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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

Things will never improve, will they?

105 replies

FlintlockMusketoon · 30/12/2015 18:31

I've never posted before but have lurked for some time now. Apologies in advance for the length of this.

I'm caught in an increasingly abusive relationship. My DP is significantly older than me, divorced with children. We have been together four years and things have been volatile for some time. Mainly I seem to put up with his gambling tantrums and silent treatment. I am a 32 yr old with a degree and a career, I've travelled and lived in several different places prior to meeting him so have life experience and my own opinions but he treats me like a child and gets angry when I do things my way and not his 'correct' way.

After a fairly major incident on the 21st, things calmed down and Christmas was really quite nice. He can be very very thoughtful and loving. All has been pleasant until this morning.

I commute to work by bus and he will usually walk with me to the bus stop, taking the dog, then go for a long walk with the pooch after I catch my bus. Today, the bus was early and i just missed it. I have hurt my knee (old injury) and didn't want to run for the bus so fully intended to just wait for the next one (15 mins or so). No big drama, no big deal.

DP decided to chase the bus down, waving his arms and yelling for it to stop. The driver did the usual thing of ignoring him and driving on but DP was adamant that if I had been less slow, I would have caught the bus. He then told me he would take me part way in the car but I was honestly not fussed and said I was happy to wait for the next bus. He started screaming at me in the street, telling me to just do as I was told then stormed off, muttering under his breath and calling me a child. I followed him back to the house where he proceeded to shout at me, calling me stupid and childish and insisting that he had stopped the bus for me, i made a fool of him and I was a c* for not running after him. He got in the car and I put the (still collared and coated) dog in the back seat. He exploded, screaming at me for bringing the dog.

I calmly put the house keys on the passenger seat and walked off without saying a word. This was at 7am in the morning, pitch black, raining and the neighbours could hear everything. I just don't have the fight left in me anymore, I feel totally beaten down and wanted to walk away.

Standing back at the bus stop, his car pulls up, horn honking. He didn't even roll down the window but instead sat in the car and screamed at the top of his voice 'Get in the fucking car or else'. He repeated this over and over. I was too frightened and overwhelmed to know what to do and I just stood there like an idiot with the other people at the bus stop looking on appalled. He then tries 'Get in the fucking car or else don't come fucking home again - are you getting in?' When I shook my head, he roared off in the car. Lady at bus stop said she was on the verge of calling the police as she was so shaken by the anger in him. As it happens, someone did call the police and they got hold of me, came to my work to take a statement and will likely be arresting him this evening.

I don't know what I want people to say. I guess I have just realised this will go on and on and never get any better but now I feel utterly awful that the police are involved. He will see it as a betrayal of the worst sort and I'm also scared for him. This will never improve will it?

OP posts:
DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 30/12/2015 21:39

2016 can be a year of enjoying your freedom, as long as you stay away. Please don't go back to him. If you're ever tempted, read this thread and remind yourself how bad it really was, and you're right - it will never get better with him.

Is your dad supportive? It's been a pretty big day for you so take care of yourself, treat yourself kindly, maybe run a bubble bath and watch a favourite movie if you don't have a friend who could pop over to give you a hug.

FlintlockMusketoon · 30/12/2015 22:00

Thank you all for your support and for telling me straight - its been a massive help this evening.I don't have much support in RL,seem to have lost a lot of friends over this relationship and I'm feeling that now. My dad will always support me but I haven't told him yet about today. I really don't want to upset him.

OP posts:
IonaNE · 30/12/2015 22:29

OP, as Imperial said: what on earth are you doing with a violent pensioner at the age of 32, with good education and your own house?!
Walkin you to the bus stop with the dog when you go to work? Thing like my grandad would have done...

acatcalledjohn · 30/12/2015 22:42

I think his behaviour in public and prompting strangers to call the police says how badly you need to run away from him and never look back.

Standing back at the bus stop, his car pulls up, horn honking. He didn't even roll down the window but instead sat in the car and screamed at the top of his voice 'Get in the fucking car or else'. He repeated this over and over.

That "or else" is just spine chilling. You did the right thing by making a statement to the police. Good luck and an unmumsnetty hug coming your way.

crossparsley · 30/12/2015 22:55

You have NOT lost friends over this relationdhip, you have lost touch with them. I promise. Not your most urgent task, but if you text or fb or email your pals and just say sorry I haven't been in touch, would love to catch up I bet someone will respond. Spam/ multi-message them to get a good sweep. I have ignored my own friends due to EA partner and due to depression, and it's hard to send the message, but one person will reply. Give it a week, too.

NorksAreMessy · 30/12/2015 22:59

In answer to your thread title, YES THEY WILL.
Things will improve now because you have left him. Your life will be better, calmer, happier, more peaceful. Those things will improve.

AyeAmarok · 30/12/2015 23:08

After a fairly major incident on the 21st, things calmed down and Christmas was really quite nice..

What was the major incident Flint?

Also, tell your dad, you need support IRL, and if you were him, wouldn't you want your DD to tell you?

FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 16:11

Sorry all, things have been quite unpleasant today.

Police have been gathering evidence and think they will take him in for questioning him tonight. I spoke with him today and he blames me, says if I had just got into the car he wouldn't have needed to keep screaming. Apparently I caused the scene in the street, I'm an arsehole and an imbecile and I've made a mountain out of a molehill deliberately because I enjoy drama. I have killed our relationship and ruined Hogmanay. The whole thing could have been avoided by me apparently. This is just so tiring.

