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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

Support for those in emotionally abusive relationships - thread 31

784 replies

CharlotteCollins · 21/04/2015 15:54

Am I being abused?

Verbal Abuse A wonderfully non-hysterical summary. If you're unsure, read the whole page and see if you're on it.
Emotional abuse from the same site as above
Emotional abuse a more heartfelt description
A check list Use this site for some concise diagnostic lists and support
Signs of Abuse & Control Useful check list
Why financial abuse is domestic violence Are you a free ride for a cocklodger, or supposed to act grateful for every penny you get for running the home?
Women's Aid: "What is Domestic Violence?" This is also, broadly, the Police definition.
Warning signs you’re dating a loser Exactly what it says on the tin

Books:

"Why Does He Do That?" by Lundy Bancroft - The eye-opener. Read this if you read nothing else.
"The Verbally Abusive Relationship" by Patricia Evans He wants power OVER you and gets angry when you prove not to be the dream woman who lives only in his head.
"The Verbally Abusive Man, Can He Change?" by Patricia Evans Answer: Perhaps - ONLY IF he recognises HIS issues, and if you can be arsed to work through it. She gives explicit guidelines.
"Men who hate women and the women who love them" by Susan Forward. The author is a psychotherapist who realised her own marriage was abusive, so she's invested in helping you understand yourself just as much as helping you understand your abusive partner.
"The Emotionally Abusive Relationship: How to Stop Being Abused and How to Stop Abusing" by Beverley Engels The principle is sound, if your partner isn't basically an arse, or disordered.
"Codependent No More : How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself" by Melody Beattie If you’re a rescuer, you're a co-dependent. It's a form of addiction! This book will help you.
But whatever you do, don't blame yourself for being co-dependent!

Websites:

So, you're in love with a narcissist - Snarky, witty, angry, but also highly intelligent: very good for catharsis
Dr Irene's verbal abuse site - motherly advice to readers' write-ins from a caring psychotherapist; can be a pain to navigate but very validating stuff
Out of the fog - and now for the science bit! Clinical, dispassionate, and very informative website on the various forms of personality disorders and how they impact on family and intimate relationships.
Get your angries out - You may not realise it yet, but you ARE angry. Find out in what unhealthy ways your anger is expressing itself. It has probably led you to staying in an unhealthy relationship.
Melanie Tonia Evans is a woman who turned her recovery from abuse into a business. A little bit "woo" and product placement-tastic, but does contain a lot of useful articles.
Love fraud - another site by one woman burned by an abusive marriage
You are not crazy - one woman's experience. She actually has recordings of her and her abusive partner having an argument, so you can hear what verbal abuse sounds like. A pain to navigate, but well worth it.
Baggage reclaim - Part advice column, part blog on the many forms of shitty relationships.
Heart to heart - a wealth of information and personal experiences drawn together in one place

What couples therapy does for abusers

If you find that he really wants to change
Should I Stay or Should I Go bonus materials This is a site containing material for men who want to change - please don’t give him the link - print out the content for him to work through.

The Bill of Rights
What you should expect as a starting point for your treatment in a relationship, as you will of course be treating others!!

OP posts:
thatsnotmynamereally · 17/06/2015 13:57

If he's doing it to be deliberately abusive, he'll just keep trying. Or do something even more aggravating, but is he deliberately interrupting or does he simply think it's his right to speak and get your attention wherever/whenver he wants, and that you have no right to get upset?

In any case, try not to get upset. Sometimes just reading up (Lundy Bancroft!) about abusive techniques is enough to validate your feeling that something isn't right, then you can spot his tactics and brush them off with a 'meh' attitude. Or play a little 'bingo' game with yourself! Detaching is definitely the way to go. My H does similar and I realise looking back that he always tried to sabotage me working at home, whether it was pacing back and forth asking when I'd be finished (when I was freelancing 2 years ago). Now I love coming into an office for the peace and quiet. Sadly, leaving seems to be the only know cure for living with an abusive man.

thatsnotmynamereally · 17/06/2015 14:05

I missed a few posts there! Fi that does sound a bit worrying. Do you have any options, it's unsettling to move again. I don't want to say...can you talk to her, because you don't want any upsets with neighbours!

fairyfi · 17/06/2015 14:39

I won't be here for long at this rate, hated the thought of her letting someone in, or anyone coming in, but there's no talking to someone who's prepared to jeopardise everything in order to get drugs! TBH I think I will probably be the only one to remember this (and DCs - who were with me at the time and had unsettled nights as a result).

to be able to keep your headspace around a FW necessitates an inpenetrable shield of iron, and then even that might not work, as your ability to keep your mind separate from him will only infuriate him anyway (IME).

tbtc · 18/06/2015 10:17

Thank you. I do not want to be pushed out to the library or somewhere with wifi when I have a wonderful home office set up. I can't work hunched over a laptop all day and I need to be on Skype.

Detachment is the key. I just need to learn how to do it.

fairyfi · 18/06/2015 10:28

tbtc - yes... its definitely weighing up one against the other, when it gets impossible to work there this is the effect of him on your life (i.e. don't expect yourself to be superhuman, they do ruin our concentration and our best plans and expectations).

All the while you think you can manage to tune him out then thats great, but to be warned it really is normal for them to escalate tactics in order to still cause disruptions to your life. He will notice the new resolve in you and that could really present a challenge to him ... he will not like it.

yes, detach.. all the way, I am only speaking of my experience that doing the detach thing would result in being pursued round the house and he would not allow me to not engage with him. I hope you get your work space secured Smile. At the end of the day, life is pretty impossible with a FW and it will impact

tbtc · 18/06/2015 10:40

What is a FW?

