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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

Think I Have Lost The Plot. Please Help.

278 replies

TotalTizzy · 14/01/2013 21:01

I've been with my P for two years (don't feel like I can add the 'D' in front). He was great for the first year but the second year has been difficult. He will be lovely for weeks on end and then out of the blue he will blow up over something or do something seemingly out of character. He has always been a bit funny about me going out with my friends but now it feels suffocating. He has started doing things like giving me the silent treatment when I get in or putting the deadlock (I think that is what it's called) across the door so that I can't open it from the outside. On the occasions when he has locked me out, I have spent up to half an hour ringing him and knocking on the door but he doesn't respond. I know he is awake because sometimes he cuts the calls off or answers and pretends he can't hear me. One time I actually saw him standing in the shadows of our bedroom window watching me getting tearful and panicky but he totally denies he did this.

Once a week I have a physio appointment after work and he will go out that evening without fail and get absolutely blind drunk. He always justifies it by saying "You were out of house having a good time so why shouldn't I?" Since when the hell has seeing the physio been classed as FUN? The next day he will give me three different variations of what he had got up to while he was on the piss and he always tells me that someone has chatted him up (usually a glamour model FFS). His stories never make sense and if they do then it sounds like he has rehearsed a watertight itinerary and tells me to call one of his friends to verify it (which I don't). I always feel worried when he goes out now - I honestly never used to care but now I feel very anxious. When I speak to him about it he just accuses me of being a control freak and of wanting to keep him under the thumb. Sometimes I ask him not to go out and I become very needy which causes arguments. I hate myself for being like this and I know he resents that behaviour because he tells me often enough.

Sometimes I try to have a normal adult conversation with him about something and he will turn it round on me and start going off on one. For example one time he was moaning about being skint and I said he should stop spending so much money on booze (he thinks nothing of spending a hundred quid on a bottle of champagne in a bar even though he is up to his eyeballs in debt. He never buys that when he's with me btw, only when he is out with his flash friends) He suddenly went beserk and started interrogating me about men I fancy asking me the same questions over and over again until I snapped. He then went very quiet and calm then said "I've caught you out. You're getting angry because you're a fucking liar." Two days later he booked us a last minute 'romantic' trip to Rome as a way of apologising.

I really think I am losing my mind. I honestly dont know what is going on from one day to the next. Whenever I threaten to leave there are tantrums, tears, proclamations of undying love and expensive gifts but then a few days later when the dust has settled he will make it known that I am the one who causes all the problems. Everyone thinks he is such a nice bloke and I doubt they would believe me if I told them what was really going on. I just don't know what to do. Last time I tried to leave him he locked me in our house and took away my phone, keys and purse until I "calmed down and saw sense "as he put it. He also said he loved me too much for me to walk away. It's like a rollercoaster except the highs and lows are getting more and more extreme. I don't even know who I am anymore. I guess I am looking for reassurance that I should leave but im scared.

OP posts:
VisualiseAHorse · 16/01/2013 19:40

Get out now.

You are getting NOTHING from this relationship except heartache.

Sugarice · 16/01/2013 19:44

Visualise OP is out Grin, she's at her Parents.

LiveItUp · 16/01/2013 19:50

Well you've done a massive thing today. No wonder you feel so shaken. You've reclaimed your life from someone you were very scared of. He can rant and rave all he likes (and probably will) but you no longer dance to his tune.

As your boss has said to take some time off, could you get away to family or friends for a few days so you're not sat there expecting him to turn up and kick off and jumping at every shadow? Somewhere you could soak in lots of hot baths, and sit by a roaring fire with a pile of good books would go a long way to help you feel restored (well, it would me Grin). You're in charge now.

gruffalosmother · 16/01/2013 19:50

Omg this is awful. Reading this is text book emotional abuse. Not sure if there has been anything physical yet but it Will happen and soon. He sounds lije a complete nutter. U need to leave him pure and simple but get help from women's aid and police to do so becausr from what u have desrcibed of him it could get qiite dangerous if he tries to stop you. Makibg u feel like u r losing your mind is a common symptom of being subjected to abuse. You are not crazy! Trust your instincts. Good luck hun , you can do it xx

gruffalosmother · 16/01/2013 19:52

Ok should have read properly , well done on getting out op!! R u getting much help? X

Chaoscarriesonagain · 16/01/2013 20:01

tizzy it's for the best, for you and I. The only way is up darling, stay strong. Am at my parents too, scary but reassuringly comforting too. We are blessed to have them

Jux · 16/01/2013 20:57

Oh TT, I couldn't be more pleased. Well done that woman!

