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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

My husband just grabbed me by the neck

67 replies

Childofgruffalo · 31/07/2015 23:40

Have NCd for this.

DH and I have just had an argument in bed which resulted in him grabbing me round the neck and me struggling to breath.

I am now in DDs room settling her, I don't know what to do, I am reluctant to phone the police as I don't want SS to get involved.

I think I managed to just take a picture of red marks on my neck. But where do I go from now?

OP posts:
FanFuckingTastic · 01/08/2015 09:33

I was four when my dad put his hands around my mum's neck and forced her against the wall, I still remember it twenty eight years later.

Mum stayed with dad until I was eighteen, he was abusive the entire marriage, he became violent towards my brother when he became a teenager and he was very quick to physically punish me to excess.

I struggle with being the child of this man, because I cannot understand him, and I cannot love him, and all my memories of him are bad ones.

If I could change one thing, it would be that my mum didn't feel trapped and unable to leave because of lots of reasons, that she could have left him sooner and had longer with her family, her career, her friends, her personal safety and self esteem. Basically all the things she lost by being with a man who didn't think it was wrong to strangle, hit, rape and abuse her.

I know it's such a big mindfuck when it happens to you, I've been there, I've minimised, I've convinced myself I deserved it, or that I couldn't do any better than that. So, you aren't alone. We'll probably say some things you find difficult, because we care about your safety and we want you to be safe, and you are still coming to terms with the fact that a person you loved and trusted did something so horrific to you, you are trying to work out why, maybe wanting to try and fix it.

We'll stick around while you get your head around it, hold your hand, give advice, and I hope you can find a way to be safe and free of the threat of abuse.

Berthatydfil · 01/08/2015 09:42

Social services WILL definitely be involved if he goes to far the next time or the time after that or whenever, as you will be dead and their father under arrest / in prison and your children will be in the care system.

ShadyMyLady · 01/08/2015 09:43

Please, please report this to the police.

This is just the beginning, it will escalate. He will think he's got away with it once so he will do it again, and again, and again. Then what? You end up dead and your precious DC without a mother. If he doesn't kill you then your DC will witness their mother being abused and will more than likely end up in the same situation themselves.

And as for SS, they are not monsters (that would be your husband), they are on your side. I saddens me when I read on here the only reason people don't want to report these attacks is because they don't want SS involved. They are a godsend to people like you as they will help protect you and your DC.

I speak from experience, and have a very positive experience of SS involvement with my family.

I hope he is at work now and you have reported him.

turbonerd · 01/08/2015 09:47

Please call the police or tell å friend/relative that Can call the police for you.
Strangling is the most effective way of getting you to shut up. It will most likely happen again, a bit harder and longer each time.
My crunch came when ex strangled me whilst I was holding our youngest, standing on top of some stairs. My sister called the police. ex admitted, apologied, and then denied everything.
Please be very cautious around someone who Can do such a thing to a person they claim to love. He wants you to shut up.

butterflygirl15 · 01/08/2015 09:52

Social services would probably only be concerned if you stayed with him tbh.

CalleighDoodle · 01/08/2015 10:04

Op you completely contradicted yourself, saying it makes it beter that he wasnt sober but alcohol isnt an excuse. If you didnt think alcohol is an excuse it wouldnt matter whether he was sober or not.

Is he jow never going to drink ever again? If he has one drop of alcohol again will you leave that onstant? Or are you going to wait until he hurts you again?

Has he never been aggressive before? Has he gone from loving husband to abusive in one meal? Sounds unlikey.

You need to phone the police. You really do.

NoTechnologicalBreakdown · 01/08/2015 10:32

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2360895-Support-for-those-in-emotionally-abusive-relationships-thread-31?pg=21

You have to accept that this man is dangerous. I know you minimise the threat, I know you tie yourself into all sorts of tangles trying to justify him, but you have to leave.

Put it this way - who will it be next time? Who will start an argument or work him up and how will he respond? What excuse will he have next time? Your children are in danger too.

Bluntly, you're reminding me of when I watched my father trying to throttle my brother. I still didn't think it was bad enough to tell anyone. Next he smashed a dog's leg- the dog had pulled a bin over. Some excuse, huh? We were lucky, it could have been one of us, and I can barely believe how stupid my mother was for keeping us all in there. Or myself for not telling anyone.

Call the police. You don't need to live with this, and neither do your kids.

wotoodoo · 01/08/2015 10:45

Op to be blunt, if you DON'T report this and later on social services find out that you did not take steps to protect yourself and your children from a would be murderer in your home then what do you expect them to do?

This is the time your lioness mode should kick in and you need to do everything to get yourself and your innocent and vulnerable dc safely away from a murderer in waiting.

If your lioness protective mode is not kicking in to this humungous red flag then it would be fair to say ss have a RIGHT to get involved.

wannaBe · 01/08/2015 11:11

tbh, I am not sure that posts telling the op that this is the beginning of the end and she is living with a murderer are helpful. As much as they might be designed to shock the op into doing something they do also come across as incredibly aggressive. There is no disputing here that the op's h's actions last night should be a deal-breaker for anyone, however according to the op this is the first time in what has presumably been a long-term relationship of several years, given that they have two dc together.

