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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'm not sure if I'm being manipulated, abused, or if I'm crazy. Lately I don't enjoy being around him

135 replies

Dorsetmama · 07/12/2015 09:20

I'll try to keep to the relevant information here.... Some back story is needed.

Years ago, 15 to be exact, I suffered a trauma. My mental health was affected and nothing was ever resolved relating to the trauma. I self harmed for years since then. I was also physically and emotionally abused by my mother and stepfather. More so from my stepfather.
I met the father of my children when i was 20, shortly fell pregnant so I finally had a good reason to move out. I was with my ex for 6 years and we had 4 children - sadly he was abusive in other ways. No respect for me, wasted all of our money to the point of eviction and then almost a second eviction before i finally got rid of him, after he cheated on me with a school mum.

A year later, i met my DP. convinced i had finally found the one. He wasn't phased by my 4 unruly kids, all 6 and under, and he seemed to adore me.

He accepted my self harm and mental health problems. Coaxed me to open up to him, tell him all. I did. Then he said the problems were too big and i needed professional help. I sought it, only to get let down by the system... Long story short my paperwork was lost. I waited a year from then for treatment to start. In the meantime things got quite bad. He was continuously wanting to know my every thought, the reason behind every mood. He knew I suffered badly with PMT but could never let me be. He would go into these long sulks where he would disappear into the bedroom for days just leaving me to suddenly cope on my own. He became really strict and controlling over my kids. Which i tried to believe they needed a firm hand... But when it got to him making them pick up lentils from the floor as a punishment i knew it had gone too far.

He smoked too much weed.

We booked a holiday to Italy his home country, for the following summer. And then i fell pregnant. I was quite happy. In the good moments, we had talked about a baby and he said i was the only woman he'd ever wanted to have a baby with in his life, so not even his ex wife! But he was devastated by the news. He said we werent ready. He assumed i would think the same. Then when i expressed i didn't, after alot of arguing he told me if i had the baby he probably wouldn't leave, but he would pretend it didnt exist. He wouldn't help me through the pregnancy. I saw no option. I couldn't be a mother of 4 boys, on my own, with a pregnancy to cope with... And then a baby. It wasn't how i wanted it. So i agreed to abort. But i had to wait until after the holiday. So i had to spend 3 more weeks pregnant getting all the symptoms. It was hell. He came with me to the abortion which i thought was quite supportive. But he complained that the women working there were looking at him badly.

6 months later we moved to a new town. It was hard on everyone. I have one child who is autistic and it was most hard on him.

Things hit rock bottom. We argued every single day. Things got violent though not at each other. Apart from one day. I accidentally hit him when flailing my arms during another heated argument when he was in my face, and he called the police. Then i ended up almost arrested. I think they could tell he lied to them... As he told them i punched him. Walked over to him and punched him.

It all seems to stupid now. He left for a bit after that. Social services got involved but they were satisfied i was okay and the kids were fine.
He was gone 3 months. He stopped the smoking just before he left as i stopped letting him have money for it.

He didn't work you see. As soon as he moved in with me (6 months after we had met) he stopped working.
But he got a job when he moved out. He went 300 miles away. We talked alot and agreed some things needed to change. He came back after 3 months. Promises of no more smoking and getting a job. So far, 6 months later, he smokes again and theres no job. We just live on benefits.

I still want the baby. Some days. I sometimes think it will make me happy enough to not care about the stuff he does.

He is not as strict with the kids now, but some stuff still happens that i dont like. But he says i need to treat him as if the kids are his own, otherwise its not fair. He says i can't just pick and choose when i want his help or advice. He says he doesn't have to check on me so why should I check on him?

He says he wants a baby lots now, we talk about names and everything, but we have to wait. I feel like he uses it as a bargaining tool. Every time i have a bad moment, we have to wait longer for it.

I finally got treatment for my problems, a great psychologist really helped me since we moved, and i feel much better.
But my DP met my psychologist and doesn't like him. Doesn't like the suggestions he made about our relationship problems, and even accused him of fancying me.

I must admit lately, i have been less patient with his moods. Less patient with his lack of activity, and lack of motivation. I get exasperated that he naps every day. I get annoyed that he never does much around here.

I'd like to change my lifestyle, I'd like to drive. I've always wanted to drive. And he never has. Until i express the desire to and now he wants to learn simultaneously... Making it almost impossible to pay for both of us and save for a car.... Maybe it seems trivial?

I hope i didnt jump around too much... Does this all make sense?

