Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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 help...I feel like my marriage is over...

73 replies

ScarletLady02 · 01/10/2013 20:29

It was our 3 year wedding anniversary on Sunday (we've been together 6 years) and DH has walked out today saying he needs space.

He is a recovering alcoholic (gave up drinking a month or so ago) but also addicted to cannabis (in my opinion...I don't have an issue with the social smoking of this drug so please, I'm really not after judgement).

We've been snappy with each other for a few weeks. My defence mechanism is to cry...I'm shit at arguing I really am, I try and hold it in but I can't. I don't make a big thing about it, I take myself off quietly and try to hide it but he seems to think I'm guilt tripping him.

Here is the text he sent me earlier

"Truth is, I'm not really feeling how I did before. I've started to notice since I sobered up how selfish and wrapped up in yourself you are, and the fact is that every time I tell you anything, you cry. Today isn't the first time you've done it, emotional or not, I'm not being held to ransom any more. Stay at (friend's house, we were there with our daughter when we argued and he stormed out) if you want but this is your home not mine. Sorry if what I've said is not what you want to hear but it's the only chance I've had without you crying and me having to back down because of that."

I can't see how I'm selfish...I really can't! All I do is think about him and our daughter. I get upset because he talks to me like shit! Then when I cry he says thing like "well if I'm so fucking horrible I might as well leave you both then", which makes ME back down and beg him not to go. He says horrible things to our little girl when he's stressed and I'm finally standing up to him over it. He still seemed to make that my fault as well by saying I don't step in enough to stop him getting stressed (she's 2 and hard work...I still manage to not shout and swear at her though).

I've just had enough I really have. I love him so much, all I've done is support him. Through his drug and drink problems etc. He's trying to get a career in the music business and I've been nothing but supportive. He lies to me about money and I don't confront him because I hate confrontation. I'm selfish?? Seriously??

I've been battling depression, I've been put on anti-depressants which haven't really helped and I've been trying to find my feet on, and my Mum has terminal cancer, we don't know how long she's got...so I may have been preoccupied...but I don't understand what I've done wrong.

The icing on the cake was this. He took the key and said he was going home to pack some things as he needed some space. I was at our friend's and she said he could stay there tonight if need be, which I told him. I was there trying to hold it together in front of our two year old. He knocked at the door, gave my friend the key and just left, telling her to tell me he didn't want to cause a scene. Our daughter heard her Dad (who she dotes on and asks for all the time when he's out) and then he's gone...so I have to deal with that as well. Then he texts me saying he didn't want to "make it hard for me and DD".

What a fucking coward...I'm so upset and angry, I don't know what to do. I've just settled my daughter and I'm indoors on my own with a bottle of wine, I feel at a loss. Parts of him I love more than life itself but I can't do this anymore. I always have to be the positive force in the wake of his moody negativity and it's fucking exhausting.

I've tried to put as much info as I can, I don't want to drip feed, but there is stuff I've missed out. I need to vent and I have no-one to talk to. I can't talk to Mum, she's too ill and thinks we're blissfully happy.

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:03

It took me years to leave. Wish I'd done it when son was two. A friend went back to counselling recently and the counsellor showed her the notes from SIX years ago that said she was miserable in her marriage and wanted out. She worried about her two kids and how it was affecting them. Now she feels guilty she didn't do it then. Go with your gut now. Don't think about past "fun" concentrate on a happy now and a much happier future.

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 00:07

I know...I feel it may take something big happening to make him realise he IS doing something wrong. I know it's the right thing to do...it's just convincing my whole brain (and heart) that's the problem...

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:13

The big thing is happening. And he is still behaving like a shit. He will be the one with regrets. Not you.

You will get stronger every day. And before you think it or he says it you are NOT the one doing this to him (my ex used that one) He is responsible for his actions and you are taking control of what happens to you and your DS.

Take strength in that. X

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 00:16

I've thought for a little while it might take me leaving for him to wake up...I wish I wasn't so gutless sometimes. There's so much I need to say to him, but I can't bring myself to...my friend says I should write it all down and give it to him.

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:16

Sorry. DD. I'm the one with a DS. Habit as all pals have boys. X

Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:18

I wrote it down and made him read it while I was there. Made it easier as I'm sooooo rubbish at arguing/saying how I feel for fear of reprisals and years of being told my feelings/opinions didn't matter or were wrong. It did help. X

Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:20

And you're not gutless - you are doing it now. You are being so brave and standing up for yourself and DD.

Try and stop putting yourself down.

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 00:22

Haha, it's a habit...I apologise constantly...it's one of the things DH says drives him mad.

