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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 for those in Emotionally abusive relationships number 10

999 replies

foolonthehill · 09/07/2012 20:53

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
should 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:
NiniLegsInTheAir · 02/08/2012 20:44

oh Pony how awful for your GM's daughter! It's stories like this that haunt my dreams! Really hope she gets her little boy back safely soon Sad

BTW, your story about your NSDH taking your baby away from you to give him formula really resonates with me - my NSDH did something very similar. When DD had her early colic days after an evening ofher crying he grabbed her from me, told me I was starving her and shoved a bottle of formula down her neck. She was promptly sick. I remember screaming at him to give me my baby back and he was so taken aback he did. When I've reminded it of to him since then he says it was coz he was sleep-deprived, but I know better. Now.

Good luck with the move tomorrow - make sure to have Wine to celebrate! Grin

bertie is it cynical of me to think your NSDH is making the whole 'treatment' story up? I dont know much about the subject I admit but something doesn't quite ring true with me.

bertiebassett · 02/08/2012 21:22

Well nini that's a good question...

I have seen his appointment and referral documents so the assessment and treatment plan are genuine.

Whether he actually has mental health issues is another thing altogether...

In essence though, it doesn't matter whether he is diagnosed or not; or if he has treatment.

I've been reading Should I Stay or Should I Go and there is a very good section on there about mental health issues. It says that if the person can function ok in everyday life (e.g., hold down a job, give the appearance of normality) then they do not have a serious mental illness.

Therefore they must take responsibility for their actions...the illness is NOT an excuse and must not be used to minimise any abusive behaviour.

newbeteacher · 02/08/2012 21:23

Hello lovely ladies haven't posted for a bit but have been reading your posts everyday. It's what keeps me going.

I have now been free for 3 weeks it's been emotionally draining but it is so very much worth it. I read what some of write in your posts pony please be careful. I love my husband but I don't like him - he is mean, selfish & manipulative. I allowed my STBXH back after the first time we split it was the worst thing I could have done. I had to acknowledge the fact that he was not going to change ( no matter how much I wanted him to) & I wanted a happier life for me & DCs.

Today is our 4th wedding anniversary I received a text from him just after midnight. I have not & will not respond. The so-called loving father has not seen his DCs for 4 weeks. Given my mum lots of excuses as to why he can't see them but I know it is just to get at me.

Unfortunately for our NSDH they are only focused on themselves.
Read Lundy it definitely brings lots of light bulb moments plus helps me realise the miserable life that was in front of me if I had stayed.

Nina that was the first thing that entered my cynical head when reading Bertie's post - again I cannot recommend Lundy enough

Hugs have Wine and Biscuit xx

bertiebassett · 03/08/2012 07:22

pony good luck for the big move today Smile

veeeee · 03/08/2012 08:53

Yes good luck pony

It's good to hear from you newbie

I'm absolutely fucking livid at fw, we've come to visit friends, 5 hrs away from home. Staying in a b&b so obviously dd is in our room. She's been waking a few times at night and health visitor suggested I just leave her, which I have been doing at home. She has a short grumble then goes back to sleep. Did that last night and it was fine. However, she wanted to get up at 4:30 this morning. I left her for a bit, got up and fed her, put he back to bed. She wasn't grumbling, just talking to herself and her toys. Fw shoved me really hard, pretending he was turning over. I didn't respond so he shouted "shut the fuck up" at her. She still wasn't quiet to he got up, rattled her cot angrily and told her to shut up again. I've told him that his behaviour was unacceptable. He said mine was because I didn't make her go to sleep (at home I would've gotten up and took her downstairs). He also said he can speak to her however he wants to. AngryAngry if we were closer to home I'd be packing my stuff. I was actually worried his morning about what he'd do if she didn't stop being noisy.

arthriticfingers · 03/08/2012 08:54

Bertie I feel that I am qualified to assess your NSDH and provide him with a well considered diagnosis: 'entitled tosser'.
The only cure for this condition is for him to f* off Wink

arthriticfingers · 03/08/2012 08:57

Veee This qualifies as assault in my book. On both of you. But your DD can't stand up for herself. :( Sorry if I am being blunt - but I have been there

ponygirlcurtis · 03/08/2012 10:00

Oh Veeeee, that's horrible for you. That's utterly unacceptable of him, it must be awful to be told by him that it's your fault, not his. I've been there. Are you going to pack stuff when you get back home, do you think you'll be able to, mentally and emotionally, I mean? I ask because I know I planned it so many times after so many horrible displays similar to this, only for my resolve to have crumbled and blown away on the wind by the time morning came or the weekend was over. But it wont stop, you know that. I knew that and did nothing for ages. I don't know what your tipping point will be, but it will come, if it's not now. Hang in there.

And fingers is right, it's assault. I was amazed to learn that assault is the fear of having harm done to you (or in this case, your DD). There doesn't have to be actual harm done, just that he created that fear and you thought there was a real chance of it. Under that definition, I bet we've all been assaulted multiple times.

veeeee · 03/08/2012 10:09

I can't stop thinking about it. Just got in the car to go for a day out, he said "fucking little bastard is asleep already".

ponygirlcurtis · 03/08/2012 10:13

More from my ongoing saga: had another argument last night when I was picking up DS - because he wanted to stay over at the new flat on Sunday night, I said I didn't think it was a good idea (especially as we're staying over with him and the girls on Saturday night, I know, I know...). Anyway, he huffed and shook his head in a patronising way, I said he was pressurising me, he said he was so sick of me doing this and being like this and apparently I'm out of order and created the argument we then had because I'm so argumentative and negative, it's fine that I don't want him to stay over but I should have put what I was saying in a more positive light... Hmm

Anyway, we turned it around, as always, partly because Thursday nights are our 'spending time' nights, so I was due to go back up to spend the evening watching a DVD with him. Drama, drama, drama. This is what it was always like - drama, then sort it out. Upset, then 'come on, let's move on and we'll have a good day/night/weekend'. Heard it over and over and over.

