that "lost boy" look even at 50+ that has women queuing to ask if he is lost, needs a meal, hasn't got anyone to iron his shirts, or take care of him.
And he is so NICE. Until someone displeases him....

TheHappyHissy · 04/05/2012 14:53

My love, don't be doing that whole heart beating thing with me... I'm soft and lovely. Only Twatfaces that need worry about me!

You and I are not in disagreement, I merely think that when you step back further and look at the broader aspects of the abuser, their tactics may LOOK personalised and individual, but actually they are not.

They will TRY the same tactic that worked on YOU on another victim person. If that works, good. If it doesn't seem to have the devastating consequences it does on you, or if the affects of it start to wear off on you or another, then the tactic will be modified/escalated until it DOES virtually crush all resistance.

Sometimes experienced posters here predicts what a STBX will do, almost to the letter, and the fuckwit actually does it. Shock You see this also on the Affair threads. There is a script. There are minor variations, but mostly the tactics are very clearly similar at face value.

In the end, as we see from the petrol pump story, WE do the policing, the terrorising OURSELVES, they don't have to actually do a thing... Shock

Once a violent man has hit us, often he has little need to repeat it, merely the THREAT of him doing it again is enough.

PillarBoxRedRoses · 04/05/2012 15:01

Thanks Hissy. Soon I won't be doing the heart beating thing with anyone I hope!

It's still such early days for me, so it will be a while before I do take that step back. Plus - I'm still a baby (well, 26), but already have 13 years of conditioning behind me.

I definitely was doing all the policing mysefl...it will take time to unlearn.

LittleHouseofCamelias · 04/05/2012 15:03

Double yey to Fingers! I'm off out now to buy ingredients. I feel a bank holiday baking special coming on!!

Reelingandupset · 04/05/2012 15:10

Oh god I've had the beating heart thing today too.

Had to negotiate a good rate for a contract. And they don't want to pay it. Am sticking to my guns but getting the anxiety too.

Calmed down a bit now as was a couple of hours ago. But I think am anxious generally from having dealt with abusive ex in last few days.

arthriticfingers · 04/05/2012 15:11

Pillar be careful not to beat yourself up about beating yourself up Grin
Our brains are so distorted we can find fault in ourselves for the silliest things!

ThePinkPussycat · 04/05/2012 15:15

Anyone want this nice hair shirt and self-flagellation whip (not sexual Blush)?

arthriticfingers · 04/05/2012 15:31

Grin Pink

TheHappyHissy · 04/05/2012 19:33

Rescue Remedy is your friend. Take it as often as you need to.

It's COJONES in a spray!

Grin
thebighouse · 04/05/2012 21:41

littlehouse I worry about my children too. They are both under ten. One has fairly severe mental health problems and if we were in America she would no doubt be drugged to the eyeballs... she has massive separation anxiety and depression. :( I don't know what to do with her really. She gets lots of professional help (none of which I've ever had to ask for - all offered, which is probably scary). And of course we have 50/50 care, and I worry all the time that this is bad for her. And I worry that DH's anger/mental health issues are causing this. And then I worry that maybe it's ME causing it - having left, being alcohol-dependent for most of her life, running out of patience sometimes. But I don't know what the answer is. I really have no idea.

I guess all I can do is model good behaviour and hope that she is ok at some point...

At the moment she is lying in bed crying and saying that she hates herself. She is six. :( It is exhausting. I don't know where all the badness comes from. I blame myself. I wish I'd never had her, because I just feel as though she suffers so much, and I don't know how to make her better, or what the best thing is for her. I feel that I have failed her completely.

foolonthehill · 04/05/2012 22:02

((((((((((bighouse))))))))))
we all travel hopefully for our children, maybe we can help them end up in a better place than they have started.

OP posts:
foolonthehill · 04/05/2012 22:03

HISSY could you come over here maybe www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1465725-Am-thoroughly-trapped-and-looking-for-suggestions-practical-advice-and-support?? think your experience would be valuable

OP posts:
veeeee · 05/05/2012 10:12

An feeling quite pleased with myself this morning Grin I got up early before fwh woke because I knew he'd want sex and I didn't. And no amount of huffing, eye-rolling, laying a guilt trip, boob molesting, hands in my knickers, rubbing his erection on me made me change my mind. I didn't want sex and I didn't have sex Smile can't believe how happy it's made me!

arthriticfingers · 05/05/2012 10:23
ladybird69 · 05/05/2012 11:31

Hi I am looking for advice or pointing towards thread that will help with this particular problem.
I have posted here before, HappyHissy and PIllarBoxRed have been great :-)but have just found out that when my stbx first left his 'buddy' came in with our son and walked around house taking photos!!!! photos my AW stbx has printed out!!!!
Thing is, i dont know when these photos were taken! my 2 teenage daughters and myself were probably in bed at the time (as 'buddys' excuse was that he was drunk!!!!!!) what can i do/or should i do about this?
should I inform police? solicitor?

ThePinkPussycat · 05/05/2012 11:41

ooh veee I'm sure he can't understand how you could resist having his erection rubbed on you...

bighouse does your DD have any AS traits? I was depressed from v early on because of this...

ladybird hi, sorry I can't help except to offer sympathy

ladybird69 · 05/05/2012 11:50

Thanks Pink
Just hoping someone can point me in right direction really.

ThePinkPussycat · 05/05/2012 11:59

ladybird if you already have sol, then I would tell them, can't see any reason why not, and they could advise

ladybird69 · 05/05/2012 12:50

Pink Sol already advised me to take out injunction but said its expensive and also stbx is already turning my children against me and scared that they will hate me for taking out injunction! Damned if i do damned if i dont! But yes I prob need to speak to her about this latest incident, I just want peace :-(

TheHappyHissy · 05/05/2012 16:04

ladybird, WHY would he take the pics? what is he aiming to do with them?

It's gross intrusion.

Does your Ex have right of access to your home? Can you, in light of this gross intrusion write to Ex and state that due to his abuse of your living space and intrusion on your privacy, all access without your express permission (in writing) will be stopped. Also that as a measure to protect the security and privacy of you and your DC you will be changing the locks.

All reasonable and pre-authorised access to the house will be granted as required.

Raise it with the solicitor, see if what I suggest can be done. It may not be 'legal' per se, but he'd have to take YOU to court to force access IICR, and then you can tell the court why you were forced to do this in the first place, ideally compelling him to produce the print outs of your home that he has.

If your DC are being turned against you, you need to sit down and discuss the truth with you. What is their understanding of why you are no longer together. Are they older children, could they handle being asked to read Why Does He Do That? or something similar? Stay calm, ultimately the truth will be born out.

TheHappyHissy · 05/05/2012 16:06

sorry, sit down and discuss the truth with them.

ladybird69 · 05/05/2012 16:59

Hissy thephotos were supposed to show that i couldnt cope!!!!!!! even though i'd coped 25 yrs all alone! and the reason i let things slide for couple of weeks was that the arse wipe had walked out on his wife and kids for another woman ive since found out! and i was too busy crying to care how clean my floors were!!!!!
AW has since moved back in and spends 24/7 trying to get me out! he wants house! the kids say dad should get house, hes worked hard to renovate it! yet i get no consideration even tho i gave up my career to be 'his rock' and super mum to our kids! that stands for nothing :-(

PillarBoxRedRoses · 05/05/2012 17:15

ladybird I wish I had some advice for you. I'm sure that you're in a much better position re the house and others on here will be able to tell you so!

Sending lots of hugs your way x

PillarBoxRedRoses · 05/05/2012 17:15

Better position in that he walked out on you - not to mention breaking his wedding vows.