Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Married ... celibate for the last 5 years. Wondering which way to turn.

63 replies

myusernameisboring · 16/05/2016 17:51

Hello, Ive been spurred on my a separate thread and would appreciate some input. Im really unhappy with my situation at the moment and wonder what you might do in my situation. This might ramble a bit so I apologise.

We have been married for ten yeas. No children. Five years ago, my DH underwent surgery. This resulted in nerve damage and as a result of this, he is unable to get an erection. At the time, we were told that it could improve, and weighing this up against the risk of the problem causing the surgery, was one we were both happy to take. However, things have not improved, (so far as Im aware)

I love DH to bits. However, as the title suggests, I've had no love life whatsoever for the past five years. Very little physical contact, just the odd peck on the cheek now and again and the occasional cuddle, always instigated by me. He rarely comes to bed at the same time as me so no night time cuddles.

For some time now, he's been very negative about just about everything. Literally every word that comes out of his mouth is a complaint or negative comment, not specifically about me, it's about everything. If the news comes on I change the channel as it starts a rant. He's fallen out with the neighbour which to be fair, Im totally in agreement with him on). I seem to be constantly trying to cheer him up or jolly him out of it. He never asks about my day or how Im feeling.

He's also constantly moaning about us being poor. He has about £600k worth of investments, and currently has about £7k in his current account. He is retired and draws a substantial pension from his investments. I am currently £300 overdrawn (I earn around £1k a month and never manage to save anything). I've had an expensive month with two family birthdays and road tax and insurance falling due. I asked him to come along to a supermarket with me today to get enough food in to tide us over until I get paid next week and he went absolutely off on one, asking how I think Id manage if it wasn't for him as he "pays for everything". We spent £40 in Aldi.

We have no mortgage (house is worth circa £350k), he pays council tax and utility bills (which I regularly check on comparison sites to keep them a low as possible - he cant use a computer and has no interest in doing this) and I tax and insure the car (which is £800 a year!!) and buy all the food and do all the cooking and most of the housework.

Lately, I've been feeling very isolated. My friends and family live about 20 miles away. DH isn't particularly sociable, and we stay in, every night, for months on end. He doesn't drink. He spends most evenings in his workshop, working on his hobby whilst Im cooking or doing the house work. My best friend is getting married later this year and we're both invited to the ceremony and to the evening reception. His reaction? "Why do I have to go, she's your friend?". My other friends will be there with their husbands.

Ive started thinking about going to stay with my parents for a bit, just to clear my head and have a bit of a break. Im scared that I wont want to come back.

What would you do in this situation?

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/05/2016 18:01

"Lately I just feel neglected, isolated and low down on his list of priorities"

That is because you are and you are also being financially abused by this joy sucker of life.

What is there to love about this man, you state you love him to bits. I do not think he loves you and merely sees you as a housekeeper or someone to basically look after him.

What do you get out of this relationship now?. I cannot see what you get out of this and I do not think you would be able to answer that question either.

Do not celebrate your next birthday with him, infact you need to plan your exit from this sham of a marriage asap.

What did you learn about relationships when growing up?.

iMatter · 22/05/2016 18:26

So you are happy to sacrifice your own future, your happiness and your wellbeing for some miserable, manipulative bastard who plays mind games to keep you just where he wants you?

Really?

Is that all you are worth?

You are in the "fortunate" position of being able to leave. You don't have children, you have a supportive family.

Leave him or be miserable for the rest of your life.

He won't get better. He will get worse.

Your choice.

(Sorry to be harsh but you seem so lovely).

SandyY2K · 22/05/2016 18:30

Why don't you phone your parents and tell them your under the weather. Then tell DH that you're not going anymore as you told mum and dad you had no money for fuel.

Then just put some trainers on and go for a walk to getaway from him and get some air in your head.

I suggest you spend a lot less time with this miserable man and more time with friends to have some sort of pleasure.

Follow all the advice about seeing a lawyer and copying relevant documents, as I'm sure he will try and hide assets.

I don't know if you've spoken to him about how you feel ....could you give him a chance to hear you out and understand your POV.

He's a very selfish man. What does he think is in this relationship for you really ?

iMatter · 22/05/2016 18:34

You are normalising your shitty relationship.

This is not normal, kind or good.

Ingray · 22/05/2016 18:59

I would love to be forty five again, so much time ahead of you to live a whole new life. You will be entitled to something if you divorce him and you have earned it several times over,

Please don't waste any more of your very precious life on this misery. He is a selfish, mean man who cannot share. Why would want to give up on love, sex and affection so young? Even living alone would be better than living with the resentment you must feel towards him.

0dfod · 22/05/2016 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MilesHuntsWig · 22/05/2016 20:19

Please leave. I am only a few years younger than you and your life sounds so miserable.

He is financially abusive, mean and negative. You only have one life and it could be so much better without him in it.

Prepare yourself to leave and claim some of his cash. You've effectively been his slave and emotional crutch for years, it's about time you were paid for that. What are you actually getting out of this relationship????

myusernameisboring · 26/05/2016 16:51

Thanks again for the replies everyone. This year's birthday has been one to forget. No card, no gift, he hasnt even said Happy Birthday.

He's going away with his friends for a few days so Im going to have a root about and find his bank statements and investment info. At the very least, I'll have an informed response the next time he moans about being skint!

OP posts:
Jan45 · 26/05/2016 17:11

He has friends.........?

ElectroStallion · 26/05/2016 17:20

Happy Birthday, my username! WineFlowersChocolate
Cake
Sorry they're only virtual.
Here's to a new life, one for yourself Wine

birdsdestiny · 26/05/2016 17:30

Happy Birthday. 🎂 I think the next one will be better.

MusicIsMedicine · 27/05/2016 06:37

Happy Birthday!

So he can afford to go away with his friends but not take you out for your birthday? No card? No gift? Whinging about getting to your parents?!

He's sat on nearly a million quid of assets and you are down to your last £2.50! You are doing all his housework in a loveless marriage. You are a cheap home help/domestic and will be his carer and he will be even more miserable and abusive. What sort of future do you have to look forward to?

OP, this isn't a relationship. You are being royally taken advantage of here and you are allowing it to happen. He doesn't love you, that behaviour is not love.

When did you last feel joyful and loved? Why oh why do you accept this life? There's so much more out there for you.

You have given him everything and he is showing you over and over that he doesn't love you. Get what's legally and rightfully yours and get out of this sham of a marriage.

You will come alive again and wow oh wow wait til you find sex, love and joy again, it will blow your mind.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 27/05/2016 10:27

Happy belated birthday!!

How awful... He's definitely financially abusive... Over your relationship he's built up a sizeable nest egg at your expense....

Get yourself the best birthday present... Leave this awful man.... You are plenty young enough to start again... Yes I know it's frightening...

Also you will be so so much better financially once you leave... You will get 50%of the marital assets... That'll give him something to whinge about😆😆

2 people in my immediate friends... One left a much older continually whinging negative partner... Within a year she had found the absolute love of her life. Another pal at 48 after 12 years with a bloke eroding her confidence, being negative, whinging and financially abusive..Finally they broke up . Three years later she has met a new lover, he's now moved in, she smiles, she looks ten years younger and he treats her like his Princess - he wants to marry her as he is so head over heels... She met him when she was least expecting it.... He's thoroughly decent, solvent... Oh yes and 34...herex was an old 54...

It can be done, both of my friends had thought they had missed their chance at happiness..

Good luck!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page