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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

Is this abuse?

8 replies

Mindymondymoo · 28/01/2014 09:26

My husband has never hit me but he gets verbally aggressive and intimidating when he's angry. To the point where I fear for my safety
Here's an example.
We take turns to see to our 9 month baby at night. Last night was my turn and had got upto her once. Then next time she cried I had just dozed off and ask DH to see to her. He did but I could tell he was annoyed. Then she cried again. Well she wasn't crying as such just whinging. I got up to her and gave her dummy, still whinging, gave her some milk, still whinging, I changed her nappy when she struggles out to turn and wriggle. I couldn't get the nappy on properly as she wouldn't keep still. I lost my patience and shouted "stop it" at her. This shocks her into crying and DH comes in and shouts at me to "get out". I said no I needed to get her sorted and to sleep but he physically manhandled me out the room. Picked me up by my arms which hurt. DD settles down and DH comes to bed, I'm upset at what just happened and crying. He says nothing. I feel so upset I asked him to say if he thought I was a bad mother but he ignored me. I get more upset until he just explodes into anger and told me I should not treat a 9 month old baby that way. I explained what she was doing and said that I was wrong but it stopped her from wriggling so much. I reminded him the other night when I was working he had her all night and would not settle down. Then he turned it around saying I was calling him a bad father. He proceeded to shout at me saying all kinds of things including "I had to get you off her" and "you're a piece of crap". This escalated to the point he was stood over me in bed, shouting in my face and I cowered thinking he might even hit me. He then went downstairs. Just as I was falling asleep he came back upstairs to have another go at me. I went to sit quietly in DD room to get away from him. He followed and told me to get out of her room as I would wake her. I did because I didn't want another argument and was afraid. Then he became nice saying he just didn't know what was going on, all he heard was me shouting at the baby and it was his instinct to protect her. He said he hoped I would do the same. He said I made him angry by trying to make him say I was a bad mother and that I said he was a bad father. When I pointed out I never said he was a bad father he got angry and verbally aggressive again.
Anyway things calmed down and I sober the whole of last night wondering how I ever managed to marry someone like this.
This morning he came to give me a hug and told me how miserable he is because he feels like I don't care about him, if it wasn't for our baby he would kill himself and if he left he would have no where to go and have nothing and we would never see him again. His career hasn't worked out how he wanted and he only took this office based job he hates for our baby's sake. He says I speak to him like shit, I know I do snap at him sometimes.
My dad passed away recently and he complains my mum is over too often that me and him have no time together.
I told him I am struggling working full time 12 hr shifts and I want to cut down but he says that he wants to cut his hours down but we can't afford it. Then he complains I work too many nights and never have time for him.
I told him he's being abusive he said "I've never hit you have I?" I say but I'm afraid he will he said he's afraid I might hit our daughter if I shout at her like I did last night. I would never hurt my baby, that goes without saying!
I know I'm rambling on and there's so many other examples I can give. When these outbursts occur I think to myself right that's it we are done I can't put up with this but then we talk and it seems better and it's like I forget what's happened until the next time when each time it's worse than the last.
I asked my mum before if I could move in with her for a while, she knows what he's like but she's said no we are adults and have to sort it out between us. The house is in my name. I owned it with an ex bf before I met DH but I am afraid to be near him when he's angry.

OP posts:
Mindymondymoo · 28/01/2014 09:32

And I want us to have marriage counselling but he's dead against it saying he doesn't trust counsellors. This morning he said he will reluctantly see someone with me though.

OP posts:
softlysoftly · 28/01/2014 09:33

Hmmm a hard one, I actually wouldn't in this case jump to abuse as his shouting was a reaction to your shouting at the baby and you say you shout/snap too. I think you are both struggling and could benefit from some outside help to get back on track.

You say he says he'd never hit you, yet dismiss his fears that you would hit the baby.

softlysoftly · 28/01/2014 09:33

X post, good go book a counsellor .

LilyBlossom14 · 28/01/2014 09:37

but he is verbally aggressive and abusive isn't he? Last night wasn't the first time he has shouted horrid things to you is it. And you are afraid of him when he is angry?

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/01/2014 09:46

Even if he thought that you shouting 'stop it' at your baby was unacceptable, that didn't give him the right to physically remove you from the room. If this was a one-off maybe it could be attributed to fatigue and short tempers all round and maybe counselling, parenting classes and similar could be useful in helping you both cope with the challenges of a new baby, conflict resolution and so forth.

However, if there are many other examples, pre-baby as well as post-baby where he is 'verbally aggressive and intimidating' then that suggests a pattern of behaviour which is unpleasant and unacceptable. Threats to kill himself or that you'd never see him again are a concern. If he believes he is depressed/stressed/suicidal he should see a doctor. Otherwise it's just posturing.

Complaining that you don't spend enough time together may be a fair point but he's not exactly making that more likely by resorting to yelling and threats. His reaction to your widowed mum could be fair or could be selfish. Bottom line is that most people knuckle down and get on with it when they have more responsibilities, not whine about how life has dealt them a bad hand and make everyone around them miserable

'He has never hit me but....' is not a good way to start a description of the person who is supposed to love you, let's be honest.

myroomisatip · 28/01/2014 10:03

Yep. I think he is abusive and manipulative and expect it to get worse. Maybe I am a cynic :(

You are obviously afraid of him.

If you asked him to leave to give you some space do you think he would go?

Mindymondymoo · 28/01/2014 10:19

It was a one off with me shouting at my daughter. I feel really bad for it. Usually I find it a pleasure to get upto her in the night as I love her so much I want to be the one to comfort her.
Yes there have been countless times he has been like this since the very beginning of our relationship but it seems more frequent. The first time it happened I was in shock and very upset. The first one was because I got 4 tickets to a show for free and my parents had assumed two of them were theirs. It was a misunderstanding and I had already invited two other friends, when I told DH that I was upset with myself for letting it happen and that I upset my parents in an awkward situation he went off on one saying my parents were trying to control me and I let them get away with it and I should stand up to them. Really there was nothing to stand up to. They thought they were going from a conversation previously they misunderstood and when they realised I invited two other people they were annoyed. I did say I do snap at him but I don't shout personal insults or get in his face. If I get angry (on odd occasion) I walk away.
He would have no where to go if I told him to leave. I have told him after the previous argument to this one he has to make arrangements to live somewhere else but we made up.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/01/2014 10:34

If you want him to leave, he's not taking you seriously and there's a history of aggression then I think you have to take some very good advice on how to achieve a split whilst at the same time keeping you and your baby safe. He may never have hit you but the manhandling you described says that he is prepared to get physical. So it's a risk that shouldn't be overlooked.

I'd suggest you think about contacting Womens Aid 0808 2000 247 because you need some information that takes into account the fact that this is a DV situation with potential to get worse.

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