Only the op knows the history of this relationship, but if there have never been any incidents like this in the past this will be an incredible shock. This is the man the op has trusted, who is the father of her children, someone she says has never shown violent tendencies before (and we have to take her word for that, making assumptions that he must have shown controlling behavior in the past are just that, assumptions, we don't know, and if the op says he hasn't then it's not up to anyone to tell her she is wrong.)

Op, it's understandable that if this is the first time then you are in shock. And if there have never been any signs that he is aggressive then this is even more of a shock and you of course want to believe that this is a one off. And perhaps it is. Perhaps he is incredibly remorseful and will seek help for his aggression and will swear never to drink again so as not to repeat history.

But ask yourself this, what would it take for you to genuinely trust that he would never do this again? Having done it once, what makes you sure that he would never do it again? Can you be sure really sure that he would never again lay a finger on you?

Remember op, you are not the one who has to let him back, he is the one who has to prove, beyond all doubt that he will never do this again.

The thing is that when a line is crossed there is no way back from it. Even if your dh went to every length to prove that he wanted to change, you can never change what already happened. Do you want to live with that memory for the rest of your life? And if so, why? What is it about him that makes him worth forgiving an action which could have killed you?

I am of the view that all violence is wrong, however, I do also believe that there are levels which someone can come back from. what I mean from that is say a couple has a heated discussion and one party slaps another and instantly regrets it but it's done in the heat of a moment, then there might be a way back. Or if one throws a glass of water over the other for instance. But then you enter into the realms of degrees of violence. If a slap became a punch there is no going back IMO. One can be seen as an impulse reaction. not ok but a lashing out, and assuming it was discussed could potentially be gotten over in time. But once that violence becomes more deliberate it becomes impossible to explain. Strangulation is the level at which it should never be written off as a one off, because it's a one off action which could potentially be the first and last time - iyswim?

Wanting to keep your little family is understandable op. But the truth is that this isn't your little family any more. he strangled you. He betrayed the trust you have in him. Being in bed next to the person you love should be the place where you are secure, where you feel safe, and he has taken that away. Your family unit has already changed op. You can't undo what happened last night or even come back from it. So now you have to move forward back to a place where you have that safety and security. And as he has taken that away from you that place shouldn't be with him.

If he is genuinely remorseful over what happened then he will leave the family home without question.

Grapeeatingweirdo · 01/08/2015 11:24

WannaBe, such a well thought out and balanced post. Thank you.

OP, I have been where you are and I think the crux of the matter is that he has betrayed your trust, put you in mortal danger and broken his vow to love and protect you.

Violence is never a "one time" thing. It will happen again and next time it might be one of your children.

I know you love him. He will have his quirks, foibles and isms that make him unique, special and wonderful in your eyes like any human being.

However, you deserve so much better than this man. Your DC deserve better than this.

achieve6 · 01/08/2015 11:30

if he is sorry, then he will see why you have to report it to the police and will accept what happens as a result.

wotoodoo · 01/08/2015 11:54

If he is genuinely remorseful he would move out, see his gp about an anger management programme and visit the police himself to leave a statement so that if he felt provoked enough next time, the police would have a record.

Too many women get killed every week from their beloved husbands/partners/exes, at least 2 per day.

I'm sure not many of them thought it would happen to them. You are in danger op, but hopefully as you can see, every single Mner wants to help you and your dc to be safe from further harm and are trying to give you advice to help you achieve that in whatever way they know x

Atenco · 01/08/2015 15:49

I'm sorry OP but your husband is much too dangerous to have around your children, full stop.

I was with a violent partner once and I know how their violence feels like a bolt out of the blue and when they say they are sorry you want to believe them and put it behind you. My partner cried and started telling me what a shit life he had had and I ended up comforting him.

But he continued to be violent

Beelzebop · 01/08/2015 16:11

Wannabe, such a good reply. I myself am taking heart from this.

ladyrosy · 01/08/2015 18:26

Imagine that 20 years from now, one of your DDs has this same experience with her husband. What would you advise her to do?

CalmYourselfTubbs · 01/08/2015 22:33

OP - have you seen the other similar thread that is active on Relationships tonight?

he will do it again.
i can guarantee you that.
do you want violence to be part of your child's home life?
by minimising his behaviour you are putting you and your child in great danger.
call the police and report him.

miracle0812 · 02/08/2015 00:32

Hi,
My DH did this to me a year ago we were arguing in the kitchen and he suddenly grabbed me round my throat pushed me against the wall raised his fist as if to punch me threatening to punch me. I didn't report it and I stayed our relationship has never been the same again he's pushed me once since that incident but everytime we've argued since I have feared him. This is no life for anyone I'm severely depressed on medication all because of that night. Even if it's not YET escalated it has ruined our marriage and the last few weeks I've been planning on leaving. I do not want my 2 DD's growing up thinking that shouting matches and heartache is normal! You can do this you can leave I wish I had done a year ago. He doesn't deserve me and your DH doesn't deserve you.
Be strong and stay safe xxx

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