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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

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I've just abandoned my very drunk/high dh in central London in favour of getting ds home

689 replies

HoldingPatternDone · 30/04/2016 22:54

Namechanged yet again as all this is so, so identifying. Dh has struggled with addictions and after a peaceful few months it came to a head today when we saw his family.

He was being aggressive to everyone and when our bus arrived he wouldn't get on so I've just taken myself and ds home. Now he won't answer his phone and I feel awful I've abandoned him but our son is only 3 and I've got to get him home. I can't help feeling so guilty and bad and am both dreading and wishing him home. What do I do?

OP posts:
Godstopper · 01/05/2016 14:06

I was your son.

I no longer speak to my 'mother', and haven't for over a decade.

And so it will be for you should you continue to stay and enable this behavior.

Werksallhourz · 01/05/2016 14:08

This situation will not change until someone or something makes it change.

That is the truth of the matter. The question is whether, op, you want to be the agent of that change or you want to wait for someone or something else to be. If you plump for the latter, you could be waiting a very long time and the situation will, without doubt, continue to deteriorate.

What you need to remember is that other families do not live like this, and there is nothing anywhere that states you must. You deserve a calm, supportive and loving home environment for yourself and your child. It is not your "fate" to be stuck with this man in this situation. You are reinforcing the bars of your own prison by not taking action.

My DF once said something to me that I have always remembered: "People don't like change, but change is good for people."

And it is true. Without change, none of us would exist. We wouldn't ever be born. Grin Change is nothing to be afraid of; it is was helps us evolve and grow.

Werksallhourz · 01/05/2016 14:09

*what

arandomname · 01/05/2016 14:10

HoldingPatternDone I have spent far too much of my life with alcoholics, two of them. 15 years in fact.

It was a terrible waste of time, and the longer I stayed the more my self-esteem crumbled.

You are doing well with realising that you need to go. The change will be fine.

I am so, so glad I eventually left. Life is so different now, there's no chaos, no worrying that my ex might be dead, or in hospital, or having to carry on after brushing another excruciatingly humiliating incident under the carpet.

Don't brush anything else under the carpet. You're heading in the right direction, to the door, keep on going!

You need to stop being afraind of change, because change is happening right under your nose. Your DS is changing. The older he gets, the more being around an addict will affect him.

You can't avoid change, even if you stand still. But you can protect your DS from harm. That is your job and it's urgent. please act now.

As others have said, it is already a choice between your DH and your DS. No one is going to pop up with a sign and say "here is a choice, your DH or you DS, please choose now!". You need to recognise that life is showing you that choice, right now. To stay us to enable your DH but harm your DS. To leave is to save your DS from harm and free yourself from a destructive situation also.

Your DH is using you as a prop, you will never be able to help him I learnt that one the hard way!). He may need help, as you are his partner, you are part of the whole dynamic and can't give it to him. He needs to seek it himself, and he may not. You need to stop giving him chances, be brave and do what needs to be done, for your DS and for you.

HoldingPatternDone · 01/05/2016 14:11

He's not coming home. I've spoken to him. He's not getting it though. He described it as a cooling off period for me! I'm hurting so much. I need a painkiller for my feelings but that's out of the question. I'm not used to dealing with things.

OP posts:
MrsH1989 · 01/05/2016 14:23

You sound like you are building strength every hour right now. Keep going. If he doesn't understand that you mean it could you and DS "disappear for a few days. Maybe not right away as he seems to think you just need a few days. I would get time off work and go away for a week starting Tuesday. Hopefully it will be enough time for you to be clearer about the future.

VoldysGoneMouldy · 01/05/2016 14:26

Of course he's not getting it. He is used to you enabling his behaviour, and is used to controlling everything to dance by his tune. You changing the music won't make sense to you.

However much you are hurting, right now you need to be proactive. Please do everything you can now, whilst he's not there, as if he comes back, you will find it harder to act. Call you family, call the police, and if you are feeling strong enough, call social services, and tell them you need support to get you through the next period in time as you want to improve things for your son. They might be talked about as if they are demons with forked tails, but they are there to help.

The first thing you need to do is tell someone in real life. Once you've said it outloud for the first time, it will be easier, I promise.

Kr1stina · 01/05/2016 14:33

Yes it's hard, but you don't have to do it alone . Call anyone who will support you - friends or family . Do it today .

HonniBee · 01/05/2016 14:43

Stay strong, OP. It's hard, but you can do this.

emotionsecho · 01/05/2016 14:52

He's not getting it because you always back down, dance to his tune, put him first over your son, you did it again last night by letting him in.