So I went up, and just when we reeeeeally do need it to be good, he just pulls it out of the bag. We had a great night - talked non-stop, nice food, a laugh. And the cherry on top? He declared me 'a genius' for moving into the flat, because it's just exactly what needs to happen, it gives us both the space we need and I'm brilliant and strong and wonderful for having gone through with it. Hmm Hmm Hmm WTAF? That's what I've been saying since the start of this whole sorry debacle! Urgh. So, in summary, had a lovely night, but still wondering how things are going to work out if he's not changing enough. Once I'm in the flat I'm going to re-read both Lundy books, I feel I'm floundering and at risk from being drawn back in when it's still no good.

ponygirlcurtis · 03/08/2012 10:21

Oh Veeeee. That's awful. I know what it's like to have NSDH call your DCs names. My NSDH used to say my DS1 (his stepson) was a spoiled brat. I felt horrible hearing it. What your FW said is just awful. I know I'm in no position to be doling out advice given my inability to detach from my relationship, but he's not showing your DD (or you) any respect. That's not good.

What are you going to do to get through the day? Can you tell him that he's not to speak like that to you or her, or that's going to be it? Or would that make things dangerous for you?

I have to go now, got a cot to dismantle and last bits to pack, and I maybe wont be back online for a while (got no internet at flat yet), but I'll be thinking of you, and everyone else on here. You're my lifeline.

(((hugs))) to everyone. And Wine or Brew for tonight.

bertiebassett · 03/08/2012 12:39

veeeee that is truly awful. Although no cot shaking Angry took place I remember my NSDH swearing at DS when he was little. He did stop when DS got a bit older...though I still get 'blamed' when DS isn't well behaved.

fingers Grin I know you're right...please keep telling me...

pony the inconsistency and down right contradictory behaviour of your NSDH is astounding. He now thinks its a good idea? FFS! No wonder you're confused...

TheSilverPussycat · 03/08/2012 12:49

bertie your H's mental health can be taken into account in any settlement. I would have argued that my own mh meant a house move was detrimental to me If I am being cynical, perhaps he knows this? But he may also need help...

NiniLegsInTheAir · 03/08/2012 13:46

pony hope the move is going ok! Sounds like he's messing with your head - detach detach!

veeeee the more experienced posters will know more than me on this - but if your NSDH is anything like mine, he always plays up more when we're away from home. It's like he knows you want to keep the peace to avoid embarrassment and that your ability to do anything is limited by where you are. I would be very tempted to say to him, next time he tries anything against your DD, to tell him he needs to either behave himself or you'll go home and leave him 5 hours from home. Your DD needs protecting and he's acting like more of a child than she is. If my suggestion is in any way insane, someone please say so, I don't want to give out poor advice when my own situation sucks. Sad

bertiebassett · 03/08/2012 15:01

silver of course it is a possibility that
NSDH is deliberately seeking medical attention so he can make a claim to stay in our house...but I don't reckon he would have the intelligence to have thought it through to that extent... Smile

bobbinogs · 03/08/2012 15:32

Hi, I think I need to be here. Started a thread today 'I need to keep a record' in relationships. I'll be back later to read and learn

bertiebassett · 03/08/2012 15:47

Hi bob Smile

veeeee · 03/08/2012 15:48

Hi bobin

Had a quick read of your thread and yes it sounds like you need to be here unfortunately. Welcome, definitely read the links, I didn't want to go down the EA route either but here I am!

veeeee · 03/08/2012 16:12

Grrr fw just tried to cuddle me. I said I don't want to cuddle him, he said "I don't want cuddles" (meaning he wants sex). I said that I'm still very angry with him, he said "yes I can tell" and that's it!

Is this my last straw?? I still can't stop thinking about his behaviour this morning.

TheSilverPussycat · 03/08/2012 16:48

He seems to have no clue that you are a separate human being with her very own feelings, and not a shred of empathy, "veeeee" Sad

TheSilverPussycat · 03/08/2012 16:49

*neither has he a shred...

bertiebassett · 03/08/2012 18:01

I agree with silver...

veeeee he's not recognising your right to have your own feelings.

I went to 6 Relate sessions with my NSDH against the advice of some fabulous MNetters who were, of course, completely correct...it was a disaster and one of the only breakthroughs we had related to this problem. The counsellor pulled up NSDH on his attitude towards me and reminded him that I was an individual who is entitled their own feelings and has their own needs which should be respected.

NSDH said it had never occurred to him that my feelings or needs were any different to his own Confused

veeeee · 03/08/2012 20:47

And now he isn't speaking to me because I'm being unreasonable to be angry with him!

What a dick Sad

NiniLegsInTheAir · 04/08/2012 09:32

Argh I hate hate hate hate hate! Can't do another weekend of this!!!!

bertiebassett · 04/08/2012 09:40

nini are you ok? (((hug)))