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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 help my dh let go of narcissist parents?

7 replies

Rosenrot30 · 23/04/2014 22:19

I really do not know where to start so I will just dive right in,

My d h parents psychologically neglected and physically Abused him as well as telling him from being very young he had a terrible memory , was evil a mistake (at a speech in front of 600 people) and worst of all did nothing when he was sexually abused by a family friend in fact his dad brought the abuser home when d h was there a couple of years later (after finding out what happened to him)
All his mum could say was please don't start a fuss!
He also had his mum cry on his shoulder day in day out for years as well as having to look after her when drunk (she would fall over play dead to mess with him)

When ds almost died aged one after doctors screwed up his diagnosis spectacularly they phoned d h and said it was all his fault and he would be more careful next time) nothing said to me as I'm feisty and would have kicked arse there and then. He didn't tell me this for a while after because he did not want to upset me further.

Dh went on to have a mental breakdown and everything about his past came out , to say I was shocked is somewhat of an understatement (these people are the masters of the kind loving concerned parents in public)

Not only have they denied everything they have tried telling me he is delusional they have completely trashed his name amongst all family friends the list goes on and on.

The worst thing is it seems like they really want us to break up I get the horrible feeling it would give them pleasure to see him with nothing (or get him back to continue the abuse)
I have even thought they want our d s as they often say things like this one should be mine and I love him as if he were my own child (even though I have said many times I do not like this)

D h mental health is getting better all the time but still odd relapse although nothing like before now he is well when he disagrees with them (normally over how they treat our ds , he is now being held up as the family golden child and they tell him they love him too much to ever dislipline him and we are far to strict, we're not at all) they say your just paranoid or your a narcissist or whatever they can use against him from his mental health diagnosis . This is causing him to question his sanity and is knocking him back every time he gets up.

D h has finally said he realises how horrendous he was treated , he says he has no idea who he is or what he wants as he was never ever allowed to make decisions for himself, even now his mum will order his lunch for him without asking what he wants then when he pulls her up on it she says
But your not well you can't make decisions, understanbly this humiliates and infuriates d h.

There is so much more this is tip off iceberg and now the scales have fallen off d h eyes he is devastated (he was in extreme denial before)

How do I support him from this and how can I handle in laws amd the fallout when we tell them this is the end ?

I feel like I'm going crazy with all the madness and mind games !

OP posts:
Aussiebean · 23/04/2014 22:39

First of all, thank you for not dismissing this. A lot of people who have nice patents don't understand.

Next,go low contact. Ideally it should be no contact but that can be really hard straight off. So get caller Id and not answer when they ring. When you do talk you are incredibly busy and must dash. Sorry we can come over for dinner we have a prior engagement. Have to run bye. That sort if thing.

Next shop around for a counsellor. One who understands about toxic families. Again not all people get it don't be afraid to drop one if it is clear they don't.

Next, get him to look at the stately homes thread. The think that really helped me was knowing it wasn't me, and infact there seems to be a script.

It's a long long sometimes painful process but so much better when you are there

Aussiebean · 23/04/2014 22:42

Parents. Patents
Can't come for dinner
Thing not think.

Man, my proof reading is bad. Sorry.

namechangepro · 23/04/2014 22:44

Hi op
You sound lovely &supportive Smile

I have narc parents and the best thing my DP has done is just be there. He's listened and soothed me & most hopefully has believed everything I've said and reassured me that whatever I feel and want to do is ok

i went no contact a few years ago and he told me I could do that, that I could do whatever I wanted - after yrs of people not 'getting it' because they never saw my parents like this it was a revelation. i was so used to being told 'but u only get two parents, don't cut them off etc'

Strangely though I don't like others being rude about my parents. it gets my back up. DP made a slightly negative comment about my father last wk and I didn't like it... I don't know why. perhaps that part of me that grieves for the relationship we never had feels defensive or sad about it or something. I don't know.

we're not no contact at the moment & DP is mostly supportive about that... He can't understand my 'relapse' but still stands by me & supports my choice.

Good luck to your DP OP. ive found counselling very helpful over the years

You might find the stately homes thread helpful. I'll see if I can find it & link to it

Aussiebean · 23/04/2014 22:45

Oh and keep all conversations about the weather, or local news story or focused on them.

Do not tell them anything about you or your family.

How is work?
Great! Did you see they still haven't found the plane.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 23/04/2014 23:14

You don't tell them "this is the end" as that just gives them another chance to create more drama and unpleasantness.

Withdraw. Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the door when they show up. And they will, believe me.

Aussiebean · 23/04/2014 23:15

I had the loyalty thing as well. It is weird. And I got the same 'you only have one mum' societal guilt.

After initially struggling with the idea, my husband is great. His mum is lovely and he couldn't get it. But she eventually showed her true form. Now he is my barrier. I ne'er visit her alone and he will talk with her for the entire time we are there about nothing. It takes all the focus off me which is wonderful.

Also we always arrange something we have to go to. Either real or not. So last time, I said we were coming for morning tea and that we were going for lunch with a friend and said we had to be gone by 12:30. That made a clear leaving time.

If they are shouty people. I also suggest always arranging to meet in a public place or take people with you. My mum would never say anything in front of people. But not all narcs opporate the same.

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