I really hope you mean it this time and can put the feelings of your son above your own for once. Don't end up as one of the mothers other posters have described on this thread who because of their inaction have lost the love and respect of their children and have been left with children who want nothing to do with them. If you don't stand firm for your son and he asks you when he is older why, what will you say? Do you think "but I loved your dad, I couldn't cope with change, I felt bad, it hurt me to throw him out/leave" will cut any ice with your son?

It's not you, your hurt or your feelings for your dh that are important here it is the welfare of your son, that's it nothing else comes close.

dailymailphequers · 01/05/2016 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GarlicShake · 01/05/2016 15:28

I need a painkiller for my feelings but that's out of the question. I'm not used to dealing with things.

My god, I'm so impressed :) You're cottoning on to 'normal' really fast - and it is hard, and sobriety can be pretty uncomfortable. That's why strong support's helpful and the great thing is, you know this.

So ... what will you do when your addict decides he's coming back anyway, and who will support you toady & tomorrow?

GarlicShake · 01/05/2016 15:29
  • today and tomorrow. Though you can get toady support, too, if you want Wink
MaddyHatter · 01/05/2016 15:53

it might be a little strange, but as a chronic anxiety sufferer, if you have a hair elastic, put it on your wrist and twang it. It can actually help!

You're doing so well, and dealing with these emotions isn't easy even when you are used to them, its a matter of finding a coping mechanism that helps you without hindering what you need to do.. so something to fiddle with, hair band to twang, pacing, deep breathing....etc

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 01/05/2016 15:57

OP you are doing well. It must be heartbreaking for you, I understand you love your partner but everything's now spiralled out of control. It is torture to see someone you love fuck up so badly, especially when you know that the person you fell for, that was your best friend is in there somewhere.

Please admit to yourself that enough is enough. You tried to support him through recovery but I don't think his heart was totally in it. You need to get some perspective on your situation and the best way to do that is a clean break from him.

I think that will help him too.

For now, take each day as it comes. As a lot of people have said, the more support you have, the better. You will be ok without him.

Laura812 · 01/05/2016 15:59

Divorcing my ex after a long marriage in which I think alcohol was a part of why he was so awful, is the best thing I have ever done. The children asked me to! Everyone is better off.

OnIlkelyMoorBahtat · 01/05/2016 16:00

OP I think I do remember you from your other thread and have often thought of you and how you are getting on.

Sweetheart - it doesn't matter if he doesn't 'get it', it's not your job to convince him he's the problem, and you do not need his permission to not want to be with him any more if you don't want to be. Or while he is drinking, or whatever terms YOU choose to live your life and the terms of the life you want your son's life to be. Apart from that, you can't convince an alcoholic he's got a problem anyway if he doesn't want to see it as a problem, because he is an alcoholic - his first, second and third loyalty is to BOOZE and booze only.

Do tell your family now as others have suggested; yes it's seems scary now cos it will be making the change feel more real, but otoh it will be exhilarating becuase you will be starting to make real change. At the risk of sounding obvious, you can't change anything without changing any thing.

SonjasSister · 01/05/2016 16:01

Well done Holding. Wishing you strength.

wonkylampshade · 01/05/2016 16:21

Well done - keep going holding Flowers

BillSykesDog · 01/05/2016 16:28

OP, do you have the money to get the locks changed and a good strong one fixed? I think that should be your first priority now. It will also send him a message it's over.

StillYummy · 01/05/2016 16:29

You could change the barrel on the lock that works if you want to keep him out.

BMW6 · 01/05/2016 16:30

Be brave OP and burn the bridge so you CAN;T take him back - tell you friends and family NOW. Not for your sake - for your childs.

Choughed · 01/05/2016 16:32

I remember your last thread. You have come so far I a short time. Keep going Flowers

HoldingPatternDone · 01/05/2016 16:36

I'm just catching up with the thread. I'm not ignoring all the sound advice being given but needed a sleep.

The welfare of my son is my priority. I don't really mind how dh is around me. I've told a friend and really tried to fight the urge to play it down to her. She said we're welcome to come and stay with them. Telling family will happen and it'll happen soon but I just don't think I have the strength to do it today. It's in some ways a bigger hurdle than kicking him out for all the reasons many of you have mentioned.

garlicshake I chose food as comfort. Realised I hadn't eaten since about this time yesterday so toast is my current painkiller of choice!

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 01/05/2016 17:43

Op it's good you have a rl friend to talk to

I think the important thing for you to do is keep going forward, I've seen people on here dragging your past but just leave it in the past, onwards and upwards

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