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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

I don't know why I'm staying or whether I even really want to leave. Don't know what to do.

4 replies

NotSkinnyYet · 05/09/2015 12:21

I'll try and keep this short.

DH and I have been together for 9 years and have 3 DC. We've been through an awful lot over the years but have always muddled through one way or another.

DH has depression and has for a number of years. I've tried my hardest to be there for him and support him in getting help. This has been hit and miss, with him not seeking any help for long periods, but he is currently being treated at the moment and seems to have finally found an antidepressant that works for him. He has missed a lot of work this past year and has only recently returned on a phased return, as he is no longer receiving sick pay. He has been going in when scheduled but this week missed the only day he was due to be in, because the day before (on our wedding anniversary) we argued as he hadn't bothered to cook anything for tea despite my being in work all day and he had had the day to himself, so he decided he just wasn't going in.

This past year has been littered with arguments, our sex life has almost ceased to exist over the past few months. He asks me to masturbate him or to have sex with him quite a lot, but I just don't want to. There are a number of reasons for this and I'm finding myself becoming less and less attracted to him because of arguments, we've both put on weight etc. I have also suffered from depression since last year but after changing jobs a few months ago, reducing my commute from a 70 mile round trip a day to a 5 minute drive from home, it has settled down quite a bit. My DH hates his job but isn't really looking for another at the moment, partly due to not being bothered and partly because he doesn't want to have to explain his time away from work.

All of this has left me angry with him. I've given a lot of myself over the past year, I limited the amount of time I was signed off work because I only got SSP, whereas he got full pay for 3 months before going down to SSP. I made myself go back before I was ready because we needed the money. I'm the only one that drives so I run everyone around to where they need to be before I go to work etc. When he has been off work I have dropped the DCs off and picked them up by myself every day and got them dressed. DH will tidy up, but sometimes I've come home and he's done nothing but play on his computer all day. As soon as the house is tidied it becomes a tip again in a day and it just feels like a never-ending cycle.

Today we have argued again. I bought something yesterday when we were out shopping and he told me to get two packs because he wanted some, so I bough 3. I find out this morning he's eaten two of the packs I bought so I've had a go at him. It's not the first time he's done something like this, it's like sometimes he can't control himself. Sometimes I've bought stuff for all of us which I've come to have some of a few days later and they're all gone. He'll then go on about how he's in the house all day (when he was off work) and he needs to eat. Anyway, I started having a bit of a rant about how I was fed up he just ate stuff and that he couldn't control himself etc and he just started saying no and banging his fists on his computer desk, which now has a crack in it (hooray for ikea desks). So I've come upstairs away from him.

Part of me really wants to leave, I threatened to do so a number of weeks ago as I was fed up with him promising to go back to work and not doing so, as well as his attitude, but he seemed to clean his act up a little bit. The house is in his name, we're in debt, both low paying jobs and not close enough to family. I don't have anywhere else to go and don't want to leave the Dc, but at the same time this isn't a good environment for them to be growing up in. Part of me wants to love him again like I used to, but part of me really doesn't like him sometimes. I don't know what to do anymore, I'm just fed up with everything and am very aware I sound harsh about his depression, but I can't keep doing this. If he doesn't go back to doing his phased return next week then we are screwed. Ugh. Im sorry this has turned out longer than I wanted it to. If you got this far then thank you for reading.

OP posts:
rumred · 05/09/2015 12:58

Have you considered relate given what you've tried thus far hasn't worked? Also there's a technique where each person speaks uninterrupted for 3 or 4 minutes and that can help especially when you struggle to listen to one another. I'm suggesting these things because you've said you want to work it out. Counselling for you might help, if you've no friends to discuss it with.

However there's a good chance it's run its course and you need to end your relationship. Only you know this. Good luck

NotSkinnyYet · 05/09/2015 13:48

Thanks Rum.

Relate may be a go-er, I suppose it would be worth trying it regardless to see if there are things we can fix and I think I would want to do this so at least I know I've tried.

The one thing I keep thinking is if we do split how much of an effect that could have on the kids. I don't want to hurt them and I think it would hit eldest DC very hard, which is why I've not really followed through with making any plans to leave.

I will look into Relate and suggest it to him. Thanks again Flowers

OP posts:
rumred · 05/09/2015 20:16

See what he says. That'll give an indication of his commitment. Or maybe consider a break? Depressed people are hard work (I've been there as in me being depressed and a pain in the arse)

springydaffs · 05/09/2015 21:37

You need a break! Honestly, you should be entitled to carer's leave (talking of which, did you get carer's allowance?)

Whether or not this is depression or he's taking the piss, who can tell - but you must be worn thin.

I don't know how you're going to get a break but you so need one imo. Even a week would help - but at least a month would be ideal. As it's you who does all the running around with the kids, could he live somewhere else for a while?

Drastic - but you can't go on like this. Flowers

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