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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

It's like mental torture, he's driving me insane

112 replies

Panscrubby · 28/08/2014 14:28

At the beginning of our relationship I was insecure and used to question whether he loved me or not. He once said to me "if ever I stopped loving you, you'd know. It would be obvious."

Well yes, I'm starting to see that.

4 weeks ago we went on holiday, just the two of us. It was a beautiful place full of beautiful people and scenery and we were having the most amazing time. We argued twice. First time because I was upset at the state of one of our hotels. It was a complete shit hole and I'm no diva. It was a concrete shanty shack with no working shower, no toilet, a padlock on a rotten wooden door for security and an old shitty mattress thrown on a concrete slab as a bed. Of course I was upset. But he went mental and said I was out of order for not being positive and he refused to talk to me for the rest of the day until I apologised (which I did, not sure why!) and begged for him to just drop it so we could get on with our holiday. This was the first time I looked at him and really thought "what a nasty piece of work you can be".

Second time we argued because he got drunk and decided to turn on me for something we'd both been laughing about 5 minutes previous.

So we got back from this holiday two weeks ago and he's been absolutely awful to me ever since. Keeps picking arguments with me, snapping at me, twisting everything I say into an argument - it's just driving me mad. I've done nothing to deserve all this, he just seems to have turned on me for no reason in the past month or so.

This past week has been torturous - so much so that I found myself opening a "post relationship savings account". I don't want us to break up but I can't understand why he's being so horrible to me.

On Tuesday we were on our way to shop and he said something about wanting to go on holiday to Canada. Normally he won't discuss future holidays until we've done our next planned one so, as we have Italy planned I became worried that he didn't want to go to Italy anymore (as he never shows any enthusiasm for it when I mention it yet all of a sudden was raving on about Canada) so I simply said "you do want to go to Italy still don't you?" This was said lightly, totally non-confrontational. He went mental and started really shouting at me, swearing, telling me to chill the fuck out and be fucking flexible and stop being so fucking self centered. Even if he was pissed off at me for saying the wrong thing (????) there was no need to shout and ball at me like this surely. I was upset but tried not to show it too much as that same day we had a 3 hour drive to a campsite for us and the kids and I didn't want the kids feeling an atmosphere.

When we got to the campsite all was going well - then he'd had a few drinks and started getting really arsey. His eldest son and I were laughing about the shape of a burger and we went mad at me, shouted me down in front of his kids, told me I was supposed to be sorting out the music (I had) and then made yawning gestures at his kids about me. His youngest scarpered and went to bed and his eldest just sat looking really uncomfortable (I was thankful they didn't join in actually! very mature of them I thought.)

After that he carried on making comments about me, ignoring me when I spoke, shaking his head at me, snapping at his eldest DS (who said to me "it's best not to react, it's safer" and then buggered off to bed!!!!!!) It was awful.

Next day, he was off with me all day until I made an effort to make the peace (just cos his kids are here all week and I feel awkward). Today he's just kicked off again. I realised we had saturday night to ourselves as my kids are at their dads and his kids will be going home, it's VERY rare that we have a saturday night to ourselves as his kids come EVERY weekend so I suggested we do something nice. Well he kicked off, said I'm trying to start an argument, said he'd rather I go to work and earn some money and basically said no and that I was ridiculous for even suggesting it. So here we are, not talking AGAIN because I dared to suggest we take the opportunity to do something nice Saturday night.

What the fuck is going on? it feels like mental torture. I feel like the kid that doesn't want to go to school because nobody likes her and she gets bullied for saying the wrong thing. All this started a month ago. I just don't understand it.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/08/2014 15:33

He has likely stonewalled you before now but you've appeased him. Now you are not doing so.

I hope you find it within yourself to tell him that you and he are finished (do this with outside support from family and friends and in a public place). He may well not let go of you at all easily once he knows that you are onto him so you need to be very careful and stay safe.

Olddear · 28/08/2014 15:35

No problem AlfAlf....

Panscrubby · 28/08/2014 15:41

Just living together thank god.

The oddities at work - well you asked for it...

