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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 head is frazzled, am I being abused or just silly?

244 replies

perfecthouse · 15/09/2015 13:42

This is how it is: I don't work at the moment due to illness, I am trying to find a job, I worked right from leaving school but i'm a little limited now...it's just a bit more difficult, not impossible. My partner works. We both have our own homes, we don't live together but he is here much of the time. I have never asked him for anything towards my bills...why would I? It's my home my responsibility. I buy the shopping every week, I cook all his meals. He "borrows" money from me often and then doesn't want to give it back...saying well he takes me shopping and that costs petrol. He also "reminds" me of anything he's bought me in the past (birthday and Christmas gifts).

When he comes back from work the house has to be spotless (difficult with two kids, and a dog who sheds everywhere, brings muddy footprints in and is a complete maniac jumping up the walls and dirtying them. But I try my best. In fact, I spend most of every day cleaning and he still finds fault.

When he comes in, he demands a hot drink and parks himself on the sofa, if i'm tired from cleaning all day he's funny with me, if i'm not, he's funny with me...I haven't done enough. If I've taken any time for myself, he's funny with me because i'm lazy. I'm not allowed time for myself when he's here...i'm not giving him enough attention. I'm not allowed to read a book, use the internet. If I do, I don't love him anymore. He controls the tv, sometimes he'll say "put what you want on" but then he'll huff and puff and make it very obvious he's bored. When he isn't at work he wakes up, I cook breakfast, he goes to sleep on the sofa and does nothing all day, while I run around for him. He deserves it, because he's exhausted apparently.

He constantly whinges that I show him no affection anymore, don't cuddle up to him on the sofa...how can I when i'm squashed up in the corner with his legs on me..so I cant move? Some nights i'm so uncomfortable I go and sit on the floor but he takes that as a personal insult too. He doesn't give a flying fart that I have back problems.

His moods are changeable, sometimes he's "perfect partner", sometimes he's "passive aggressive" and sometimes he's downright bloody nasty, will flip at the slightest thing. Example: the other day he called me up when he was in the bath. I went up, he started shouting at me saying I had more sleep than him (not true), I walked out of the bathroom (didn't want to argue) and I was getting changed into my pyjamas when he runs into the bedroom naked. I was putting my clothes away, he shouted "MOVE". I didn't move straight away, it was probably less than 30 seconds to put my clothes in the draw. He picked me up and pushed me over, saying I was "fucking horrible".

I'm so sick of his moods, sick of treading on eggshells, he's never hit me but he's done some awful things. I don't deserve it, I think i'm a good partner. I wash his clothes, I make his meals, I make his lunch for work, I bail him out when he has no money, I do everything he asks. Where am I going wrong?

OP posts:
FeckTheMagicDragon · 06/12/2015 22:07

you did nothing wrong. I'm only guessing here, but has he been on his best behaviour since sept? and previously did his rages always happen when you were happy, chatting with friends, doing stuff with the kids, something good had happened or was about to happen - you know, just getting on with your life. independently. requiring nothing from him?

My guess is that he goes for maximum impact. So - run up to a nice time - Christmas. Perfect. Who wants to be in the middle of a break up at Christmas? He probably figures that he can spoil it enough for you (whether you take him back again or not) that he will have the upper hand. Something he may feel he lost in Sept. Now - he left you - he wins. If you say sorry (and he will probably want you to say sorry even if he contacts you) and take him back - he wins. He will have you back on that eggshell treadmill - having eveything his own way. He wins.

This is not a relationship in his eyes. Its a battle where he has to be dominant. So you will continue to furnish him with cooked food, a warm house, sex, company, money - he only has to put minimal effort in now, as you won't demand he pay you back, or take turns cooking or cleaning in case he kicks off. Prefect. For him. Right?

You are worth so much more than this. you are kind, loveling and thoughtful. You are also entitled to be happy. And I'm sure that you will eventually realise that.

zipzap · 06/12/2015 22:30

The reason you don't know what you did wrong is because you haven't actually done anything wrong.

He's an abusive nasty man and he just felt like blowing up at you and everybody around.

And this time maybe it means that he gets to storm out so he can say that he left you rather than you left him and that means something to his twisted ego... Or he did it so that he knows you'll be tied up in knots wondering what you did so that he can get you to come back to him and you'll be really worried about doing something wrong so treat him even better and be even more in fear of him and do more of his bidding next time he comes back - because he sure as heck is planning a next time... He's playing a game with you and it's all about the control he exerts over you.

Take a deep breath. Know that you haven't done anything wrong. Know that he was very definitely in the wrong. Know that your lovely ds knows that you haven't done anything wrong. And know that if he can pull a stunt like this in December about putting up a christmas tree then he is not worth staying with. And that's before you add up all the other horror that you have had from him.

Somewhere some time, you have mentally assigned him the 'boss' of the relationship position (which unfortunately he has been abusing). But relationships are not supposed to have a boss - they're a partnership of two equals.

