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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:
TodaysAGoodDay · 14/07/2012 09:50

whattodo They do sometimes threaten suicide, it's another bit of manipulation to try and make you feel guilty. He doesn't want to lose the hold he has over you and he is prepared to do or say anything in order to keep you. If you decide to go, don't tell him you're leaving. Keep it secret, save some money, pack on the quiet and then get out. Remember to take your birth certificate and passport if you go, these are things you will absolutely need. When you say you will have to come back afterwards because of your work, you don't mean come back to him and the house do you? I truly hope not.

whattodoandwhentodoit · 14/07/2012 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ForSaletotheHighestBidder · 14/07/2012 18:12

Hi all,
newbe, congrats! Well done, am v impressed and jealous of your strength.
whattodo, planning seems to be key and it sounds like you have already done some of that. Take your time, get your head around it properly.

My H read the chapter from shouldistayorshouldigo and said that he identified with all of it, that he agrees that the things contained within it are happening within our relationship, and that he will do some work on the issues, he is considering the best approach etc. Deep down, I don't believe him. Are EA people capable of true change? I suppose time will tell, I have a timeframe in my mind anyway and will continue to get my plans in place. It would be lovely to feel that he has truly heard me and truly intends to work on himself for the benefit of our family but my gut is telling me not to believe a word of it!

whattodoandwhentodoit · 14/07/2012 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

veeeee · 14/07/2012 21:42

Grrr I'm getting mor eand more frustrated and not being able to get through to womens aid.

So I need to rely on those of you who have gotten out.

What do I need to do? Who should I speak to? Is there a website or something recommending solicitors and counsellors and other people I need to contact? I really need to talk to someone about it, it's making me ill and I just want to get things sorted. I can't talk to my GP, he is useless. Would the nurse be able to help?

I'm just so stressed and tired and miserable. And angry! I don't know where all this anger has come from! Do I just need to sort myself out and try harder? I know he wont change but things need to be different for DDs sake. Since I've been on this thread and actually realised it is EA, things are getting worse and worse because I'm arguing back with him and telling him to stop when he calls me names etc (even though it's getting me nowhere, just making me more angry in fact!). Is it possible to stay and have things reasonably peaceful just so that she has 2 parents together?

Please help me :(

newbeteacher · 14/07/2012 21:54

veeeee what area of UK do you live in? I could not get through either but there is a drop down link on their home page for getting help locally. I managed to get through to someone then.

What about a female doctor at your practice if there is one.

Do not stay for the sake of DD she will be much better off with a happy mummy and she will still have a daddy but not 2 parents together x

lostmywellies · 14/07/2012 21:58

veeeee - I'm not out, nowhere near it, but I'm taken aback by all the anger I'm suddenly feeling, too.

I have had a relatively peaceful marriage for probably 8 of the 11 years we've been together so far. By letting him live as he wants to; by making few or no demands on him; by putting up a wall in my mind so that when he belittles me I don't believe it and internalise it.

I have been ignoring what's really going on for years. Not a great way to live, is it? And not a great example. You know that the only way to have a peaceful household is to give in to him, to let him take over. Even then, there's no telling that there'll be peace.

Basically, it takes two people to make a marriage. No, you can't just "try harder."

Ha, such wisdom from one still so trapped! Hmm :o

veeeee · 14/07/2012 22:34

newbe they only have a refuge in the contacts for my area and I don't need one of those so didn't think I should call

wellies thankyou for your post, you clearly understand how I'm feeling. I'm angry with myself a lot for bringing dd into this situation Sad she deserves much better.

lostmywellies · 14/07/2012 23:03

I worry so much about the future for my dcs. Mainly if I were to leave - I'm only just starting to see the damage it'll do to them if I stay.

Mostly, I feel guilty for bringing them into the world - they are his dcs, and how much of this is nurture and how much nature? I can escape if I choose to; no matter what they do, he is always with them and part of them. Does that make sense? I see the same lack of empathy in dd1; can I teach it to her, or will I just watch her grow up unknowingly causing pain to others? :(

lostmywellies · 14/07/2012 23:06

That last was a rhetorical question, just what I wonder; although if anyone can answer it, please let me know! :o

TodaysAGoodDay · 15/07/2012 08:58

veeee are you wanting to leave your NSDH or stay? You say you don't need a Refuge, so I assume you're trying to make it work? I can't say anything encouraging about that I'm afraid, I tried to make my marriage work for 15 of the 18 yrs we were together, but he was utterly incapable of change. Maybe your NSDH can change, they're all different but seem to abuse us in the same way Sorry, not a lot of help I know. I'm just relieved every day that I escaped from my FWX. Every day.