Panicky is a reasonable reaction, so just take some deep slow breaths in and out, and you'll be surprised how calming it is.

Welcome to the rest of your life! Cheers Wine

LilyAmaryllis · 16/01/2013 22:27

You are brilliant, well done you! You've done so much in just one day! I am so so pleased you are out, I was really scared for you. Remember if he does get in touch - he is dangerous. I'm so pleased your parents are right behind you and taking it seriously too. You are safe! hooray!

ThereGoesTheYear · 16/01/2013 22:48

Oh we'll done! You had no option but to leave, and leave like this. His actions were so disturbing.

TheGoatThatGotAway · 17/01/2013 08:23

Thinking of you, TT. How are you this morning?

TotalTizzy · 17/01/2013 08:39

So he turned up at my parents house at 7am clutching a bunch of flowers Shock My dad opened the door to him and told him in no uncertain terms to leave or he would call the police. I was listening in from the landing (he couldn't see me) and I could hear my ex crying and begging my dad to tell me where I was. XDP was saying he didn't know why I had gone and he said he thought I might have had a breakdown as he was worried that I have mental health problems?! That's not normal behaviour is it? Dad shut the door on him and he left shortly afterwards.

I hardly slept a wink last night worrying, believe it or not, that he will meet someone else and have a wonderful relationship with them - just crazy ConfusedNow im shaking so much I think I'm going to be sick. My DM has said I should go to stay with my auntie for a few days as XDP wouldn't be able to find me there. I need to calm down before I go anywhere though.

Mum said she wants to speak to the police for advice as she is convinced he will be back - that's a good idea isn't it? She says he gives her the creeps and she doesn't trust him. Feel bad for my parents having to deal with this crap Hmm

OP posts:
Sugarice · 17/01/2013 08:47

Poor you Sad and what a cheeky bastard your Ex is!! Mental health problems my arse and turning up with flowers! Arsehole!

Yes ask for police advice regarding harassment, better to be prepared.

Take a hot bath and try to relax, you are going to be fine. Smile

saffronwblue · 17/01/2013 08:54

Your parents sound lovely and a few days at your aunt's sound good too.

LiveItUp · 17/01/2013 08:56

Oh TT, poor you. Well done your DPs. Yes, your DM should talk to the police. She's spot on - he isn't trustworthy. If he was so worried about you in a genuine way, he would have contacted them last night in a real frenzy. This is just plain calculating. Your parents will be fine. They will want to support and protect you, it's what we all do for our kids at any age.

In time, he will meet someone else, and they probably will have a wonderful relationship ..... to start with while he grooms her, and then the abuse will start. He is not normal and not capable of a decent loving respectful relationship. You are well rid. Honestly, so many of us genuinely feared for your actual physical safety. The relief on here was palpable once we knew you were out of there.

Go away for a few days. Get some space, chill, and stay strong. Remember .... no contact.

Jux · 17/01/2013 09:09

What he's done is just classic abuser behaviour. Hearts and flowers and then accusations of madness. Good on your dad for his handling of him. Well done you for not caving.

No, he is not trustworthy. Asking for advice from the police is a good idea.

TheGoatThatGotAway · 17/01/2013 09:26

You are doing so fantastically, TT. I think you will look back on this in the future and be so proud of yourself. It's a massive thing to have done, and exactly the right one. I'm sure no good at all can come from any further contact. His agenda... well, you know what his agenda is and where it would lead. It is not about keeping you safe and happy. Keep hold of that!

I agree that it would be wise to contact the police for advice and to let them know what is going on. It would be very unusual in this kind of scenario for him just to give up at this point. (I don't know loads about this kind of abuse, but I think a cycle of pleading and angry threats is more typical?)