If/when (here's hoping he never troubles you again, but best to be prepared) he ever blows up at you again, decide that you are going to treat him like a petulant toddler - a brisk 'don't be so ridiculous, I haven't done anything wrong, you're the one with a problem. Calm down and then you can apologise and we can talk like adults.'

Also - have you ever worked out how much he costed you a week? All the extra meals that you cooked, extra cleaning products for doing cleans that weren't needed, the extra washing powder for washing his clothes - plus the extra wear and tear on the washing machine, the money he's 'borrowed' from you and then said he's not going to pay it back, the extra hot drinks, his lunches so he doesn't even have to pay for his own lunch, extra heating or lighting or tv etc time because he's in a room that you're not, extra internet of yours that you've used, extra physio sessions you've needed because your back is worse after sitting on the floor instead of the sofa (or money you've missed out on because you've been left in pain), extra mileage on your car, extra shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc as I bet he's using all those at your house - in fact I bet there will be more when you tally it up...

And sadly, I reckon when you do tally it up, it will end up being thousands of pounds that you have ended up being worse off because you've been subsidising him. Think of all the things that you could have done with that money - and maybe start putting an equivalent amount into a savings account or jar for the next few months - couple of pounds for that packed lunch, four pounds for supper and the nice bit of steak you felt you had to get for him so he didn't blow up at you, couple of pounds for a wash of his stuff in your machine, and then use it to treat yourself to something really nice just for you (or you and your dc) - I bet you'll be surprised at how much is in the jar even after the first week Sad

ChilliAndBint · 06/12/2015 22:40

Get shot of this lump of this useless lump. Let SS decide who is the better parent. They are no fools.

FeckTheMagicDragon · 06/12/2015 23:18

Also - you mention previously that if someone was doing this to your daughter you would be on the porch with a loaded gun (metaphorically speaking) and I know you go to lengths to protect your children from the worst of it (but believe me they will know. even if they don't know the details. They probably aim to please him so they aren't on the receiving end, or to prevent you from getting it in the neck. They love you, and you love them - but they know.

It will be having a bad impact on them as well. He also knows they are a weak point for you - hence the staged pictures and threats to report you. If you think about it - kids love putting up the tree - it was a way of upsetting them without directly attacking them. Did he blame you for his outburst in front of them? Making it your fault? Did he say to your neighbour that you 'made him' angry?

If you are wondering why he does this read Lundy 'Why does he do that', Its an eye opener.

Jux · 06/12/2015 23:44

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/698029-Right-listen-up-everybody

Read the opening post. Read it every day. There's a reason why it's stickied at the top of this board.

Don't have him back. Tell the children that when someone talks to you like he does you can't be friends anymore, they are a bad person and you have to keep away from them.

perfecthouse · 07/12/2015 09:58

Thanks all, I feel absolutely terrible today. I've had a headache that wont shift for four days now. I had a message from him last night saying he was going to end it all. My daughter hasn't gone to school, (her grandad takes her as I cant drive) my mum phoned and said she was crying so much he brought her back to theirs. Wonderful, I've already had a letter about her poor attendance which I feel is really unfair as it's only over two months and the whole family had a nasty throat virus type thing. My dd rarely gets ill but when she does, its always this time of year. My mum has given me a bollocking, she doesn't seem to believe me "why do you keep lending him money?" because he MAKES me check my account in front of him, if I don't he'll say i'm hiding things and kick off. I suppose normal people cant imagine someone could kick off so much...so i'm a liar. I wish I had proof, I really do. Noone knows what he really is, he's so charming and funny. all a bloody act.

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 07/12/2015 10:09

You don't need proof.

You need to kick him out.

He won't be able to make you lend him money if he doesn't live with you. BTW it is only "lending" if he gives it back.

What will you do now?

Jux · 07/12/2015 11:34

Your family will come to understand as he shows his hand more and more; as long as you hold out and don't let him back, that is.

He will threaten all sorts of things, develop an unusual and hard to diagnose heart condition or similar, be about to drop dead at any time, suicide, anything he can think of to drag you back into his corner.

There will be charm offensive too. He make promises (that he has no intention of keeping), even buy you flowers and other gifts. All to get you back into your box and serving him.

Stay strong. Tell people that it's too complicated to explain, when they ask. Death by a Thousand Cuts. That's what you've been suffering.

Head up, shoulders straight. You can do it. Cake for fortification!

HeadandBrickWall · 07/12/2015 11:53

OP, I left an abusive partner and had the 'about to end it all' texts - after the first one I went back and he was just as bad as ever, after the second time I was determined not to go back but was still so worried I called the police to try and help. They sent a car out to look for him and went to his parents house just in case and less than 15 minutes after I got a text from him that 'he was on the bridge so needed to say goodbye' I got a call from a nice policeman to inform me he was at his parents and then more texts from abusive ex to have a go at me as I'd interrupted their lovely roast by having police at the door!

