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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

Please some advice for a friend re. Possible abuse

15 replies

Geeklover · 05/02/2013 22:30

My friend knows I am writing this and I have said I will show her any replies.
My friend has been seeing a man for a month. They were seeing each other last summer but I don't want the history to cloud this situation.
They decided to try again after the new year. She has had difficulty trusting him but he said he was prepared to work on that.
Over the past month he has told her he's not in love with her but he is falling for her and more than just likes her.
He daily refers to her as his girlfriend often asks her if she loves him almost sounds needy and in need of reassurance. But he does have a very controlling nature. Has been rude to people that she has spoken to on nights out and has got physically pushy with men that she has spoken to.
She has children and after 2 weeks of getting back together he wanted to meet them whereas last time he found her having children an issue.
So that's a kind of potted history. The latest incident happened at the weekend. They had been out both been drinking and on the lift home she asked someone if they knew a male friend of hers. Purely plutonic but this friend has been a massive support during an exceptionally hard time last year.
Man friend is seeing went mental. Caused a huge row about this person asking if he was so wonderful why isn't she with him then. To the point he physically pushed her, she banged her arm and has bruises from the impact. Since then he has been away for a few days and has been saying we can talk when I get back if you want to see me that is. Asking her what it is she wants... Basically enticing her to say yes she still wants him. A lot of his messages have been brief a way I believe he used to manipulate her in the past. I think he does this to make her panic and suck her back in when he has been in the wrong.
I think that after a month that just NOW it's just a push but he is giving her a very clear message about what the future holds. And that he us testing her now to see if he's hit away with this violent episode.
I said I'd post this here. There probably is more but this is already long. I can answer questions if the come up though.

OP posts:
Geeklover · 05/02/2013 22:40

And I maybe should add that she is already in a vulnerable situation and is getting caught up over thinking other things and not really getting angry enough about this. I did say to get earlier if I'd pushed her that violently she would be way more pissed off at me than she is at him.

OP posts:
YellowTulips · 05/02/2013 22:49

Ok, so she doesn't have any ties to a man she is struggling to trust in the first place.

Then less than a month later he is violent towards her.

The first question is what possible reason would there be to remain in a relationship with someone like this?

The second is what are her expectations for the future? More of the same? Only she gets more entrenched in the relationship and groomed/used to this physical and emotional abuse?

Massive red flag - you could fly it from Buckingham Palace. She should walk (run) away and never look back.

YellowTulips · 05/02/2013 22:57

Should add, if not for herself but for her children she should cut all ties now. From your post I can't see this ending well if she remains with him. Ask how she would feel if her children had witnessed her being pushed around? If she can't call time on this for herself then she needs to seriously consider the sort of person who (having hated the fact she had children) now wants to be introduced to them. I am not surprised you are worried for her tbh.

Geeklover · 05/02/2013 23:03

I actually have never thought of the term groomed. But yes.
The problem there is she has spent her while adult life with men who have groomed her into relying on them and although she has not suffered physical abuse the mental and emotional abuse has left its scars.
She does admit that she gets very attached to men easily and often chooses to block out bad things and concentrate on the nice things.

OP posts:
neolara · 05/02/2013 23:06

I don't really see how this could end well. After a month they should be in the "gazing adoringly into each other's eyes" stage, not being at the receiving end of violence. Your friend should run a mile. And then keep running for a very, very long way indeed.

mummytime · 05/02/2013 23:06

Suggest she looks at The Freedom Programme before he gets involved with any one else again.

Yes a shove is physical abuse.

YellowTulips · 05/02/2013 23:14

There has to be a hell of a lot of "nice" to cancel out his behaviour as described in your post. Positively saintly Hmm.

Sorry - quite trite, because I don't think you can cancel out abuse. That's how they get away with it at the start at least. Periods of intense affection and then quite literally - WHAM.

The fact your friends reaction is not to walk away right now suggests she may need to think about her expectations of relationships in general and sense of worth.

Geeklover · 05/02/2013 23:40

Thanks for these replies.
You are saying what I have told her.
I have told her that these men follow a pattern and what she is seeing as his insecurities are him testing to see if he has got away with this.
She had had some lovely guys interested in her but she is very uncomfortable with 'nice' she sees control and aggression as someone that will stand up for her and take care of her.

