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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

Went to joint counselling with my fw!

8 replies

lovemenot · 07/02/2013 14:29

I needed to hear him talk. So's I'd know my instincts were right.

And they are. He admitted to being unemotional. Said he has lived the last 40 years on a totally practical level. (He is 59). When asked how we measured our anxiety and stress about our marriage, I said lots, he said none. When I was asked if I felt emotionally abused, I found it extremely hard to answer honestly in front of him, but he said he felt that I felt emotionally abused at how he handles conflict. He admitted he made decisions that suited him without taking my feelings into account. He said he makes his decision about something, and that's it, time to move on. He said he deliberately refused to deal with ending the recent long silence because he resented that I wanted him to. He was not hugely defensive but did say he didn't see much wrong with the way he lives. The counsellor pushed him a bit on this, and after hearing me say how lonely and distressed I am, he said he knew he had to learn to deal with things differently. He said he loved me, didn't want to hurt me but was feeling very excluded. When asked if he had considered ending this marriage, he said no and was surprised to hear me say yes. He referred to him "being emotionally connected" as a learned behaviour! He said that I spend a lot of time online and get support there, and I snapped back that it was a damn shame that that's where I got my support.

Feeling shellshocked today even though I kinda knew what to expect.

OP posts:
HotDAMNlifeisgood · 07/02/2013 14:38

He sounds like a FW indeed.

What are your next steps going to be?

garlicblocks · 07/02/2013 14:52

Wow. That must have been so weird.

Well, obviously you can't carry on living like this so what's next? :)

SorryMyLollipop · 07/02/2013 14:54

fw?

Glad you are tackling this with some support

lovemenot · 07/02/2013 14:58

To be honest, right now I don't know. The counselling session was very emotional (for me!!). I felt sorry for him and his emotionless existance but I also felt angry that he thinks that that's an ok thing for his wife to have to accept. I find it very hard to believe that he can change how he relates to life, not just me, as he has lived his way for far too long.

I guess I need to take some time to absorb all of this. And I need to not forget how his behaviour makes me feel.

OP posts:
LabelsGalore · 07/02/2013 15:00

FW??

lovemenot · 07/02/2013 15:05

FW - mumsnet speak for nasty husbands or parters - means fuckwit!

OP posts:
sassy34264 · 07/02/2013 15:07

i'm guessing at -fuck wit ????

I could be hugely wrong Blush Grin

sassy34264 · 07/02/2013 15:08

x posts love

Sorry you are going through this.

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