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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

Someone please help me

76 replies

Longingtobehappy · 15/02/2016 02:42

I've been up for hours my heads aching my eyebrows are hurting I'm so stressed I've been crying for ages. My poor sweet innocent dd is here asleep and I want to do what's right by her. I stayed with her dad and continued to forgive him for mistreating me because I thought he was ill now I believe I was being abused.

Last night ex and his mum told me it was my fault, his mum said I was controlling, and I should have been helping him get better not having a go at him all the time.

I've worked so hard at helping my ex beat depression, I went to every visit with mh team to support him, visited him in hospital when he went in for a few days a couple of years ago, took on the role of carer, he constantly told me he wanted to kill himself and I have so many flashbacks wrestling pills off him, taking bleach off him, hiding his medication so he didn't overdose, taking knives off him. He was psychotic at that time too and it was terrifying going through that with him, calming him down when he was trying to drown out the noise of the people he could here, I'd take him out for tea and he would tell me they were sat at the next table watching. Our relationship became so consumed in the illness that I lost myself. It really took its toll on my mental health and I reached out to his best friend, who came over and accused me of causing his mental illness. I was devastated, and felt helpless.

During this period he swore at me, shouted at me, and hurt me although unintentionally during wrestling matches to take the pills off him so he couldn't overdose, or clinging on to him begging him not to leave after he threatened to throw himself in the river. I would sit and cry after using all the energy o had to stop him hurting himself. One time my big toe was injured bruised bled and the nail fell off completely. I remember ringing the ambulance to help him when he locked himself in the bathroom with the pills, they sent the police who took us to hospital. When we got there ex convinced me he had calmed down and didn't need to be seen by mental health team anymore, so we walked home. My toe was so sore I was hobbling but I knew what it looked like and I didn't want people to think he had hurt me intentionally so I said nothing.

A few months later I had a seizure that went on for an hour and nearly killed me. I was admitted to hospital for a week and my ex stayed with me everyday and night. I was so glad of his support and really felt like we had reconnected again.

We moved to a new place and saw it as a fresh start, but the swearing at me and shouting continued, he would go in to rages during a argument and smash things up, he threw my lamp my dad bought me but replaced it after, he threw my picture frame and it held a picture of my dog who had died it fell to peices. One Christmas he smashed up the tree, picking it up and bending it in half throwing decorations everywhere. He would shout so loud during arguments that a neighbor came up asking if I was ok, I was cowering on the floor scared of his temper, ex told him everything was ok and he left after telling me if I need anything he's downstairs. Ex then went to bed and said his apologies and it was pushed to the back of my mind again.

A year on he seemed better, we had been getting on well and it felt like we were back to how we used to be. He proposed and I said yes and shortly after we conceived our dd. We were over the moon, he came to nearly all the scans with me but the yelling continued, I never felt it was abusive just that he couldn't control his temper, but I remember sitting in the room where all the babies things were, I felt comforted by her belongings and would hold them and cry. He would come in and out inbetween raising his voice and apologising but I didn't want to hear his apologies I just wanted to be alone.

Further in to the pregnancy we moved again to have more space for the baby, we got a lovely house and it was my favourite time in my life leading up to dds birth. Ex was fantastic, he took two weeks off for us and was a doting dad, I struggled to bond until about a month so had my own issues to get through too. Around then we started fighting again, it would escalate so quickly and I couldn't calm him down. I would tell him don't raise your voice to stop him from blowing up but it still happened, he would then throw things around. Whilst shouting and storming around.

One time I called the police because he pushed me on to the bed lent over me and screamed in my face, he blocked me from getting out of the room and to my dd, we both pulled at the door and it ended up coming off the hinges. I ran to dd and picked her up, he said give me my fucking baby, I said he needed to calm down. He then packed his stuff and left. I walked around the house a bit in disbelief and that was the first time I thought he did mean that, that wasn't his illness, I went back in to the room and saw a knife on the side. Freaked out I phoned the police and they arrested him later releasing him as I didn't want to press charges and said I was concerned for his safety. I convinced myself he must be ill he wouldn't just do that to me no matter what annoyed him.

After that social services got involved due to police referral and spoke to us both, we both understood the effect that had on dd, that it's not acceptable behaviour and that he would begin anger management to solve the problem.

He left me twice again since that time telling me we were better off without him, tell dd he loved her, how he doesn't want to live anymore, and again I went to his defence concerned for his mental health and we reconciled. Neighbours have got involved posting notes when he's not there offering help soneone to talk to, so it must be load when he does lose his temper.