Basically he just gets quite obsessed with the young lads he's working with to the point where he goes way and above to ensure he remains "friends" with them. One of them, a young lad in his very early 20s, he's so obsessed with I swear he fancies him. He hangs on his every word, he texts him late at night and early in a morning, if he knows he's on a night out when we're out he'll try and engineer it so that we bump into him. The texts between them are full of xxxxx and "love you xxx" (seriously) and despite the fact that DP is actually this lad's boss - the lad sends DP texts in a morning asking him to get him various stuff from shop before he comes to work and dp does it!!! I've never known out like it. An example was with this bucket challenge thing. DP keeps saying how it's boring and he's sick of the videos yet this lad posted one last night and you could actually see DP get excited as he pressed play and then he says to me "oh no he's getting his top off! what a poser!" and I'm thinking "yeah, you're still bloody glued to it though mate."

When we were on holiday it just so happened that one of the young lads from work was also at this specific city on the day that we were returning home. We had 6 hours in this city before we had to head to the airport and DP insisted on sitting waiting for this young lad in a bar for 2 of those hours despite my protests of us wasting our precious time and then insisted on us staying with the lad for our entire time in the city despite the fact that he knew I was desperate to go off and explore with what little time we had.

He just becomes obsessed with these young blokes. It's almost sad - it's like he's so desperate to be young again he'll do anything to be "in with the lads" - to the point where they just rip the piss out of him.

"alright boss! do us a favour and bring us some cough sweets and a packet of crisps to work please xx love you xx"

what the actual fuck is all that about then.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/08/2014 15:47

What is the situation re the property; is it his alone, rented jointly or are you jointly named on the mortgage?.

His dysfunctional relationship with these work colleagues is also concerning, he probably wants to be young again. Its also about power and control.

But enough of them, they do not have to live with him as you have done to date. So many boundaries are being trampled on here anyway with regards to yourself to the point that you're wondering perhaps which way is up. You still are perhaps wondering which way to go still.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/08/2014 15:53

"what the actual fuck is all that about then."

I dunno but the average psychiatrist would clear their diary to have him as a case study ... Confused Closet gay? Desperate for approval? Arrested development? Power tripping as the PP said?

KellyElly · 28/08/2014 15:55

You have been seeing the face he wanted you to see and now you are seeing who he really is. The 'old him' is unlikely to make a reappearance and the more you apologise and try to appease him the more he will try to get away with. The fact that he has form for this should have you running for the hills. Get out with your self esteem and sanity still in tact OP.

MexicanSpringtime · 28/08/2014 16:09

Gosh, your story reminds me a bit of that of a friend of mine. Her Ex was apparently lovely for the first five years and then started into the arbitrary scenes of rage. It took her another six years and a serious psychosomatic illness for her to leave him

thestamp · 28/08/2014 16:12

The sudden-about-face-after-hints-in-the-past stuff is all textbook abuser stuff OP.

Please get out. Don't be taken in by the inevitable mind games he'll play trying to force you to stay. You don't owe him so much as a reason why you're leaving. tell a friend or family member that he's abusing you, get some support in place, up and leave and don't look back.

if you've nowhere to go, ring Women's Aid and ask their advice.

the stuff with the young lads at work is both hilarious and disturbing. who knows what's going on in his tiny mind.

hellsbellsmelons · 28/08/2014 16:15

I think you are now pretty clued up to this utter twat of a man.
If you need further clarification of his abusive ways then call Womens Aid and have a chat with them.

Can you get away?
Can you get an exit plan together?
Do you rent? Live in his house?

You know what you need to do. You are an intelligent woman with her head screwed on.
Stop putting up with his 'torture' and get the hell out as quickly as possible.

Once he gets wind of what you are going to do he will either ramp up the abuse or become all nice again. Pay no attention to either.
Just get away before he drags you down.

ArabellaTarantella · 28/08/2014 16:20

His eldest son said "Just don't react, it's safer"

This ^^ should tell you EVERYTHING you need to know, OP.

DorothyBastard · 28/08/2014 16:30

I think you have posted about him before, the fucked up work relationships and the refusal to discuss another holiday until after the planned one both ring bells. As everyone else is telling you, please leave. You come across as intelligent and perceptive in your posts. Please don't ignore what your gut (and a boatload of MNers) is telling you. You deserve so much better.