Cross - I took your advice and contacted my ex-best friend though FB. Turns out she is in fact still my BF who was hoping I would come back one day. Feel so much better now I have contacted her again so thank you!

Amarok - the incident before involved him losing the head, telling me to get out before he killed me then locking me out the house in the rain. Really, that should have been the point that I got out, I know.

OP posts:
Elendon · 31/12/2015 16:28

If he is older than you, then I presume he's had past relationships. Do you mind me asking how these ended?

He seems a nightmare.

Suddenlyseymour · 31/12/2015 16:45

Christ almighty, PLEASE stay away from this man - if ever you needed validation, it was in that complete stranger calling the police - that there is the reality of how bad he is. And to top it off, him saying it was actually your fault?? Please block him, it sounds like you are wavering and at risk of believing him, he's done that big a number on you. I really hope i am wrong

kickassangel · 31/12/2015 16:49

Please tell the police about the earlier incident. He threatened to kill you!

Then block him as far as possible.

Do you have anything you actually need back from his house? The police can go with you to collect things, or you could just write off whatever is there.

Generally, if a man says he might kill you, then he will try to at some point, and it will be your fault because he warned you (in his mind). You will never be safe around him.

AyeAmarok · 31/12/2015 16:52

the incident before involved him losing the head, telling me to get out before he killed me then locking me out the house in the rain.

Sad

Did you tell the police about this too?

FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 16:57

I believe his previous relationships ended amicably albeit he called time in each case. However, I don't personally know any of his ex's so I have only ever heard his side. I suspect their views maybe different.

I am wavering, you are right. I am feeling guilty about him possibly ending up in custody over the weekend and have started wondering if I have completely overreacted. He certainly seems to think so.

OP posts:
Thankgodforthat · 31/12/2015 17:02

Don't waiver! He threatened to kill you then in a separate incident, strangers called the police because of his aggression.

What is he going to do next time?

FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 17:03

I did tell the police about the earlier incident. However, I genuinely didn't believe he was going to kill me or even hurt me. I did assume it was just words and he has said since that he didn't mean any of it. Still, I've never been in a relationship before where that would have been said to me Sad

OP posts:
acatcalledjohn · 31/12/2015 17:09

Oh Flint, please don't feel guilty. He brought it on himself. Let him spend the night in jail.

Look after yourself. It's good your friend is still there for you...that's a friendship you should treasure.

Tonight you should celebrate the start of your new life, free of abuse, anger and angst. You're only 32, your entire life is ahead of you Smile

Thankgodforthat · 31/12/2015 17:11

Well have you ever threatened to kill someone, even in the heat of the moment? No, I haven't either.

Do not normalise this behaviour.

AyeAmarok · 31/12/2015 17:14

Oh Flint Sad, I just can't even think where you're self-esteem must be for you to think that any of this is acceptable or that you have ANY reason to feel guilty.

You didn't cause this. He did. Him. His fault. ONLY his fault.

Please please trust us that you need to leave the police to do what they can, don't apologise or discuss it with him, and start to build your life away from him. You're such a good catch! Good job, own place, brave enough to travel; you're selling yourself so short.

MoominPie22 · 31/12/2015 17:15

Seriously flint do NOT feel bad for him. A man of his age is more than capable of taking responsibility for his actions, there's something deeply desturbing about his behaviour. He is unbalanced, can't control his anger and is unpredictable. He is majorly abusive so ffs don't be giving him any pity!

He absolutely will not change cos in his eyes he's done nowt wrong and he's transferring the blame onto you!! Fucking arrogant moron! You need to get an injunction so he can't come anywherenear you, also I would tell your family too. Don't keep them in the dark when they can support you.

BTW does your dad generally get on with him? Please don't let this vile toad off the hook. You need to get angry at his treatment of you ( not the 1st time then!) and gather up your self-respect. Let those close to you in so they can bolster you. You'll cope much easier if you have those nearset and dearest to help support you.

hereiamagain22 · 31/12/2015 17:16

And you should never be in a relationship where he says things like that to you.

He's sounds like maniac. Do not waver.

AyeAmarok · 31/12/2015 17:17

The only direction his abuse will go now is to escalate up. Maybe not next time, as he may be temporarily on good behaviour after the police speak to him, but soon he'll do something worse when you "disobey" him.

You get the relationship you settle for.

What would someone who loved themselves do?

Elendon · 31/12/2015 17:25

Flint, I think your self esteem is good and that you understand exactly what lines have been crossed.

You are young. 32 is no age nowadays, just go for it. And find happiness in yourself in 2016. and go for a younger man

Flowers
Creampastry · 31/12/2015 17:32

New year, new start. Leave this awful man who is so damaging to you. Tell your dad. Becthankful thevpolicexare invilved. This is NOT your fault.

Jibberjabberjooo · 31/12/2015 17:34

Of course he thinks you've over reacted, he wants you to think this is all your fault and take no responsibility for any of it. Do not waver, what he did was despicable. It was bad enough for someone you didn't even know to call the police. His abuse will only get worse if you take him back, he is not going to change. You deserve so much better!

Robotgirl · 31/12/2015 17:41

I just stood there like an idiot with the other people at the bus stop looking on appalled. He then tries 'Get in the fucking car or else don't come fucking home again - are you getting in?'

This ^ is pretty fucking far from ok. And that's without all the other stuff.
Don't believe him when he says you overreacted. He won't change. Thanks