An abuser will stop at nothing to get what they want and all it shows is how much you need to stay away from them. Stay strong, if you're such a terrible person (you're not) you'll do him a favour being out of his life but once you start associating with people who don't want to abuse you you'll find they can see your true value. If someone treats you badly think 'would I do the same if I was in their shoes?', if not then don't put up with it.

blatantplacemark · 07/12/2015 14:31

Can't you do this for your children? Why would you treat them in this way? Or rather let them see you being treated like this? I don't understand. He doesn't live with you and the children aren't his. I don't want to victims blame but your kids come first don't they? It appears not in this situation. What do you want people to suggest?

perfecthouse · 07/12/2015 15:54

Thankyou blatant for that very helpful message. I just wanted to talk to someone that's all, I don't expect strangers to solve my problems. I don't have ANYONE to talk to in real life, not a soul. No one phones me, no one comes to my house, that's how my life was before I met him and that's how it will be again.

OP posts:
blatantplacemark · 07/12/2015 19:14

I don't want to be unhelpful but I genuinely cannot understand why you continue with this utter madness. It has to be a self esteem thing but it's so so damaging to your kids.

CharlotteCollins · 07/12/2015 21:07

You kicked him out once. You survived. You will survive now. In fact, without him in your life you're more likely to thrive!

Don't worry about the letter from school. It's probably something they have to send out. You could have a word in person, just to reassure yourself, but I doubt it's needed.

Does he have a key this time?

And have you ever spoken to DD about him? I know you were reluctant to back in September.

perfecthouse · 08/12/2015 09:54

I haven't spoken to dd no. Still getting abuse from him today, I honestly don't know what to do. I cant afford to change my number and its pointless anyway, he'll just come down here. Then he'll tell me what a state I look, how i've let myself go, how I just finished things so I could chat men up on facebook.

OP posts:
HeadandBrickWall · 08/12/2015 13:47

You're talking as though you owe him some time/attention, which is completely normal but you really don't. Imagine he was a stranger off the street, you wouldn't give him so much head space - well he's actually worse, the stranger off the street hasn't abused you before so deserves more attention than him.

Try and remember you owe him absolutely nothing, you gave him perfectly normal behaviour and he reacted with abuse - he owes you so you have no obligation to listen to him/talk to him. Ignore him, literally completely if you can, get a non-molestation order if you feel it would help you.

Even if you DID look a state, even if you DID finish with him to chat other men up so what - it's your business now, not his. If all these things were true what would he have to gain by coming round to tell you? Why wouldn't he just walk away from you? He's telling you this to wear you down precisely because it's NOT true and he knows it. If I told you "oh your kids are shit, let me take them off your hands" you wouldn't believe it for a second, it's no different just because someone's saying it about you.

CharlotteCollins · 08/12/2015 15:18

Here's an idea which is cheaper than changing your number and just as effective: delete his messages without reading them. Hang up when he calls. Shut the door if he comes round and if he starts banging on the door or just won't go away, call the police.

You owe him NOTHING.

pocketsaviour · 08/12/2015 15:27

What type of phone do you have? If it's an Android or an iPhone it takes 2 seconds to block his number. If it's an old-school jobby then no, you can't block him, but you can ignore him. If he turns up at your place you could tell him to go away or you'll call the police. And then follow through. Do you think you could do that? I can promise you they wouldn't say "NO, PERFECT, you owe this fuckwit your precious time and energy so open the door and start taking his abuse." They would send an officer down, not with lights and siren blaring or anything, but they'll tell him to go home, and if he gets lairy with them then he'll probably get a caution.

None of those things would be your fault. He chooses what he wants to do, and you can only choose how you react to that. You cannot change this man, you cannot fix him, you cannot just somehow behave differently and have everything be okay, because he gets his kicks from abusing you. He does not love you. He is not capable of love. Flowers

NameChange30 · 08/12/2015 15:50

OP, here's what you need to do:

  1. Send him a brief factual message to tell him it's over and not to contact you or come over again. Then BLOCK HIS NUMBER and DO NOT LET HIM IN THE HOUSE.
  1. Sign up to a Freedom Programme course. If there isn't one near you, you can do it online. PLEASE DO THIS.
  1. Work on your self-esteem. The Freedom Programme will help with this. You could also get some general counselling - some GP surgeries have a counsellor who sees patients for a limited time, so see if yours does - if not ask your GP about free or low cost counselling. If you can't get counselling or don't want to, maybe focus on spending time with supportive family and friends, and making new friends. That will help.

You sound very lonely but I'm sure there are people who care about you, but you might have fallen out of touch or forgotten about them because of your partner's systematic abuse. You MUST get rid of him and rebuild your other relationships.

Did you ever call Women's Aid?

Jux · 08/12/2015 22:42

AnotherEmma has the right of it.

Talk to WA, enrol on the Freedom Programme. Talk to the police dv unit, and let them know that you are ending things with him and he may kick off. They'll flag your address and phone number, so a call from you will be responded to fast.

Take steps to protect yourself and your children.

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