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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

How do I keep breathing?

44 replies

keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 15:40

After a long discussion this morning my husband has decided that we can't be together anymore as he wants more from his life and i am unable to guarantee that he will be able to do that. I have suspected that he has felt like this for quite some time but when he actually said it, i felt like i had been kicked in the gut. I know life can be difficult, i am disabled (both physical and mental health) and currently he is unable to work full time or pursue his career as he is my carer.

I just don't know what to say or how to eventually explain it to our 2 DD's. I sort of know what i have to do long term but it just feels too big right now. I keep trying to carry on as normal as possible and thinking about things in the future when suddenly it hits me and i break down and can't stop crying. I still love him and he says he loves me but it doesn't seem to be enough. I struggling to even just keep breathing at the moment, my MH was not great anyway at the moment and i just don't know how to get through this.

OP posts:
forumdonkey · 24/10/2013 19:35

Sorry if I have missed something here but if you decide to split so he can pursue a career what are you going to do when he is no longer your carer? If you can put things in place if/when he leaves could you not put them in place so you can stay together and he can continue with his career?

Vivacia · 24/10/2013 19:45

You lot have put it a lot better than me. I can't get clear what the husband's caring duties actually are, and what support and assistance keep is getting.

keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 20:05

I have no clue what i'm going to do if we split. We can't get anyone in at the moment due mostly to cost. The caring he does is mostly for my MH issues so support, supervision, taking over in situations where i suddenly might relapse. The nature of my problems mean i am very wary and uncomfortable around people in general so it would take a lot to be able to have the support i need from someone i'm not very close too. I did have this in the past in a previous area where we lived, however the funding for MH services in this area are no-where near as good and so i don't have that luxury anymore. I'm sorry if i am being quite vague, i don't know if any family are members and don't want to make the situation too recognisable for reasons at this moment in time i'm sure you will understand.

OP posts:
Vivacia · 24/10/2013 20:11

it would take a lot to be able to have the support i need from someone i'm not very close to

How would you feel about doing that if it meant your husband could be more your husband and less your carer?

forumdonkey · 24/10/2013 20:12

But if he decides to leave sweetheart you're going to have to rely on others / agencies to help and support you so would it be possible to look into what's available now so he doesn't have to leave and can still pursue his career?

classifiedinformation · 24/10/2013 20:19

I have suffered from mental health problems in the past (still on meds now) and I know how difficult living with it can be. Are you under the care of your local mental health team or just the gp?

keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 20:21

I would do it in a heartbeat if it meant we got to stay together. Ultimately if i can't afford it i can't magic money out of thin air regardless of how much i want it, it's also not my decision and i don't want him to feel like i'm forcing him to stay. I don't know if maybe he feels he missed out when he was younger too and maybe wants to try and recapture some of what he missed out on, it could be nonsense but my mind is just casting around for more reasons why.

If he leaves i will have to move area as i have no other support round here and a bit where we were living just prior to here. Honestly i'm just really scared i'm going to end up readmitted to the psych ward and won't be able to look after my girls properly.

OP posts:
keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 20:22

Previously i have had Psychiatrists, CPN's and Social Workers who deal with MH stuff for support. Now i have nothing

OP posts:
helzapoppin2 · 24/10/2013 20:35

From his point of view (sorry, second guessing) he probably feels he could provide a lot better and you'd all have a better life if he had a degree. That makes perfect sense.
It does sound like your location is a problem. There must be a good reason why you had to move there, but it sounds like a pain in the bum as far as your needs go. Any chance of moving to a place where you can get better care for you?

FoxyRevenger · 24/10/2013 20:37

wellwobbly for fuck's sake! Hmm

lemonstartree · 24/10/2013 20:52

foxy she might be right though one obviously hopes not...

keepbreathing sorry you are having a bit of a 'yes ... but' attitude. Yur DH is signalling to you that he cannot continue as things are. You are rejecting every option presented to you as 'yes ..but...."

things ae clearly going to change - either because DH leaves - means you have less options/choices - or you can try and change things before ... may be less comfortable but it might avoid a split...

cjel · 24/10/2013 21:05

I think you need to get all the energy you can and go to you gp or consultant and say DH is leaving I need help.
You can't make him stay because your life will be too hard without him, and you never know it may be the spurt you need to move forward.xx You say that you get no help and couldn't accept it anyway because it would be hard for you but if he goes tomorrow what will you do then?xxx

LEMisafucker · 24/10/2013 21:14

May I ask what his plans are regarding the children if he leaves? I take it he has to do a lot of the childcare due to you being ill? That requirement isn't going to change - is he planning on taking custody of the children, or is he going to swan off and live the single life again?

