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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:
nagsandovalballs · 22/09/2015 12:50

Good grief, my partner has burned the bottom of our good pan so it is now unusable, I have scratched the paintwork on our car - loads of little umbuggerances caused by accident, thoughtlessness, carelessness. We tut, we sigh, we say oh bugger - but no way do either of us feel scared, ashamed or panicked. Your home life is awful and you shouldn't feel like that in your own home. Is there any possibility of reasonable discussion about this with your partner?

leavemealone2015 · 22/09/2015 13:44

As I became more timid, he's got worse..blaming me for accidents and things going wrong. Maybe if I go back to being more dynamic the dynamic between us will change.i have a feeling guilty nature and don't like to make a mistake so I feel bad when he blames me for things whatever they are. he is not an evil person otherwise but if he can get away with blaming me when we are late or there is no milk or whatever, then he will and now it's just a habit on a daily basis.

OP posts:
amarmai · 22/09/2015 14:50

great bullying habit that you are so habituated to that you are blaming yourself not the bully. Get help asap - not so that you can stay with your bully and your son can model himself on him- BUT so that you and your son can escape and live a healthier life. Your h found bullying works for him a long time ago - he's not going to change. He'll find another victim to train - AND be mad at the years of training he put into you have gone down the tube. How dare his victim escape when he had her trained to bully herself.

leavemealone2015 · 23/09/2015 10:17

Thank you to Emma and other kind people who helped me when I was feeling so hopeless on Saturday . I was at a loss to know what to do ..I just wanted to escape and felt alienated from my own family and so alone.

OP posts:
RedMapleLeaf · 23/09/2015 10:33

How are things today? Flowers

leavemealone2015 · 23/09/2015 10:49

I am not at home until Friday. In myself I feel more positive as I usually do at work.

OP posts:
nagsandovalballs · 23/09/2015 11:20

That says it all , really - you feel more at home/yourself when not at home. You don't have to put up with this. You have no obligation or duty to be with this man. You may think because he hasn't cheated or hit you, that you shouldn't complain, but this is a slow death by a thousand cuts. You don't have to live this any more.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 23/09/2015 19:01

Maybe if I go back to being more dynamic the dynamic between us will change

I think that going back to standing up for yourself is and excellent idea. However, be prepared for him getting much worse when you do this. Do it for your own sanity, not as a mechanism to manage him into being a nicer person.

leavemealone2015 · 25/09/2015 16:49

Am on my way home shortly with ds for the weekend . Not sure what to expect or what to do. Time has stood still since Sunday as I have only worked overnights eaten and slept.

OP posts:
RedMapleLeaf · 25/09/2015 17:08

Just take things at your own pace leave. Are any of your thoughts different to what they were this time last week?

leavemealone2015 · 25/09/2015 18:43

I'm not sure. It's as if I just wait to see how he behaves and react to that. I realise that is not working and just allows him to set the tone.

OP posts:
RedMapleLeaf · 25/09/2015 19:09

Well, that's an important step isn't it? Realising that it's time for you to try a new way of being.

leavemealone2015 · 25/09/2015 19:19

I am a bit worried about the weekend. My dd is also coming home and she can also be a bit of a bully towards me.

OP posts:
ptumbi · 25/09/2015 19:35

OP - how was your childhood? This 'meekness' and timidity usually comes from somewhere. Was you father shouty? your mother blamey?

You say you got more timid as he got worse -I would suggest it is the other way around. He found out that you are confrontation-averse, and he has used that. He found out he could push, and so he pushed even more... It's a cycle.

And your ds is now in danger of being taught how, as well.

It is very hard to break out of.

leavemealone2015 · 25/09/2015 19:44

No the opposite. My dad was quiet intelligent kind intellectual sensitive to others and thoughtful. Voices were not raised and no nasty comments made. We had a busy family I have older brothers and lots of friends always around .

OP posts:
leavemealone2015 · 25/09/2015 19:46

My dad did not like angry confrontation violence or argument and neither do I. I think it's the opposite..the men in my family were all kind and intelligent and Dh turning out like this has been something totally unexpected.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 25/09/2015 22:39

Hi OP, sorry I haven't posted in a while, I lost this thread because I couldn't access "threads I'm on".

Just wanted to reply to this:
"Thank you to Emma and other kind people who helped me when I was feeling so hopeless on Saturday . I was at a loss to know what to do ..I just wanted to escape and felt alienated from my own family and so alone."
I'm really touched that you thanked me and others and really glad that we helped you a bit. We'll be here for you this weekend too. Don't be afraid to go out on your own if it all gets too much.
Flowers

Phoenix0x0 · 26/09/2015 07:33

leave your childhood sounds healthy and wonderful.

Your current family life does not. It is toxic and dysfunctional.

If you cannot leave for yourself then please do so for your children.

What exactly is this teaching them hey? That is ok to bully, intimidate and grind down someone who is sensitive etc.

You could have CBT etc, be mindful that this may open your eyes even more and make you realise that this situation is not tenable anymore...it cannot be fixed...because your DH will not change.

leavemealone2015 · 26/09/2015 15:09

Ds had this idea of going off for a walk on his own so I popped out in the sunshine had a bite to eat at a local beauty spot and soaked up the sunshine.
After a week of no air, no sun on nights it was absolute heaven.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 26/09/2015 18:57

Sounds lovely! Glad you had a happy moment in the sunshine - you more than deserved it. Smile

Weareallmadeofstars · 26/09/2015 21:41

Living in fear of your husband is not healthy. It's also an unhealthy environment to raise children. If they see him behaving like that towards you then they will think it's OK to treat you and others the same way.

You asked him to keep the games hidden for a good reason. He didn't and you felt too intimidated to mention it. They're is something wrong there.

He sound very much like a member of our family who rules the roost (in their home) and constantly makes everyone feel like they are walking on eggshells. THESE PEOPLE ARE BULLIES AND THEY DON'T CHANGE.

You need to stand up for yourself, easier said than done I know, maybe some counseling would help you find the confidence to do that. If things aren't improving then I would be considering leaving.

Stay strong and surround yourself with people who care about you x

leavemealone2015 · 29/09/2015 23:21

I think it's over. I would be better to leave as things are irretrievable now.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 29/09/2015 23:31

Have the last few days been bad?

NameChange30 · 29/09/2015 23:32

Hi OP. Have there been any more incidents since you last posted? Or have you just been thinking things over and decided that enough is enough?

leavemealone2015 · 30/09/2015 20:01

Yes dh was back on form late last night over a decision about Ds. He went completely Ott to get his own way telling me I was wrong and doing the wrong thing on purpose ..that's what really hurt, as if he thought I would ever have anything but Ds best interests at heart. And just using a sledgehammer to crack a nut as usual.

OP posts:
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