Panscrubby · 28/08/2014 16:47

Oh I will be leaving. It's just working out the practicalities of it. We're on a roll today. We've just had yet another row because his son has eaten nearly a full bag of bananas that I bought just 3 hours ago. DP knew I needed them for baking yet didn't think to stop his son from eating them all. Funny how he's the first to whinge about my son eating / drinking more than his fair share of anything.

He see's nothing wrong with what his son has done. Apparantly he was hungry. Now I'm not being funny but considering he didn't get out of bed until 12 and then ate an egg mayo sandwhich there is no way in hell anyone could be hungry enough to need 4 bananas. I bet he's stood there watching him eat them rubbing his hands together thinking "oh this is great, she won't be able to help herself reacting to this! argument in the bag!"

Fucking wierdo. I can't wait to be shot of the miserable, control freak.

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 28/08/2014 16:50

His gilding has rubbed off, you are now seeing what he really is underneath. You know what you need to do.
I wish you strength and good luck...his poor kids :(

hellsbellsmelons · 28/08/2014 17:02

I really hope you can work out the practicalities quickly.
He is sounding more and more deranged the more you write about it.
Weirdo indeed.
You will be well shot of him!

Thumbwitch · 28/08/2014 17:08

OK, came here from your other thread - I think i agree that there's a good chance he ate at least some of the bananas himself purely to provoke you!

I agree that he has decided to show you that he no longer loves you - or, if he does, that he's exerting his power over you because you should be "in his control".

Glad to see you are planning to leave - this is no relationship at all.

I'm very sad to hear that his eldest DS told you that it's "best not to react" - has he been violent/verbally abusive to his children as well?

Save all your money, start stashing stuff you're going to need at a friend's house if it's not your home, and get out asap.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 28/08/2014 17:55

You've posted about him before haven't you? He's a knob, end of story. You will be well rid.

pictish · 28/08/2014 18:02

Sounds like you know what to do OP. He's a miserable, disagreeable, aggressive tormentor of a man.
Awful.

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/08/2014 18:37

If you were my friend, I'd be asking when was the first opportunity you have to leave this man and get yourself safe. I'd be worried stiff about you.

AnyFucker · 28/08/2014 18:46

he sounds like a complete tool.

what the fuck do you see in him ?

magoria · 28/08/2014 18:55

The sooner you can get out the better.

His own son's are so damaged and used to his behaviour that they are telling you it is safer not to respond and leaving the area.

Get out before your own son is more damaged.

Panscrubby · 28/08/2014 23:02

Thanks for the replies. I've had a bit to drink and my anger has turned to sadness so I won't post anything else tonight. Just a little update ... We have not spoken since 4pm. He has however sent photos of his kids from our day trip to the young lad at work he's obsessed with. Do blokes even do that? Send family pics to each other during their annual leave? The young lad has, unsurprisingly not replied. I'm going to bed. I'll come back to this tomorrow. Thanks again x

OP posts:
Panscrubby · 29/08/2014 06:46

Ok just got to work. He's still stonewalling me and will continue to do so until I try and make up with him. I'm sat in the car park at work fighting off the urge to text him asking if we can talk later. I know there is nothing to talk about and the relationship is dead ... I just hate going home to that Stoney silence and he knows it. He'll be sat at home waiting for the text. May the power of mumsnet be within me.

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 29/08/2014 06:49

Be strong! You have all day at work to not think about him. Perhaps you could arrange to go out for a drink after work? Let him wait.

wallypops · 29/08/2014 07:22

Perhaps a bit of stone walling of your own, while you look for alternative living arrangements. My honest advice would be start getting your stuff together. No discussions. Just get ready to leave in one fell swoop. That way you'll be to busy to give him much head space. And my god you are going to feel so much better.

FunkyBoldRibena · 29/08/2014 07:34

You need to make plans to leave love. When is the earliest you can go?

To counter the stoney silence, get the radio playing the moment you get there and play it whilst you start packing your stuff up.