OP posts:
louisatwo · 22/01/2016 23:43

I suspect there's no good time for this.
Well done for telling him - the next days will be difficult but stay firm. Good idea to take some important things to your Mums.
Good luck with everything.Flowers

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 24/01/2016 13:40

If you try to avoid "causing" a tantrum you'll make daft decisions that will hurt you later. Like paying for his phone.

You cannot avoid the yelling and storming about. It will happen. It is inevitable. He uses it to put you back in your box. When you start pushing him away he will know you are out of your box and will try more and more forcefully to get you back in your box.

It will only end when he is out of your home.

Want less fall out? Get him out faster.

TrafficJunkie · 25/01/2016 13:31

Thanks for the advice :)

TrafficJunkie · 28/01/2016 10:51

I can't get him to leave!! Things keep happening and it seems impossible.

First, after I told him, I let things blow over for the weekend plus Monday as it was my boys birthday. During which he was all nice and lovely. Monday he "bared his soul to me" and told me he thinks I'm so amazing, not someone to let go, and that he would do anything in his power to stay with me. I didn't say anything much as it was my boys bday and I didn't want there to be atmosphere when he got back from school. So I said I'd think.

Monday night I ended up in a and e because of my gallbladder. So he took over with the kids. I was better Tuesday and I tried to tell him last night that I still want to end things.

Cue the second nasty rant about how evil I am, followed by how wonderful I am, plus how much he wants to change and how willing he is now to give me marriage and babies.
He knows that's all I ever wanted.

Then he told me to think but joked that if I ended it he would stalk me.
Then he said don't take too long to think.

Now I don't know how to do this. Twice now I've tried and he isn't listening.

OnceAMeerNotAlwaysAMeer · 28/01/2016 11:03

You ignore what he -says-.

Stop engaging.

Right now he's vacillating between nice/nasty but remember what he's behaved like up til now. Once the shock of this is over, if you do stay together he's 99% likely to go back to the status quo.

Stop thinking about the emotional stuff until late at night and concentrate on the practicalities.

Back up your documents. See a solicitor but don't tell him yet. Consider living options. There's a lot of advice out there on the practical steps you need to take. It's a bit more complicated if you're in another land, but hopefully someone can advise you.

Just be calm with him, neutral, and in your head think of him as a stranger.

Flowers
SmillasSenseOfSnow · 28/01/2016 11:31

Cue the second nasty rant about how evil I am, followed by how wonderful I am, plus how much he wants to change and how willing he is now to give me marriage and babies.
He knows that's all I ever wanted.

Then he told me to think but joked that if I ended it he would stalk me.
Then he said don't take too long to think.

Traffic, this is terrifying. If you can remove him from the tenancy then do so and if he still refuses to leave, lock him the fuck out. Time to detach and remove him like the parasite he is. The fact that you can't cope with the idea of him being angry and manipulative because of you removing your own property from him (the phone) is shocking. Just get him OUT. You can't believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

summerwinterton · 28/01/2016 12:01

Exactly - stop being reeled in by his shite. Just say no. You do need to remove yourself from this emotionally - but as you are not doing this he is playing you like a fiddle.

I would be speaking to 101 if I were you. Have you got the phone back yet?

pocketsaviour · 28/01/2016 12:31

OP, could you call Womens Aid for support and help with getting him out? I'm assuming you're in the UK as you mentioned A&E.

I don't think the stalking comment was a joke. Statistically in an abusive relationship you are in the most danger when you a) become pregnant b) tell him you're leaving. Please seek help from WA and/or police.

TrafficJunkie · 28/01/2016 17:59

Is it really that bad? I find myself looking at the stuff I have written down wondering what is going on.... Am I in a dangerous situation??

TrafficJunkie · 29/01/2016 20:09

I've made a more solid plan.
Seeing as i cant get him out alone, ive given myself more time. Theoretically speaking, if it all goes to plan, i have given him 2 months to "prove himself" which is time for me to sort out absolutely everything. I can start packing up his benign objects, things he wont notice. I can put more money aside. I can buy a pay as you go phone, preload it with a tenner, ready for him so i can take mine back, guilt free. I can buy him a one way ticket to wherever so he has no excuse not to go. I can make sure i have the relevant paperwork ready to sign.
And lastly, the main point, i will pick a date i want him to go, and have family support as physical backup.
Then he cant manipulate. Then he cant not give me my phone. He cant argue.
2 months seems like a long time, but the more time i have to prepare the better. This is obviously not going to be easy.

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