wellies that's one of the reasons I left in the end, thinking of my DS, and how he was going to grow up thinking that the behaviour of his father to me was normal, and that's how you treat women. He was 2 when we left, and he is now a kind, considerate very caring little boy (yes, he can be a terror at times, but he treats me with respect). Nothing like his father.

veeeee · 15/07/2012 10:49

No todays I'm wanting to go! I'm not even interested in trying any more. I feel sad that I've wasted 14 years too, I wanted to leave after 2 years! I don't need a refuge because I'll find somewhere for dd and I once I've sorted my finances out, I don't want him to be able to use anything to take her away from me

TodaysAGoodDay · 15/07/2012 12:06

He won't be able to take her away from you if you're in a Refuge. I promise. I understand about waiting till finances are sorted, but there really is never a perfect time to leave, you just have to go for it. And in the meantime you'll be with him for months, maybe a year or two. Is there anything we can help you out with regarding finances? If you need specific advice then feel free to PM me, and I'll help as much as I can.

zookeeper · 15/07/2012 16:36

veeee why don't you go and see a family solicitor so at least, whatever you decide, you will know your rights. A lot of them will give free half hour of advice. Go with a list of questions and tick them off as they are answered. Good luck

TodaysAGoodDay · 15/07/2012 19:33

Hi veee you have mail Smile

foolonthehill · 15/07/2012 19:39

www.resolution.org.uk/ try this website for good family law lawyers. Also phone in advance to find one that will give a free first consultation and feel free to try out 2 or 3 before you decide...you need to be comfortable with who you choose.

If you can do some work beforehand and they will be able to give you better advice. Know what your assets are, know what is in who's name, know pension details and your personal income and outgoings for at least the last month (to assess legal aid)

OP posts:
foolonthehill · 15/07/2012 19:44

wellies in answer to your question, yes you can teach empathy, sympathy and the ability to see the world through others eyes. it takes some thought and determination. You might be encouraged by reading "when dad hurts mom" by Lundy Bancroft which has a section on breaking the cycle.

You may also be surprised by the effect of being out from under (and a good reason in my opinion for keeping visits short and surface level.

Watch your own reactions too...it took me several weeks before I realised that my fear of DC2 being overbearing, lacking empathy etc was escalating things...now we are much better.

OP posts:
foolonthehill · 15/07/2012 19:44

www.resolution.org.uk/

OP posts:
veeeee · 15/07/2012 21:41

Thank you today

fool July is my first month back from mat leave and I'm going part time in sept so no idea what my earnings are! We own a house, I'm worried the equity will count against me but I obviously don't have direct access to that money!

I'm just so worried that I'm doing the wrong thing. I'd rather stay and be unhappy forever than hurt dd

unhappyhildebrand · 16/07/2012 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wrenner · 16/07/2012 08:26

Hi ladies! Re joined after mass freak out before and taken the big step to Seperate. Now just trying to decide what too do! Glad to b back xGrin

Amitolamummy · 16/07/2012 11:36

Arghhh!!! hate him hate him hate him hate him!!!

ForSaletotheHighestBidder · 16/07/2012 11:54

You ok amito?
Want to say what happened?

Today I am very flat, feeling like a complete idiot for even engaging with the fuckwit about the future and daring to hope that he could change. Sad

TodaysAGoodDay · 16/07/2012 12:26

Welcome back Wrenner.

Amitola you okay? Please tell us, we can help.

ForSale no, sorry they don't change. They really don't.

Sad for you both, Ami and Sale

lostmywellies · 16/07/2012 13:54

Hello, you lovely ladies, small dose of sanity in my crazy world!

Am getting a clearer idea of what is unhealthy in my marriage - slowly. Little criticisms, gradual saps of confidence, constant questioning of everything I do. This morning I called him on one (they all look petty taken alone, though, don't they?) - he said vaguely, "Oh, sorry, it's nothing, you know - not even a criticism, just an observation." And I thought, "Aha, more belittling!" So I'm learning.

(He's good at saying sorry completely inappropriately, now I come to think of it. Like: "Sorry, pils, I've taken the liberty of ironing all your clothes that we washed for you after we all got caught in a rainstorm." And to me he seemed like a little dog, hoping for a pat on the head...)

Could've done without the man in the shop today, though. "Excuse me, do you know which of these is the strongest cooking foil?" Me: "Er, no, I thought they were all basically the same." Him: "No, there are thin ones and super strength ones - even I know that." I can be Hmm about it now, but I was a bit emotional already at the time and it didn't help! Two minutes later, someone said, "Thank you, dear," because I moved my trolley so she could get past - and I almost broke down!!