QuintsHollow · 24/10/2013 21:15

I am sorry, but you are leaning too much on your husband. It is too much for one person to be the sole crutch of somebody, especially if it is mental health issues. He is not a psychiatric nurse! He needs to have a life.

You need to move heaven and earth to find other support than just him.

He is signalling to you that he cant cope, he is suffocated. He wants to have a job, and provide for his family the way normal spouses do. Not sit and hold your hand every day! Unless you let him do this, you will lose him, and you will any way need to look for other support.

Not sure why you need a cleaner, if he goes out to work. Are you too ill to clean your home and garden?

Would you not be better off if he had a salary?

keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 21:45

Looking back i agree i am having a bit of a yes...but outlook. I would do anything to try and sort this out. I am very grateful for everyone's comments, a lot of the suggestions are good, some i hadn't thought of, some i can't afford and some i have tried before but i am very grateful for everyone's input. I agree things need to change, it is too much for him and the whole situation is having a profound effect on us both as individuals and as a couple.

I was at the GP 2 days ago asking for help for my MH, because of recently moving to this area i have to be re-referred to the psychiatrist and there is a waiting list. I am now on it, but am unsure of how long the wait is. Tomorrow when i can pull myself together a bit better i am thinking that calling the crisis team might be a good idea to see if they can give any more immediate help to me.

If i had the offer of outside help, even though it would be difficult and i would feel ashamed i would take it. There just doesn't seem to be much available in this area. My family refuse to help and treat me like i'm just a massive inconvenience they would rather do without (i am beginning to think i am just that) so i have stopped asking them as they make the situation worse and my DH was the one pointed that out and told me it was a waste of time asking them and they only made me worse because it was like they didn't care.

I have no idea what he thinks the childcare arrangements will be if he goes. We have not discussed any practicalities at all as of yet. He is not the sort of person to just swan off, and i hope that he can see if i get ill and readmitted that as their dad he will be the one who would have to look after them.

I also have a chronic pain condition and mobility issues that mean i can struggle with the housework hence the cleaner/gardener.

I agree that i am leaning on him too much and that it is stifling him. We have only had each other to rely on for so long now that it has just become our norm which is a bad thing. He doesn't just sit at home with me all day, i don't want you thinking that, maybe i haven't explained myself. He is just coming to the end of a 3 year full time degree that he has been going into University for lectures etc and just using the library to study most weekdays. He also went on nights out with his friends from the course when he could. Where we were living at the time the public transport services stopped pretty early so he was unable to stay as long as he wanted and sometimes the short time he would have been able to attend made it not worth him going.

Sorry again if i'm not making sense or seeming like i'm making excuses, i can't seem to get my head on straight and think properly. I feel like i'm on the Waltzers and desperately want to get off but am unable to do so.

OP posts:
helzapoppin2 · 24/10/2013 22:20

keep, take "shame" out of your vocabulary! You've been dealt a rough hand, having physical and MH problems, and that's what the system is there for!
I really hope you are offered something to help you feel better. You sound so courageous dealing with all this. If it all seems too much, just stop trying to figure it all out, and give yourself a break. One step at a time!
Goodnight!

cjel · 24/10/2013 22:31

Don't apologise for the state of your health, but can you see that 'I can't afford it' and 'there is a waiting list' is not going to help dh. I'm glad that you think he won't swan off from his responsibilities but he is trying to make very clear that he can't cope.

You are doing very well coping with all your health problems and its great that you are starting to get referred at your new home, well done.
I do feel though that you can't rely on some magical help arriving when he leaves so should get used to doing without his help as much as possible.Flowers for youxxx

keepbreathing · 24/10/2013 23:10

Thank you so much. You have helped me see through all the pain and hurt that i am feeling to realise that this (hopefully) is a a cry for help from my DH saying that he can't cope with things as they are anymore and maybe just maybe it doesn't have to be the end.

I'm not sure what to do next yet as i'm so exhausted. But hopefully when we are both calmer we can start discussing things and maybe see if we can work something out, if not then at least i know i will have given it my best shot and i wouldn't want a relationship with someone who honestly doesn't want to be with me. I have also arranged to meet up with a friend tomorrow so hopefully i can open up to them and they are very good normally with straight talking, practicalities and advice so hopefully that will be some help. I think it will also help me to do that before discussing things with my DH so i can remain calm. I feel a little calmer now thanks to all your patience and advice and like i actually have some hope, i only hope that it is not false and doesn't end up with me hurting more.

OP posts:
cjel · 24/10/2013 23:15

I hope that we are on the right track for you and that you will really be able to get some outside support to enable you to have a different sort of relationship.

Hope you get the rest you deserve tonightxx

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