I'm rubbish at arguing as well...If i get upset, I cry and get frustrated because I can't talk properly. Give me a complicated debate about something and I can argue with the best of them...put me in front of the man i love and I'm shit.

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:29

Me too. I'm seen as strong and confident and argue like a mutherfucker for things. Can plan what I want to say in my head then end up apologising to keep the peace or crying because the other person (the ex) is shouting and blaming me.

Bloody bane of my life. It's because for some reason I want to please and am terrified of rejection.

Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:30

But I rejected him. Finally. And it was good. X

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 00:32

Ha! you really do sound like me...I could have written that myself.

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 00:48

Bloody good to know, lovely. We arent alone. Got advice from friends on how to deal with my ex and would nod and agree that's what I should do or say to him to take control then totally crumble when faced with it. And in a way scared to admit to close friends my life was a lie.

See/saw it as a weakness but I still did it and you can too. I'm 40. He was first proper serious relationship but slowly realising I will be better off alone for ever than believing his press/idea of me.

My life is not over. I like to think it is just beginning. I'm finding out who I am. Who I want to be and no longer caring whether he likes it. You are younger than me and you can find out who you are and who want to be. It is a beginning. I hope you post how you're doing. Always here. X

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 00:53

Thank-you so much for chatting to me, you have no idea what it means

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 01:01

I'm watching a box set called REVENGE.

My ex has told people at work I cheated on him. I want to tell them the truth - he had an affair and slept with prostitutes for our entire relationship. Read very graphic descriptions of what he did with them. I'm quite the detective it would seem. But the truth is he wasn't who he said he was.

My ex told my son a friend of mine - a man was bad, untrustworthy and did things behind people's backs - all because he was paranoid I was having an affair. Could not believe he was poisoning my child and sharing concepts a 5yo should not have to comprehend. Would I say daddy liked paying ladies to cuddle him? No. I am better than that and so are you.

Enjoy your naff film. Look after yourself. Focus on your happier future.

Albert27 · 02/10/2013 01:02

Oh and I've NEVER been unfaithful.

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 01:16

Thanks for the chat, I'm glad you're in a better place and I'll keep you updated xx

OP posts:
ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 09:53

Well I got a text from him this morning. He wants to see DD before he goes back to London for a few days. He doesn't want "how we are to affect her". He seemed perfectly fine to just leave me to deal with everything while in tears yesterday though obviously...I really wanted a chance to get my head together before he got in touch today. Of course he can see her, she hasn't stopped asking for him and I don't know when he'll be back.

My strength from last night is wavering a bit to be honest.

OP posts:
ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 10:02

Oh God, I can't stop crying...DD keeps asking if Mummy's hurting. I need to get myself together.

OP posts:
LifeBalance · 02/10/2013 10:08

Could you organise for your friend to be there so he can see your dd but you don't have to be there?

Also agree about writing him what you can't tell him. Tell him what your feelings are and how he makes you feel when he behaves like this. Tell him about how bad his dd was when she knew he was there and then wasn't. Tell him to stop using excuses and put the blame only onto you as if he was faultless.

LifeBalance · 02/10/2013 10:11

What would like to see happening now? Do you want him to come back to you and for things to carry on as they were?
Or do you want things to change? Him to stop talking to his dd like this, him stopping hiding money. And finding another way to communicate (writing could be good for you both) until you feel strong enough to have a real conversation with him.
BTW do you have any idea why you can have a full on discussion on a complex situation with friends etc... but crumble when it's your DP? Was it like this with your ex? Or is it something more inherent to the way your DP behaves?

ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 10:35

It was exactly the same with my ex...I still have a lot of issues from back then. He was very emotionally abusive.

I don't have a problem with leaving him here on his own, this is his home as well, I know nothing bad will happen.

What I really want is for us both to sort out our problems, change the way we communicate and deal with things and for everything to be fine...but I don't see how that can happen with him blaming it all on me. Hopefully some space will change that. I just feel like a fucking mess today.

OP posts:
ScarletLady02 · 02/10/2013 11:01

Are Relate any good? I've just looked at their website and they do live web-chats. I don't have time now but I was thinking of contacting them later.

OP posts:
Albert27 · 02/10/2013 21:45

Hello - relate can be good but you BOTH need to be open to it. And it helps with you as a couple. Not you as an individual. I think you need to work on yourself too. I went to a separate counsellor about being bullied at school, by exes and it helped.

And however hard it is you have to keep it together for DD. I lied to DS - cutting onions, sneezing, blah blah. I saved my crying for when he was asleep.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page