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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:
AyeAmarok · 31/12/2015 17:45

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.

This, exactly this!

TheSquashyHatofMrGnosspelius · 31/12/2015 18:08

Flint he may have a bit of previous for this sort of thing? I agree with PP's let the cops do their job, he may be known to them? Please don't go down the well trod path of feeling guilty and getting hooked back in as, if you do, next time (and there will be a next time) it will be worse as you are condoning and enabling his appalling behaviour. I left an ex for calling me a cunt. It's a line crossed IMHO. I could ever get passed that so left. I would bet my bra strap he has done this time and time again in the past.
Flowers

OuchLegoHurts · 31/12/2015 18:09

To be brutally honest, it doesn't sound like a normal equal romantic relationship...it sounds like you're a daughter with an angry old abusive father! I'm pretty much your age, highly qualified and my lovely husband treats me with love and respect...all the time. Get out and get someone who sees you as an equal, not a child to be controlled

loooopo · 31/12/2015 18:14

You did not over react ---- you under reacted - on this occasion and many others. A sensible anonymous member of the public reactive appropriately by calling the police and they in turn acted appropriately

loooopo · 31/12/2015 18:15

reacted

Lweji · 31/12/2015 18:31

Glad the police are following this up.
As a rule, I'd always believe people and what they say. It's safer. I left my home with ds for a similar threat, so I don't think you overreacted at all. You have done well to protect yourself at this time. Do keep away from him and take no notice of him blaming you. He's an abuser. Why should you pay any attention to his opinion?

Have you thought about how you'll get your stuff from his house?

MoominPie22 · 31/12/2015 18:31

Agree with Ouch...how is this relationship remotely equal? He certainly doesn't seem to view you as an equal partner. Plus he treats you with a lack of respect in the extreme.

Even if you sat down with a pen and paper, Pros of staying in this relationship Vs the Cons....be 100% honest with yourself and I'm sure you would find that revealing. Don't just listen to us on here, listen to YOURSELF. Your gut instinct and intuition should never be ignored.

Remember, you came posting on here for a reason. What lead you to do that if it wasn't uncertainty in the future of your relationship? If your bestie was in your shoes and your positions reversed, what would you be advising her to do?

Licketysplit9 · 31/12/2015 18:33

You must never return to this man. He is hideous. Move on. Stop communicating with him. Whatever happened was ENTIRELY his doing. His abuse was so bad that a stranger called the police for your safety. How could any of this possibly be blamed on you. You did everything right. You are a peaceful person. You walked away. He is a controlling shit of a man treating you like a naughty girl. Never look back, there are excellent things ahead.

Eminado · 31/12/2015 18:38

You cant possibly be overreacting - look jow seriously the police are taking this at the busiest time of the year. That should tell you everything you need to know.

Stay strong.

Eminado · 31/12/2015 18:38

*how

FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 18:39

Thank you all - I was wavering but everything you have all said makes perfect sense.

I think I have spent too long believing his version of events - his 'reality' was just designed to keep me with him and now that it is starting to crumble, he is trying to reassert control by blaming me. If I step back, I know he is absolutely in the wrong and that nothing I did should have provoked the responses I got. I'm far from perfect but I would never threaten to kill someone, scream at someone in the street etc so no, that is not normal.And no, its not equal. Things will be fine as long as I keep my mouth shut, smile and wave?! Screw that.

OP posts:
MoominPie22 · 31/12/2015 18:47

Good lass Smile Have a toast to a happy, healthy and empowering New Year as a kick-ass single lassie! Wine Grin

raisin3cookies · 31/12/2015 18:50

Screw that indeed! Well done, keep strong. You deserve so much better.

honeyroar · 31/12/2015 18:51

Please read this thread every time that you are wavering. Talk to your best friend. Tell your dad and other friends. Not one person would agree that you should even consider going back. Nobody should cower from the person they love and that is meant to love them. It is not normal to be threatened, screamed at or thrown out in the rain. Get yourself away from him. Who cares what happens to him. He is old enough to have known he was bullying and abusing you. Get away. Get your friends back. Get your life back. Breathe and relax.

And get that poor dog away from him too. It must be scared to death living around all that anger and screaming too.

Joysmum · 31/12/2015 18:58

What would it take to make you to make a report to the police?

The fact that 2 strangers (even not knowing he has previous form) wanted to report him should be enough to tell you that you have been minimising what he's been doing to you.

Please, try to remember that when you feel yourself weakening Flowers

FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 18:59

Moomin, Raisin thank you! I just need to hold that thought....

Honey - the dog is his. He absolutely loves him though and he has never shown any hint of aggression towards the wee thing. I actually think the dog will benefit from me not being there. No shouting, screaming etc as STBXDP will have no-one left to pick on. As a PP said, if I'm as much of a problem as he makes out, me leaving is the best thing all round.

OP posts:
FlintlockMusketoon · 31/12/2015 19:01

I have been minimising, to the point I actually thought I may have overreacted. I don't know when I would have called the police myself. I may never have. I owe the lady at the bus stop a lot, I think!

OP posts:
AyeAmarok · 31/12/2015 19:06

I owe the lady at the bus stop a lot, I think!

Smile

You are very nice and kind.

Lightbulbon · 31/12/2015 19:10

Stay safely away from this man, op.

Baconyum · 31/12/2015 19:16

OP I am so glad to read that you are realising you don't deserve this and need to leave this arse! Have you heard of Clare's law? It's a dv disclosure scheme you might be interested to see via this if the reason his previous relationships broke down was due to dv? It might strengthen your resolve in weak moments as after all you only have his word of how they broke down.

trackrBird · 31/12/2015 19:30

Good god, that earlier incident is appalling.

He has no doubt ratcheted up his behaviour over time, so that you have become accustomed to his aggression. This is why you felt safe when you were NOT safe. And you feel you overreacted when someone else had to call police. But this is very serious.

You are not safe with him. Please, please don't go back.

Don't get in a car with him ever again, either, especially if he seems conciliatory or wants to talk things over. I know someone who did and only just got out of the situation.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/12/2015 19:39

Flintlock Can I ask whether he knows that a stranger reported him, or did he think it was you? It makes absolutely no difference of course - it's just that it raises this to a completely different level if he's unable to address behaviour which worries even a bystander

Also, what do you have in place to make sure you're safe when the police release him? I'm honestly not trying to worry you, but it's hard to imagine he'll just let this go ...

Joysmum · 31/12/2015 19:48

Of course you wouldn't have called the police for yourself because he's done a number on you for so long now, but 2 strangers saw it for what it was without know his previous. Yes, you do owe them a lot but you pay back with other random acts of kindness to society when they are needed.

Stay strong Wine

condaleeza · 31/12/2015 19:58

You're only 32, please don't waste your life with this selfish abusive man.

Footle · 31/12/2015 23:35

He's a lot older than you. Can you imagine having to look after this hateful person if/when he becomes ill or disabled ?
Run for the hills. Happy New Year !