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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:
DishingOutDone · 12/12/2019 00:43

My H says I've got to learn as I don't understand when he is shouting about things, apparently I take it all the wrong way. He says that he is the victim here, and that he has done NOTHING, NOTHING I tell you but treat me right. He's been so good to me.

FairyFi · 12/12/2019 01:37

Stillnotfrom Then there is the guilt about our DCs, not so much about the eventual divorce as I think they'll be sad but cope, but that I let him treat me this way for so long. Have I damaged them? Why didn't I do something sooner? I feel such deep shame and I know it isnt healthy but I always thought that despite everything he had my best interests at heart. I don't think that now and I'm heartbroken.

This is the damage you have suffered from him, as no, you didn't let him treat you this way, he abused you and there's little you can do about it because it's abuse. The guilt is not yours but his, whether he takes it or not, which he won't.

He only had his own best interests at heart, and its his shame. Shame on him for treating his family this way, the ones he is supposed to love and want to care for. Shame on him.

Stillnotfrom · 14/12/2019 00:38

Had a bit of a rough evening. I cried over something trivial which led to a big discussion about why I'm so on edge. DH asked me outright if I've decided we're finished and I couldn't say it. Don't know what's wrong with me, I found it so hard and felt so bad about hurting him.

I really didn't want to have this conversation now, I wanted to wait until I felt ready but he kept asking me questions. Kept saying he wants to make it work and only ever wanted to make me happy. Still thinks I've been unfair to him and that I'm remembering only bad things and not all of the good things.

So why couldn't I just say it's over and we should plan for a future apart? I really wanted to wait until the new year, but how do I get through a family Christmas now? I told him I don't want to talk to DCs about this yet but I think he might push me to do that. What a mess.

DishingOutDone · 14/12/2019 00:44

If you two have basically had "the conversation" then he'd be a complete prick to force the issue with the DC now unless he is planning to move out immediately. Most people would want to wait till the DC go back to school then start getting things in order, see solicitors etc. How old are the DCs?

Makes me wonder if he wants to tell the children so as to really upset you? Sad Is this part of his manipulation, to make you out to be the bad guy?

Stillnotfrom · 15/12/2019 14:49

I'm not sure why he feels the need to push it now. He would never move out, the time for change will be were our youngest DC goes off to university next year. DCs are 18 and 20 and do know that things aren't right so it would sadden them but not shock them.

I think there will be an element of him being a victim as he still says he didn't know there was a problem and that I should have told him. I did tell him of course, many times as I cried and tried to get him to talk to me or even tell me what I had done to make him so angry (although he says he wasn't angry, just hurt at my thoughtlessness).

This time the discussion was different though as I admitted that I don't feel the same way about him anymore. I suppose things are about to get real.

FairyFi · 31/12/2019 13:45

Thinking of you both and hoping your situations have been bearable over Christmas and that the New Year and will bring change and new futures for you and your families. Flowers

DishingOutDone · 31/12/2019 21:44

@Stillnotfrom I hope you had a peaceful Christmas, and thank you @fairyfi for thinking of us. I hate New Years eve at the best of times Sad but at least I have my DDs here so I am trying to be positive. Wishing you all good things in 2020.

FairyFi · 31/12/2019 23:44

Thank you dishing you too, for 2020 that it can be different.

Struggling tbh, not really enough money to have heat so mostly cold, have heat when dc get cold, thick socks, many, and blankets a plenty, hoods up that sort of thing. What comes of being let down by those who are supoosed to keep families safe and kick out arseholes from homes where they abuse their dc and dms.

Enjoy your nye with your dds Wine

Stillnotfrom · 01/01/2020 01:52

Happy New Year to all of us, hoping 2020 is better for everyone on this thread.

Thank you @DishingOutDone and @fairyfi for your kind thoughts, it has been bearable although a few times I have been very close to tears. I managed to hold it together though with the thought that 2020 is the year everything will change.

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