The last time was three weeks ago when I left and haven't been back, we got in to another argument he then wouldn't leave me alone, he kept following me wherever I went, telling me I had to talk to him even though I just wanted to be left alone. He ended up screaming at me telling me to push him down the stairs, I ran off crying and he followed me again I said I was going to ring the police and he took my phone off me saying no you're not, threw it on the floor and stood on it. I pleaded with him to stop asking what was he doing, he went downstairs with it and I went in to the bathroom. When I turned round he was there, he had a knife in his hand, he closed the door and shut me in with him, sitting infront of the door. He told me to watch him kill himself, he yelled at me to sit down next to him and kept pointing with the knife hysterically. I was crying in the corner begging him not to do it. He held it against his throat and kept telling me I was going to watch him die and then crying. He threw the knife a few times as if to stop and then decided not to. I kept begging him to stop and let me out which he eventually did. I remember fearing he would turn the knife on me, I thought he might throw it at me as I went downstairs to get dd. I've never been so scared in my life but I stopped to make sure he had rang his mental health team and someone was on the way. I told him we loved him and not to kill himself before I left.

Since then he realised I wasn't coming home unless he recognised he needed help and we were able to feel safe. Since then him and his mum have told me I shouldn't wind him up, I should stop badgering him, I should have took myself out on a walk or gone in to a different to calm down. I tried to get away from him, I tried to calm him down before it escalated and I'm traumatised by the experience, he still continues to tell me he's going to kill himself texting me how many tablets he'd counted what lethal cocktail he could make with his medication despite knowing how distressing it is for me hearing him threaten divide all the time, I feel as though I'm being blamed for it, like I incited the argument and wanted it to turn out like that.

Please don't tell me I shouldn't have ha da baby with this man, I didnt think he would become depressed again or that I would end up in that situation. I thought he was 'losing control' because he was ill but I've been looking online and it doesn't sound like thats the answer, it sounds like he was depressed but also abusive. I'm so confused and my head is all over the place. I never wanted to make him ill. I loved him I still do, I still long for the normal days a normal life a happy family and home for dd like planned. Now I have him asking is it too late for us and his mum threatening to take me to court for him to get access to see dd, when I dont think he's safe to Sad

OP posts:
petalsandstars · 17/02/2016 07:05

I really don't want to scare you but you seem scared of the consequences of reporting his abuse to the police. I don't think you've thought through the consequences of not reporting.

He is abusive to you he will be abusive to your DD

He has previously threatened suicide with knives and threatened you with making you watch. your DD could be sat there instead of you

He was violent towards you. teenage DD back chatting will get the same reaction

She could end up a victim of or a perpetrator of this herself unless you tell the police and let the safeguarding from that help you.

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 17/02/2016 08:07

You're still defending him. Reporting him for suicide threats is exactly what you need to do because that will trigger appropriate support services for him. He's not your responsibility.

wotoodoo · 17/02/2016 08:08

How would you feel if your daughter was treated like that? Abused and threatened? And then kept going back to her abuser because she felt sorry for him?

Why do you feel empathy for someone who could kill you?

Why isn't your protective tiger instinct kicking in to protect yourself and importantly your daughter?

You feeling sorry for him is just what he needs to wheel you back in.

Your judgement and the safety of your daughter is seriously compromised. If you can't trust yourself to protect yourself or your daughter from a man you should be repelled by then may be it is best she went to a foster home.

You are wanting the fantasy husband/lover/partner/dad. You have caught glimmers of how nice he can be. But unfortunately you are not willing to face the reality that he simply does not respect or care about you either of you to stop.

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 08:23

How dare you. I love my dd and have and will continue to protect her she will not be best in a foster home and you are a horrible person for even saying that when I'm clearly greiving a relationship. I came here for support not to be upset more

OP posts:
wotoodoo · 17/02/2016 08:28

Well I am glad you are fired up now op. Hopefully you can use that to fire up your instinct to create a safe and peaceful life for your daughter for the rest of your lives.

Good luck.

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 08:31

Fired up? I'm angry at you. Judging. Assuming. Insulting. Please don't post on my board any more wotoodoo

OP posts:
Nottodaythankyouorever · 17/02/2016 08:33

I don't believe this man is ill

Truth is no one on here knows whether he is or not.

What he is doing however is wrong and you need to do all you can to protect you and your DC.

Nottodaythankyouorever · 17/02/2016 08:35

wotoodoo your post is really not helpful and very judgemental.

wotoodoo · 17/02/2016 08:41

You say you accepted the abuse because he was ill or thought he was ill.

Sorry to point it out to you op but kind, loving dads who may suffer from mental illness do NOT ABUSE and THREATEN TO KILL.

You want to defend him and make him better. Well, as everyone here has told you repeatedly and you have stubbornly refused to listen, you will never make him better.

He chooses to abuse and threaten you. That is his choice and not necesarily his illness speaking.

Since you want to keep giving him another chance to mend him why don't you just do that then? You might need to embark on a course of psychiatric training and martial arts before hand. In fact, I think you'd need a whole mental health team and the police to back you up if you wanted to go that route.

But make sure you hand your dd to ss before you do so because you won't be able to do both.

Shutthatdoor · 17/02/2016 08:44

You might need to embark on a course of psychiatric training and martial arts before hand. In fact, I think you'd need a whole mental health team and the police to back you

FFS grow up. The OP has asked you to leave it yet you come back with sarcasm.

