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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:
detachedandlonely · 16/04/2012 14:00

Sunrise65, moving to where you will get the most emotional support has to be the right thing to do. It's not selfish, it's responsible - you'll be happy and together, and in a good position to help LO form friendships. Seeing little of an abusive father is a hell of a lot better than seeing a lot of one IMO.

EvacuationWarden · 16/04/2012 14:02

Hi everyone. Marking my place really. Cant believe we're on thread 8 now, yikes!

Quick update- things a bit easier here in Wardenland. Amazed? Not as amazed as I am. I have started being a lot more objective about our relationship and have been pulling him up on everything- and things are a bit better. Time will tell though- maybe he's just trying a bit harder for a bit longer this time!

Telepathic messages of support and "whoop whoop you go girl"s to everyone that needs them- and a virtual hand hold to those not quite there yet. You have been a lifeline in getting me to this stage, am so so grateful.

ThePinkPussycat · 16/04/2012 14:03

sunrise to me this sounds like a good idea. You need to be you, and moving back to somewhere where you have good friends will help that. As for the 100 miles, let your ex 'suck it up' as they say.

LeonieSnell · 16/04/2012 14:26

I have just left my partner and gone back to DF and SM - well, I think she is now DSM, she's been very good, she started to say something about thinking ex was narcisstic and is being very supportive. It's early days, but I feel such a loser. As I said to them both, I should have realised, no wonder his previous girlfriends walked out...

Oh, just realised have posted under my own name. Hope no-one in Ambridge sees this.

I wonder what name to have? I hope ThePinkPussycat isn't already taken.

Wink
detachandtrustyourself · 16/04/2012 16:05

We are not losers, we are survivors!

HoudiniHissy · 16/04/2012 16:07

detachandtrustyourself We are not losers, we are survivors!

Speak for yourself... i think I'm a ffing WINNER!

I won my life back, my hope, my future, my happiness, my friends, my money, my home, my bed, my body, my heart and my self-esteem....

Grin
detachandtrustyourself · 16/04/2012 16:14

oh yes I like that houd! all those things won back, (well working on the self esteem), and I never let him take my soul. (I don't think, got it now anyway)

foolonthehill · 16/04/2012 18:01

well done pink (shhhh we won't tell if you don't!!)

OP posts:
Bobits · 16/04/2012 20:59

Hi :)

Good to see new faces leonie - hi, glad your family have been supportive, it makes a huge difference. And don't feel like a loser, your ex is out of your life - onwards and upwards :)

sunrise65 · 16/04/2012 21:29

thank you :) i just don't want to start being the controlling one by running away with our LO.
i still keep wishing that he will realise what he's done and turn himself round so that i don't feel i have to do this...but how long do i wait. need to realise it won't happen.

ThePinkPussycat · 16/04/2012 23:02

Looking after yourself is not being controlling, sunrise. Don't let his projections colour your self-image - you are not like him, you are protecting LO and yourself.

jifnotcif · 16/04/2012 23:24

sunrise, living with parents is always going to be difficult, being near friends will be much more support for you and therefore for dc. If your friends have children as well it will be even better. I think people underestimate how much dcs need other solid and supportive adults around them, whether they are family or not. On the plus side you can still visit your own family in the holidays, and have an overnight stay or two - that would be more difficult to do at a friend's.

Niffler235 · 17/04/2012 07:34

Just a little morning vent. Just received an email saying I have narcissistic personality disorder and should get treatment for my self obsession. He just wants to 'help'.

Bobits · 17/04/2012 10:18

Hi all :)

niffler - How annoying, You know you are not, he is just projecting his self-image onto you... The best thing is to remember this and try to detach :) How are you anyway otherwise?

Sunrise You are doing so well, I remember your first post - how ex was getting to you with regards to access, now in this short time you are making plans for you and your LO future. You may have 'wobbles' but you are doing the right thing - good luck :)

evacuation - glad to hear you more positive :) and stronger, and it is good you are mindful that your h is on good behaviour, watch out for the change xx

DS and myself made our statement to the police regarding past physically abusive incidents. So glad to have it over - was hard going back, but onwards and upwards :)

Niffler235 · 17/04/2012 10:30

Thanks Bobits. I am getting there and this thread is making me extremely grateful for not having children and already having 'custody' of my dog! I live in fear of the next time I hear from him but am doing well at ignoring I think. Just started reading the Lundy book. It is spooky!

foolonthehill · 17/04/2012 12:29

Reading Lundy B made me feel like he had got inside my head and read my thoughts and memories...so much so that I was worried that I was warped and twisted and was just projecting this stuff onto him. It was a relief when I found a chapter where I went "no that's not him"...iotherwise i think I might have dismissed it all.

Of course I read it in Lala land when i was still with him and couldn't tell which way was up....trust my own judgement a bit more now (so long as I as I'm not in the same room as him!).

Onwards all you lovely ladies

cinderella i hope you are ok and have some good support.

niffler NPD........really?????? Don't give him Lundy to read...he'll be giving you the whole spectrum of his abuse to own.

OP posts:
Niffler235 · 17/04/2012 12:32

And a whole host of other potential disorders...

cherrytree63 · 17/04/2012 15:39

please will someone tell me how to get the strength to end things, I used to be strong and now I'm pathetic.

arthriticfingers · 17/04/2012 15:47

NPD :) welcome to the club.
This morning I was violent and aggressive because I had voiced an objection to his behaviour.
I don't ever raise my voice - find it difficult to even ask other people to hear me, but FWH asked me what was wrong, and I told him.
Sorry wise women - when will I ever learn Blush

arthriticfingers · 17/04/2012 15:49

Hello Cherrytree63
Welcome and sorry you have to be here :(
There are lots of strong women here. Just listening to them does the world of good Thanks to all.

Niffler235 · 17/04/2012 15:50

I find it hard to get myself heard...yet I am told by him to keep my voice down all the time. I can't wait till my and the rest of he world's opinion seems more important than his.

Niffler235 · 17/04/2012 15:52

Hi Cherry. Keep reading till you feel brave enough to share (if you want to).

Sweepitundertherug · 17/04/2012 16:27

Cherrytree63 xxx

Niffler, mine accuses me of shouting as well. When I'm not. I do shout sometimes. Not surprising though.

foolonthehill · 17/04/2012 17:01

cherry I thought I would never be able to leave. But I looked and I saw and I read and I lurked and I posted and one day I just realised it had to be done, so I planned and worried and then...DCs and I will have been out 6 months on 23rd. We're here for you. If you want it to happen you will make it happen.

OP posts:
TheHappyHissy · 17/04/2012 17:11

Mine used to mime the Turning down the Volume button, ef I ever said anything he didn't like the sound of. Used to tell me I have a voice of a man.

He just wanted me to be silent basically.

If I shouted at him, he'd kick me.

Cherry if you share with us what is going on for you atm, we can try to help. I've been out just over a year. there are others that are out for longer and for less. NONE of us would say we regretted it, only that we should have done it sooner.

How can we help you?

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