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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

Moving on from bad relationship

19 replies

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 09:51

I have broken off a relationship with someone whose behaviour was very upsetting, interspersed with long good periods.

Looking back on it, I have written down everything that bothered me about this man and am in shock when I look at it as a list like this. I always knew it wasn't right however - verbal/emotional abuse.

I'm writing out the list here to remind me of why I got out:

Withholds affection
Withholds information
Evasive
Uses silent treatment
Gets angry and defensive if challenged on behaviour
Never apologises
Never accepts any responsibility
Will rarely commit to anything if asked to go somewhere - always vague
Waits til last minute to let you know he's not going to make an event
Frequently walks away from online conversations without any warning. No explanations ever given the next day.
Blames the other person and points out their inadequacies as the root of the problem, if challenged. Says I am cynical, over-sensitive, paranoid, over-analytical - all of these set me up for depression (so he says)
Denies conversations happened
Forgets important conversations or details
Ignores you when he knows you are trying to get hold of him
Does not respond to calls or texts when he knows you are upset
Befriended an adult dating site on FB then said it was a mistaken accepted friend request and evaded questions about it
Called his mum a cunt
Called his ex a psycho bitch
Called another ex a cocksucker
Once called me a fucking idiot and dim. When I challenged him and said it was disrespectful, he said 'So what? Has anyone ever told you that you over-analyse things?'
Uses unpleasant language when talking about other women. Referred to one woman as an ugly bitch with a speech impediment

It would be good to talk to others about this and get it out of my system.

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squittypolitti · 27/04/2012 09:56

First - CONGRATULATIONS - for getting rid of this absolute loser - tbh the colourful name he calls his mum is actually and unreservedly what HE is !

DO NOT let the way he treated you affect your self esteem - he is the one with the problem ( severe problem by the looks of things ! ) not you - well done for getting away !!

get out there and celebrate your escape xxx

HotDAMNlifeisgood · 27/04/2012 10:13

Congratulations indeed.

What you had there was an abusive man: you may find it helpful to read through the links at the start of this thread, just to put a name to all the behaviours you describe in your OP and confirm that feeling of "OMG, it's not me, it's him, it's really him!"

You may find it helpful to attend your local Freedom Programme, which is a group therapy programme to help women who have been through abusive relationships come to grips with what the hell happened, and learn how to re-set their twat radars in order to avoid such men in the future.

TheHappyHissy · 27/04/2012 11:09

Be UTTERLY proud of yourself! You worked this out and acted on it!

Well done! Your instincts are BANG ON, and you did well to listen to them.

The EA thread HotDAMN links to is awesome, and the Freedom Programme is a great idea. You may also find WHY DOES HE DO THAT by Lundy Bancroft will explain things to you, and also help you realise just how (sadly) common it is and how (even more sadly) that they are pretty much all alike.

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 12:10

Thanks everyone - it's nice to hear someone validate you for a change.

The problem I can see now is most of it was very insidious and ambiguous so could be explained away by other means. He would still say I was paranoid about him avoiding conversations and evading issues. He would insist he was just busy or tied up with other things.

The verbal stuff came at the end and it gave me the concrete evidence to leave. He couldn't deny things that were said in black and white text. (Although still tried to minimise them by saying I was oversensitive).

I will definitely check in on the EA threads.

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TheHappyHissy · 27/04/2012 12:14

THAT'S how they get away with it for so long!

Read the book, read the links, hang out with us... you'll see! You are not alone, and YOU got out!

PillarBoxRedRoses · 27/04/2012 12:16

Do go on the theads, it really helped me. Whilst I am finding it useful for validation, I know it is ME who I need to learn to trust. When you spend so long accepting someone else treating you in that way, and accepting that they know best/you are over reacting, it really makes you lose trust in yourself.

It is insidious, and it's good that you recognise that. For ages I thought that if it could be explained away, then it wasn't that bad.

And congrats!

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 12:18

Thanks TheHappyHissy, yes definitely, that's how he got away with it for so long. As well as being utterly charming, interesting and funny at times.

Grrrr ..... so mad at myself for putting up with his crap ... but I know it will pass.

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MissFaversham · 27/04/2012 12:19

Yes, very well done for getting away and seeing him for what he is.

A councillor once said to me "You can only help people that blame themselves for things, you can never help people that blame others"

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 14:12

That was one of the most disturbing thing, he just could never admit he'd done anything wrong.

I can sort of understand someone getting angry and lashing out and then feeling bad and apologising later. But to just deny it had happened or to blame it on you, it really messes with your mind.

I still at times keep wondering if I imagined it all. Is that a normal part of the process, do you all think?

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PillarBoxRedRoses · 27/04/2012 14:44

Reeling it totally is part of the normal process. Just go with it and trust yourself. Spend lots of time with people who validate you and make you feel good.

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 14:48

Thanks Pillar. I just keep veering between total outrage and then thinking I imagined it.

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PillarBoxRedRoses · 27/04/2012 14:57

Likewise...and I am a few weeks down the line!

struwelpeter · 27/04/2012 16:02

You have admirable clarity of mind to list all those things and not waver for a moment in indulging in "what ifs", guilt trips or thinking poor him.
Btw it sounds as if you have been going out with my ex Grin.
Sadly, abuse is abuse is abuse and you will find striking similarities between your experience and other people's on the EA thread.
I hope you stay strong and focused not to let this man back into your life, in moments of darkness or when you feel weak reading MN and seeing others' experiences will strengthen you.
Post here for help and advice, all the time remembering that the one good thing is that your experience and list of abuse will help others to escape from their abusers.
Have some Thanks and good luck with your new life free from abuse Smile

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 16:14

Oh goodness struwelpeter, sadly I wish I hadn't wavered. But i have done a few times.

We have had periods before we we didn't speak for weeks. And I have gone back to him feeling sorry for him for his dysfunctional childhood and some of his current health problems and of course, because I liked him in many respects.

What's different this time is the stuff he wrote was so clearly horrible. And no matter how much he argued against it, I knew it was nasty.

Funnily enough, it's from reading other people's experiences on here that alerted me in the early days to the ambiguous stuff not being right either.

Thanks for your post :-)

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Lovingfreedom · 27/04/2012 16:37

Well done! You're doing well. I think the list is excellent. I had one too that I shared with my sister, which was also useful. I read it out to my ex but didn't send it to him. It was very useful for any moments when I started wavering (it happens). Be careful for your ex being nice to you. It's easy to gloss over the bad stuff when he starts being all charming again. Have the list to hand, as well as friends and MN support. You can do it. Good luck! xx

Reelingandupset · 27/04/2012 17:25

Lovingfreedom, thanks - I will force myself to look at this list if I get weakagain.

One other thing I realised is that I started avoiding getting into arguments with him. I would just smile, laugh things off, I was genuinely starting to detach from him and he bothered me less. This then seemed to provoke an escalation from him. He seemed to be actively trying to rile me, get me into arguments. Which is what kicked off our final row.

God it's all so textbook.

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struwelpeter · 27/04/2012 17:34

Very sadly, far too many of us have been there. A good site to read is baggage reclaim - it's feisty, smart and will give you lots of armour to protect yourself against further abuse.

LittleHouseofCamelias · 28/04/2012 13:15

Passive aggressive and an abusive git to boot. You will be SO much better off without him in your life. Well spotted! See you on the other thread x

Reelingandupset · 02/05/2012 10:46

A quick update, he has been in touch - not to apologise or anything, just to nudge me and say hi.

I have asked him not to make contact anymore.

Feeling a bit wobbly but doing ok.

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