Yes, I used to 'keep the peace' by capitulating, but realised (only when it became ridiculous and also that I opened my eyes) that it would never be enough. Something new would be added to the list. Not necessarily things he expected me to do, but things he thought reasonable for me to accept from his behaviour.

thatsnotmynamereally · 18/06/2015 11:49

FW = f*ckwit I think! Something we used to use alot on this site. As opposed to DH.

Hope the work is going OK tbtc. Have you read up, via the links at the top, on verbal/emotional abuse? Glad you have recognised it, it still surprises me how clearly these abusive men follow the exact same type of pattern.

ninilegsintheair · 18/06/2015 12:55

I always think of FW meaning F*ing wer myself but I believe that's definition is the proper one Smile If you're not comfortable with using FW tbtc I used the term NSDH (Not So Dear Husband) for quite a long time.

I've done working from home with a FW around and ultimately nothing really works. Not even working elsewhere. Detaching is about as close as you'll get but be prepared for being chased around as Fi said.

As for your dodgy neighbour Fi are you friendly with any other neighbours who might be able to indicate if this is a regular thing? As with FWs, nightmare neighbours can't usually be beaten so you may have to consider moving on. Few things are worse than not being able to feel comfortable in your own home. Speaking from experience. Sad

fairyfi · 18/06/2015 13:06

thank you so much Nini - the place i'm at, the 'workers' are dealing with it.

They are very hot on making things 'safe' here. Thats all i want to say, other than being hopeful now that this will be managed so that the 'neighbour' will be under obs for any repeat.

STBXH was another expression I heard which can also fit well ! And the expression you used Nini is one I used of the FW ex too! In the end I decided upon S*tfaceWanrBas**d Grin a lovely satisfying combo I thought.

CharlotteCollins · 18/06/2015 13:29

Glad there's someone there looking out for your safety, fi.

OP posts:
fairyfi · 19/06/2015 07:31

thank you Charlotte

Is all calmer in your house now, does your FW ex still try to cause distress and problems?

CharlotteCollins · 19/06/2015 20:21

All is very calm, currently, thanks. FW seems to enjoy annoying me with little things like delaying the divorce, and offering me more time with the DCs and then accusing me of trying to reduce his contact if I take him up on it. Hmm But the DCs seem quite happy at the moment and I feel like I'm moving on with my life.

I even feel prepared to believe that not all men are bastards. Shock (I don't believe it yet, but I am open to the idea!)

OP posts:
fairyfi · 19/06/2015 23:20

all the usual fun and games there then Charlotte so good to hear you are moving on... and good god! wow! you are even going to entertain such an idea.. the very thought! ha ha Grin

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 07:26

Hi all. Sadly stbx is ramping up the nonsense again. Please see the bingo section under NC. I can't discuss it here but would appreciate any input.

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 07:26

I am trying to read back a bit to catch up but struggling as dcs are all over the place.

thatsnotmynamereally · 20/06/2015 09:03

Hi Alice Flowers sorry things are rough.

thatsnotmynamereally · 20/06/2015 09:23

(pondering what you mean by bingo!)

fairyfi · 20/06/2015 09:28

Hi Alice good to hear from you but sorry to hear of his horribly familiar tactics, and yours Charlotte (Its his last remaining hold on you, the divorce, and the DC of course..

Bingo - seeing how many familiar tactics you can tick off till you have full house!

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 10:59

By bingo I meant that I have vented under a NC in a less ... Um ... Searchable place here

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 11:36

Sorry, I should have clarified that better. It's been awhile since we had the bingo threads there.

fairyfi · 20/06/2015 15:28

couldn't see any bingo threads

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 15:41

That's okay. It's just occurred to me that I didn't put it in the title. I am a numpty. Blush I'm so rattled over everything lately that I'm spacing a bit, eh? I'll send you a link, don't want to post it on here.

fairyfi · 20/06/2015 16:31
Smile

You are not a numpty Wink you are up against it, you are harrassed, stressed and probably very scared of taking next steps, but definitely not a numpty. He is having the desired effect and will do until you block him completely. He went too far a long while ago... but I have been over there and posted .. hugs

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 20/06/2015 17:49

Thanks. So many other things going on, I just don't need the extra hassle.

tbtc · 20/06/2015 21:06

So, I'm going away on business for a week tomorrow (the work that supports my whole family, that is).
H is behaving in his typical manner when he's unhappy about something. He starts dumping more work onto me. Knowing I am up to my eyes, he decided to clear a shelf and put all the dusty nick nacks by the sink for me to wash up (because it's about 10 years since he washed up).
He moved some of my things, which FUCKS ME RIGHT OFF.

The boys have an event tomorrow. This means older DS cannot mind younger DS when H is on his non-negotiable 3hr bike ride that he does every single day. The event is local, the boys are excited, but it means H has to be there for the little one. He is absolutely furious with me for arranging this for when I'm not here (which FWIW I didn't intend to, I thought I would be here). I'm selfish, arrogant etc etc. He's chucked some stuff about and broken a vase my late Mum gave to me.

H also said to DS1 that he's "not going to play the game of life" while I'm away, which according to DS means his Dad will do the bare minimum.

I am SO upset. I just don't know whether I can leave the boys in this environment.

DS1 is truly seeing his father for what he is which both saddens me but also makes me feel that DS can at least understand the stress I am under.

I am TRYING to detach.

The house is going to be disgusting when I get back. H doesn't even wash plates and things. DS's last GCSE is on Monday so I think it's reasonable of him to do some housework during the day.