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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

Scared

156 replies

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 00:24

Tonight dh and I had a row. I had moved some 18 rated video games which belong to dh out of the way of ds so he could not play them ..just before school started this term. I have previously moved them a couple of times and had initially today forgotten what I had last done with them as I have been away all week and it just wasn't in my head.
Dh asked me where they were and I said where I had last seen them ..true but didn't say I had moved them again as he would probably be quite angry that I had moved them at all. I was going to bring them in and just ' find them' nearby and ask him to keep them out of the way. I explained a couple of times they had been squashed behind the cabinet and underneath the cabinet and I wasn't sure if he had done that or maybe ds had seen or hidden them.
When ds came down, DJ started going on about how ' she has moved the games ' and she said it was you, ds' I said no, I just didn't know why they were in all different places and could they stay upstairs. Ds , initially joking, then started getting quite worked up and kept saying to me' swear you haven't moved them etc etc' with DH there going on as well, and I felt very intimidated by DH and if I now confessed to knowing where they were he would go ballistic and be angry toward me in front of ds so I just said I last saw them in the corner and wouldn't say more. DH meanwhile was getting more angry and just kept saying she's lying and ds was saying you are lying . Ds went off upset because I had ' lied ' and knew where they were or maybe was upset because DH was angry and this appeared to be my fault. Dh had gone out for five minutes and ds declared he wasn't speaking to me as I had lied and seemed upset which is very unusual , and I had to explain that they were unsuitable games for him and I hadn't really wanted a big discussion about it but had moved them for his benefit but would obviously return them to Dh. Dh came back in, still fuming and I asked him to just tone it down as ds was upset and for him not to have arguments in front of ds for no reason as it was unfair, and not to be so aggressive in his arguing towards me. I actually said to him, don't say another word about it or I will call the police. No idea why I even said that it just came out. I have never called 999 or even threatened to call the police in my life.
Ds wouldn't speak to me, he and Dh started watching TV quite normally and amicably and I then went into another room. I started wTching X factor but just started to feel overwhelmed and wanted to get outside so pretended I was popping to the shop. I got in my car and just seemed to be overwhelmed with sort of agitation and anxiety and started to cry out loud..not like normal tears but sort of panic loud tears . I was saying'I don't know' repeatedly and 'Oh dear' and drove off for a few minutes to calm down then realised I had nowhere to go and had to come back.
It was all really odd and the only time I have felt similar is when I was told my dad had died suddenly and I was so shocked. The feeling I had was I was just so scared of Dh..he didn't do anything but he has this unpredictable air and gets so angry especially when someone does something ' on purpose' And mainly towards me I just felt terrified. I know I hate conflict and don't tolerate it well and he didn't hit me or anything so I don't know how much was fear and how much was just overwhelming confusion that I hadn't done anything wrong and upset at feeling scared in my own home.Later Dh said I had 'behaved really badly ' by taking his possessions.
I can't fully process it all yet but if you can just give some thoughts I will be grateful. I reassured ds that the games were sorted and I moved them to prevent him playing with them one day when I was at work and have returned the games to Dh with instruction not to leave them lying around again. As usual, Dh has spent the rest of the evening joking with ds and I have been gutted. Please help me to make sense of all this.
As another small example, I accidentally made a hole in a laundry bag last week ironing on a name tag ..Dh had got it from e bay brand new for ds. I completely panicked, have not told Dh, bought another one and am still dreading when he finds out I have ruined it. What to do?

OP posts:
leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:20

I felt scared in my own home tonight. I don't think I am unsafe now, but any other conflicts say tomorrow could go the same way as tonight.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:21
Sad
GrandHighWitch · 20/09/2015 01:21

On the face value of what you have said OP, this doesn't sound like a very emotionally healthy situation. Your anxiety and fear is not normal in a healthy relationship. Do you think these feelings are entirely stemming from your relationship and the way you and your DH interact, or could there be outside stresses that are impacting? I'm not questioning your fears, just trying to get a picture of what exactly is triggering your anxiety.
MN is a really good place to explore how you are feeling and what is happening without venturing into the real world with it. I have been on here for years (under other names) and having a network to garner advice and support from can be very reassuring when you can't see the wood for the trees

goddessofsmallthings · 20/09/2015 01:21

Cut the section off, create a new hem for the drawstring, and chances are he'll never notice - anything for a quiet life, eh?

Are you saying that your h would accuse you of deliberately melting part of the bag in retaliation for tonight's debacle?

If I thought that such an inconquential matter would be an issue in my home, I'd be tempted to stick the damn bag in the wash as is, tell him to iron it, and wait to see if he has better luck with the substandard material.

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:24

Well I am a gentle soul and don't like conflict in general. So it's difficult for me to say. But when he gets angry , it's impossible to reason with him or placate him and he just gets louder and angrier.

OP posts:
goddessofsmallthings · 20/09/2015 01:26

It seems your h has anger management issues. Is this how he behaves at work, down the pub, with strangers/store and waiting staff etc?