OP posts:
YellowTulips · 05/02/2013 23:48

In that case OP she really needs to take a step back and re-evaluate.

There will be other posters with more wisdom to offer on this point.

However, put bluntly she has issues that need to be confronted and addressed if not for herself but for her children.

SolidGoldBrass · 05/02/2013 23:49

She needs, first of all, to tell this bloke to go and fuck himself. Then she needs to promise herself a whole year without sex, dating or any kind of romantic interaction with men, and spend that time doing either the Freedom Programme or some sort of personal counselling to help her sort out her self-esteem. Because a woman who has had repeated crap relationships with abusers is going to go on doing so until she realises that it's not OK for men to treat her like that, and it's fine to be single. Unfortunately a woman who has been abused by several different men and is vulnerable, gives off the wrong signals: nice men detect that she is vulnerable and unhappy and messed up and they back off, arsehole men lick their chops and move straight in.

wordyBird · 06/02/2013 00:06

Oh dear.... no... please tell her that Mr Aggressive is only interested in himself. He will only ever confront others on her behalf because he thinks she's his property, like a pet dog; and if someone tries to take his things it makes him look stupid.

He isn't concerned for her welfare. Only his image.

You're 100% right about a pattern Geeklover! He is testing the water, not acting out insecurity... Because aggressive and controlling people have no insecurities. They really do think they are the centre of the world. That's the whole problem. If you don't agree, or challenge them, it infuriates them.

Another vote for the Freedom Programme here... also this checklist
www.drjoecarver.com/clients/49355/File/IdentifyingLosers.html

JockTamsonsBairns · 06/02/2013 00:14

Oh dear. I am reading about myself about ten years ago - and it's chilling how similar it sounds. Yes, I was willing to overlook a shove, because it was only a shove, no bruises or anything like that. I couldn't talk to, or about, any other men - but that was ok, yes?, because he was being manly and really wanted me to adore him the way he adored me. The little shoves became a bit harder, and I even got the occasional slap, but I could overlook that - because sometimes, we had a lot of fun together, and it was probably me annoying him anyway. He'd get all sulky if I wanted to see any friends or family, but that was ok too - after all, it was him and me against the world, wasn't it?. Friends are only bad influences, who needs them anyway?

Geeklover - your friend needs you. Please do whatever you can to stop this slippery slope that we can all see unfolding before our eyes. She may not welcome your input (I wouldn't have), but she needs to know that you'll be there to pick up the pieces with her when this all goes horribly wrong, which it will. Every single red flag is flying here - your instinct may be to walk away, and I understand why - but please be a constant in the background for her, even when she rejects you and lets you down, as I think she will.

Geeklover's friend - if you are reading this, please be aware of the signs that the rest of us can see so clearly. You are only a month in, and it's so easy to walk away at this point. Not so a few years down the line, when perhaps you're more financially invested or, God forbid, with Dc's. Be on your own for a bit, it's fab to take some time out to reflect on what you want, draw up your own boundaries, and just be yourself with your friends. I really wish you all the best.

Geeklover · 06/02/2013 00:23

Wow jock your post actually gave me a shiver something just sounded so like this.
We have been friends for 12 years through absolutely every horrible thing you can imagine I will never stop. I have told her tonight that if she doesn't walk away from this and when because I don't believe it's if, not to lie to me because I will never say I told her so.
Thanks for this I'm going to get her to read it tomorrow.
I think if more people can see the pattern it might resonate.

OP posts:
ElectricSheep · 06/02/2013 00:39

He's asking if she loves him (even though he's just 'falling for her') because he's trying to gauge whether he's hooked her yet. And yes, the shove is testing her to see how she reacts.

It's all about control, there is NO love in this. He gets his kicks from being the one in control, in charge, with all the power. And it's tough if you don't like it, or disagree with him. He'll just get more angry/violent until you do agree with him.

If you don't believe that, try it out. Try disagreeing and WATCH his reaction. Then hold your head up high and dump him. Never, ever get involved with this man again. You and your children are far far too important.

Your children are dependent on you. They are vulnerable and need you to protect them. You are not a good mother if you expose your children to an abusive violent man.

tallwivglasses · 06/02/2013 01:00

Geeklover's friend - you've got a wise and loyal friend there - listen to her. Listen to every poster. It's not often opinion's unanimous on Mumsnet.

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