Please go really gently on yourself for now. Keep yourself safe and take things as easy as you can for a few days. You've got lots to process and I'm sure it's totally normal to feel every emotion under the sun while you're doing that. Chin up, lovely :) We're all here for you.

TotalTizzy · 17/01/2013 09:27

Thank you for the replies, I'm just run a nice hot bath so that should relax me a bit. Smile

You all speak so much sense, you are honestly keeping me sane at the moment - thank you. I'm lucky my parents are so supportive, they have been brilliant.

LiveItUp I feel reassured by your post, I need to remember what you have said about him not being able to have a decent loving relationship and keep reminding myself I have done absolutely the right thing. Thanks x

OP posts:
AngryTrees · 17/01/2013 09:36

The whole "I think she's having a breakdown" line was there to lay the groundwork for the future. So that when he convinced you to go back to him your parents would be on his side and believe his story. And when you tried to leave again or tell people about his behaviour it would be "Oh poor, TotalyTizzy, she needs help, but what a nice partner she has. He's so supportive despite the fact that she's lashing out at him."

Cutting the lines of support one at a time, basically.

GiveMeSomeSpace · 17/01/2013 09:41

A bunch of frickin flowers....... What an arsehole

TT The only mental health issues you would have to worry about was if you stayed with the prick.

You've handled this so, so well. It's hugely impressive. Stay stong

LiveItUp has hit the nail on the head.

piratecat · 17/01/2013 09:42

just wanted to say wow, and offer my support when u need it on this thread. i think you are very brave, and my goodness, how your life will change now.

you aren't responsibly AT ALL for his behaviour, it doesn't matter how you have responded to it, he has engineered so much abnormal crap. Noone would know how to respond.

StuffezLaBouche · 17/01/2013 10:55

How utterly horrible for you. Don't feel guilty for your parents. They will just be relieved that you've seen sense and got away from him. Genuinely wishing you all the best wishes in the world. And if he makes any further attempts at contact, speaking to the police is a really sensible idea.

olgaga · 17/01/2013 11:03

Just to say well done!

The police non-emergency number is 101. It might be wise to telephone them and get this situation on the record in case he does turn up again either at your parents' or your work.

tallwivglasses · 17/01/2013 11:29

It's okay to feel a bit wobbly. And the twunt probably will start a new relationship, no doubt with one of the supermodels who he buys champers for regularly chat him up, and it'll be fine for the first year, but you know what'll happen after that to the poor, unsuspecting woman. This man's incapable of having a healthy relationship, his women will always be mad or slags. You're well out of it. Well done!

garlicblocks · 17/01/2013 11:30

Of course you must be insane to leave a partner who decides whether to allow you in or out of your house, spends hundreds of pounds he hasn't got on champagne for other people, chats up women so he can rub your nose in it and thinks you're out partying with the physio Grin Grin Grin Who wouldn't want a life like that? Grin Grin Grin

More seriously, AngryTrees is spot on, imo. He was working up to "proving" you are bonkers and, from there, making sure no-one listened to you and he got full control. Chilling and weird ... yes!

So glad your parents have got common sense and are looking out for you. It is a good idea to alert the police in case of future harassment.

All the stuff they feed you gets in your head, Tizzy, it's normal to worry about whether they had a point after all and be frightened they'll be able to have a stable, happy relationship with someone else. This is demonstrably not true: how would a happy, normal human being respond to being in a relationship with someone as paranoid, unreliable and totally crap as he says you are? Not by locking her in/out of the house, going on at her for myriad imagined misdemeanours or rattling on about what a good time they had without her, that's for sure Hmm

He will treat his next victim as he treated you. Stay clear!!

You might want to look at the Freedom Programme in a while. Your main job now, though, is to surround yourself with love, comfort, normality, and start getting your real self back :)

Walkacrossthesand · 17/01/2013 14:29

I'm holding my breath each time I visit MN, Tizzy, wondering how your ex will duck & weave to try to regain control over you, and hoping you and your lovely family can continue to see through his ploys and leave him behind. He is not a good man and does not have your best interests anywhere in his frame. I'm reminded of one of those Disney cartoons where the wicked witch changes shape/form to deceive those around - do not be taken in!