It helps no one!

Bubblesinthesummer · 17/02/2016 08:46

Sorry to point it out to you op but kind, loving dads who may suffer from mental illness do NOT ABUSE and THREATEN TO KILL.

He chooses to abuse and threaten you. That is his choice and not necesarily his illness speaking.

You are now contradicting yourself wot

Iamdobby63 · 17/02/2016 09:03

@Longingtobehappy, so sorry you have gone through all of this. It appears as if you are grieving for a relationship that might have been rather than how it actually was.

Some good advise already given, I know you don't want to involve the police but one reason it's been suggested is so its all logged as an official record in case you need it in the future. Also if he is contacting you threatening to commit suicide then you should contact the police - to get him help, not to punish him.

You really should just focus your energy on you and your daughter, you can't help your ex, you have already tried - it's up to him to find appropriate treatment for whatever illness he may or may not have. His mother is completely unhelpful in making excuses for him - easier for her to do that and to blame you. You are not to blame.

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 17/02/2016 09:50

His suicide threats are unrended to manipulate you. If he was serious, he wouldejust do it. All this nonse about wrestling bleach, pills and knives offf him and threats to throw himself in the river is pathetic... what do you think he would do if you said, "ok, well if it's what you want"?

If he's genuinely ill then he needs to seek help and phoning the police will secure that.

If he's a controlling bastard he needs to fucj off and phonic the police can help to secure that. Either way, it's the right thing to do.

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 09:51

Hes already with a mental health team, and has been on and off for two and a half years. He said he spoke to them and they told him that I can’t expect to just blame it on him as a person when he's been unwell, but they can see why I'd blame it on him as a person because I don’t understand how life-changing depression is in terms of your behaviours. I'm going to ring his mental health team later and ask them to confirm if they said this. I don't understand either way but I'd like to hear what his team has to say before I just go and talk to the police

OP posts:
Iamdobby63 · 17/02/2016 10:05

I think they will only talk to you if they have his permission, but try anyway.

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 17/02/2016 11:06

I think I'd be wanting to hear that from the horse's mouth tbh.

Phoning the police if he makes a suicide threat isn't about getting him into trouble, it's about raising a safeguarding concern withe the relevant authorities in order to protect a vulnerable adult. Don't be scared of it :)

wannabestressfree · 17/02/2016 14:56

Why phone them though? You are picking over the bones when you need to be decisive.

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 16:04

His nurse didnt answer so ive asked them to ring me when theyre free. I phoned because I don't want to brand him an abuser if a mental health professional tells me different

OP posts:
Mabelface · 17/02/2016 16:22

He is an abuser. He's abused you for a long time, love, and he'll continue to as long as you let him. Whilst you're feeling sorry for him, I can guarantee that he won't be feeling sorry for you, he'll be busy blaming you for everything instead of taking responsibility for his own behaviour. Take a big step back from him and stop trying to find reasons for how he is. He is how he is just because, and that's abusive. You can't fix him, you would only put yourself and your baby at risk if you went back. Get a new phone number, a new email address and take your sister up on her offer, you'll be so glad you did when you come out of this fog you're in right now. Best of luck.

Iamdobby63 · 17/02/2016 16:29

Even if the nurse says it's as a result of his mental condition it's impossible and unsafe to live with him.

Regardless of whether he can 'help it' it's still an abusive environment. But if his DM is threatening you with court then you do need to get all the facts so you know how to deal with it.

Hard for anyone to call but the depressed person I lived with was withdrawn not angry and violent (throwing things).

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 16:38

I know, I wont ever let him live with me and dd again i'd be too on edge

OP posts:
Bubblesinthesummer · 17/02/2016 16:46

Hard for anyone to call but the depressed person I lived with was withdrawn not angry and violent (throwing things).

MH affects different people in different ways as does paranoia.

3WiseWomen · 17/02/2016 16:53

Look if you report him to the police you are NOT branding him an abuser.
You are just telling them about what has happened and making yourself and your dd as safe as possible.

In some ways, it's not your job to say if he is anusive or I'll (or a mix of both). This is up to the professionals to do so.

And it doesn't matter for yourself if he is ill or abusive. You need to be protected from his excesses.

At the moment, the important bit is to ensure that you and your dd are safe. He might be ill s d you can feel sorry for him but you still need to be protected if that makes sense.

Just use the people around you that can help you and your dd. The Police but also the SS, your GP, your counsellor. They are here to help you

Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 18:40

I've done it I've reported it. Police wondered why it was so late reported but I just explained that I thought he was because he is mentally ill but the counsellor and ss told me it was abuse Sad

OP posts:
Longingtobehappy · 17/02/2016 18:43

I've come back to the house. I feel sick everywhere I go I'm crying on the toilet it's the only bathroom in the house and it's where it all happened. I've just seen knives and burst out crying and felt sick to my stomach. There's memories all over the house I feel like a failure my family's over my life the family holiday I'd booked, all the happy memories my dds birth Sad it's all ruined

OP posts:
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