If not, he's taking his bad temper out on you and needs to seek help to deal with his unwarranted and unnecessary agression.

For many other women this would be a dealbreaker. Is it for you, or are you prepared to continue putting up with being made to feel afraid in your own home by the man who promised to love and cherish you?

How many dc do you have and how many of them exhibit signs of being chips of the old blocks?

GrandHighWitch · 20/09/2015 01:28

Can you just walk away and let him cool off when he gets angry? Being scared is not good. Have you explained how his anger makes you feel?

SiobhanSharpe · 20/09/2015 01:28

Please re-read your last sentence, OP. That sounds quite frightening to me, too.
It sounds as if he has real problems with anger and controlling it, and he is taking them out on you. You do not deserve to be treated like this.

NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:28

"Anger management issues"? HE IS ABUSIVE!

cozietoesie · 20/09/2015 01:31

You sound at the end of your tether. Can I ask - what is your life at home usually like? And why have you been away for two weeks on the trot ?

Didactylos · 20/09/2015 01:34

leave, you poor soul, nothing you are going through here is normal

It isn't normal to be so scared of your husband that you cant say 'oh I moved those games for x reason'
It isn't normal for your husband to cause a row, drag your son into it, try and triangulate between you with 'and she blamed you for it' and recruit him into being angry with and punishing you with his temper
It isn't normal to have to invoke the police because of someone's temper over a trivial issue
it isn't normal for your husband to pull you up like a child because you 'are behaving badly'
it isn't normal to have to conceal an accident with a laundry bag because you are scared of his reaction
it isn't normal to be panicking around him or in fear of him

You are being abused and controlled, and so is your son (you don't mention his age other than he must be under 18) And any other children you may have are in the same boat
this isn't healthy for either you or your son
your body is panicked, adrenalized and distressed - as a previous poster said, listen to it, its a physical reaction to the unbearable stress you are in

there are lots of people here who have reached the same point where they suddenly see with clarity how unreasonable the life they are living is
You threatened to call the police: make good that threat if you ever feel the same way. Please talk to someone in real life, call womens aid and make some plans to protect yourself and get out of this situation

good luck and keep posting

goddessofsmallthings · 20/09/2015 01:36

Being around someone who is peaceful by nature can sometimes encourage those who are less placid to vent their anger on them knowing that there's little chance of retaliation.

Tonight you retaliated and he shut up pdq. What does does that tell you? It tells me that should you find it necessary to call 999 he'll get the wake up call he needs to see the error of his ways and he may set about changing them.

Imo you need to have a calm discussion with him about how his anger affects and impacts on you - and keep your mobile handy in case you need to make a call because he's gone off on one again.

You could try appealing to his better nature, but I suspect he's long lost contact with it as far as you're concerned.

Out of curiousity, how much did he pay for the bag? And how much did it cost you to replace it?

goddessofsmallthings · 20/09/2015 01:40

It is indeed abusive behaviour on the part of the OP's h, Emma but it seems to me this gentle soul needs to be gently encouraged to see it for what is because she's still reeling from the sledgehammer effect of her h's anger.

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:40

No I melted the bag last week by accident but haven't told him as I know he will be really angry as he bought it himself for ds. He will see it that I ' stuck my oar in ' and decided to put a name tag on when I probably didn't need to and ruined it for him and ds.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:42

Good point goddess, it's just so frustrating and depressing to read especially when unhelpful people chime in (gamerchick)

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:44

I realise this is very much a side issue but I need to remember to move the bag tomorrow if ds has brought it home in his bag,

OP posts:
CatMilkMan · 20/09/2015 01:45

You hid something of his and then lied about it so he couldn't find them, get a grip and stop hiding his property without talking to him.

NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:45

It's not a side issue. Actually it's quite revealing that you are so worried about the bag. What will happen if he finds it? Are you worried that he'll hurt you?

NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:46

Oh DFOAD CatMilkMan

CatMilkMan · 20/09/2015 01:48

Did I read the OP wrong or did OP hide something (maybe for good reason) and then lie about its location?

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:49

It cost a couple of pounds he said. The one I got was £8.99. I need to check ds bag in the morning in case it is in there and he sees it.

OP posts:
goddessofsmallthings · 20/09/2015 01:50

I know he will be really angry as he bought it himself for ds

So because he spent all of 2 minutes buying a bag for ds on eBay, that makes it extra special?

How many times a day/week do you buy things for the dc and him and are those items also regarded as being sacrosanct?

leavemealone2015 · 20/09/2015 01:51

Sorry thought previous post didn't work as losing internet connection sometimes.

OP posts:
CatMilkMan · 20/09/2015 01:52

Take someone's personal property, hide it, lie about it, the person is abusive.
Well let's forget about all logical thoughts and just blame him.

NameChange30 · 20/09/2015 01:52

CatMilkMan
"Did I read the OP wrong or did OP hide something (maybe for good reason) and then lie about its location?"
Yes you read it wrong, you missed the part where she is terrified of her abusive partner. Re-read it dear.