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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

Can't cope with DHs paranoia. Long but Im at my wits end

298 replies

catgirl1976 · 15/06/2016 18:08

DH and I have been together for 18 years and married for 8. We met at university when we were in our 20s. We have DS who is 4.

DH has always had issues with trust and jealousy and this has caused issues throughout our relationship.

I have been totally faithful to DH apart from, about 9 years ago snogging a bloke from work with whom there had been a a bit of a flirtation. I realised as soon as this happened that it was wrong, stopped it in its tracks and left and went home. I told DH what happened and although it was bad, we worked through it. DH had a bit of a revenge flirtation with a girl he worked with shortly afterwards but we worked through that.

His issues with jealousy preceed this mistake by me, but of course this didn't help.

We can be fine for months and then his issues rear their head. We get through them but it can be very rocky and we did even try Relate (they wouldn't see us as the felt he was controlling - he is but that's not helpful - I want to fix this and I think they could have been good for us)

In order to make him feel better and more secure I let him have "find my friends" on my iphone so he can always see where I am. I don't have a lock on my phone or hide it. He has all my email passwords and can access my facebook.

A few years ago he hated that I spoke to my ex on-line and was furious I met him for a coffee. He asked me recently to end all contact with him, and even though we were friends I did so. I rarely go out, I don't do any seperate hobbies. I work in a sales role but travel back and forth to London from the NW rather than stay overnight as I know he hates it.

Anyway, if you've got this far, the present issue......

At the weekend DH and I went to a festival. We took some MDMA and smoked some skunk. We used to do this at uni - we dont now as we have jobs, child etc so this was a one off the capture our lost youth if you will.

Sat in the tent feeling very safe and loved (drugs) we talked and talked. I ended up confiding in DH that when I was 14 I slept with quite a few people as I was really messed up. I was abused by my grandad as a child which DH is aware of but I ended up tellng him that I used to get validation from this and waas trying to explain to him how messed up I was and how difficult it was for me to comes to terms with what had happened and how it affected me as a teenager. I also told him I cheated on my ex several times.

DH thinks I was very filrty at the start of our relationship. Perhaps I was - it's hard to rememer as it is so long ago and he brings up things from years and years ago that I simply don't remember. Anyway I said to DH that if I had been flirty at the start it was down to the abuse and how it affected me and I was sorry for it.

DH then lost the plot. In fairness he was on a lot of drugs but he decided he had had a "revelation" that I had cheated on him througout our relationship. He accused me of sleeping with a never ending list of random people and even asked if our DS was his. He didn't make a lot of sense.

I tried to talk to him but got nowhere. I hoped this was just the drugs talking and he would be ok again in the morning with a clear head.

However, 3 days later and he's the same. He's convinced I have cheated on him. Which I havent

Examples of things he brings up as evidence include:

Apparantly after a work Christmas party years ago a man I worked with sent me a picture of me and him at the party laughing our heads of with the caption "how?". I don't remember this but assume it means "How did we get in this state?" or something but DH is sure it has a sinister meaning.

Apparantly my boss once said to me "We would never work togther". He's right we wouldn't. We rub each other up the wrong way and there's no hint of attraction on either side. But DH thinks it means something.

Apparntly about 15 years ago, one of his friends rang to say he was coming round and I dashed upstairs and put on a low cut top and did my make up. I woud have got changed and done my make up if anyone was coming round. I dont go to the corner shop without a full face. Not sure about the low cut top but I have never found this bloke attractive so if it was low cut if certainly wasn't for his benefit.

The list goes on and on. These are examples.

Today I was looking at somehting on my phone and he said "What are you doing" I said "I;m on facebook why??" He said "You were looking at your phone and smiling" in a nasty tone that implied I was talking to a man or something. Its constant.

I honestly think he has a paranoid personality disorder. I do not know what to do. Saturday, everything was great, today everything is a disaster. And it keeps happening out of the blue like this. I never know what will set him off or when it's coming, only that it always does.

I am sorry this is so long but I do not know what to do

I have managed to get him to speak to a counsellor and he is currently having the assesment call as I type this but god knows if they will help or make things worse. They will only hear his perception which is siply not grounded in reality.

What can I do?

Sorry again that this is so long

OP posts:
ElspethFlashman · 18/06/2016 12:47

I imagine a push or shove or even a slap of the child wouldn't count in this situation, sadly.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 18/06/2016 20:38

Relate not accepting you as a couple for counselling should have been a bloody great red waving flag. You wanted to try and fix him but they knew that HE'S NOT FIXABLE.

How many more years are you going to flush down the lav with this monster? 10, 20, 30?

Meanwhile irreparable damage is being done to your poor little boy. If you can't save yourself, do it for him and please leave before it's too late.

YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT FIXABLE. Not by you, and probably not by anyone.

catgirl1976 · 18/06/2016 20:47

Hey RJ

Thanks. I appreciate it

And yes. I come on here looking for someone to say "oh. you just need to do x or say y and everthing is going to be ok". The magic wand I desparately want one of you to have.

But that's not going to happen and no one has it.

Mostly I name change. Because even Im ashamed of the number of times I've posted. And then I feel like I'm not even allowed to post because I can't LTB even though you've all said it. Like all of you saying it makes all the emotional, logistical and financial stuff just vanish.

I'm sorry if that sounded snarky.. It's not meant to. But it really isnt' that simple.

OP posts:
smilingeyes11 · 18/06/2016 20:51

Why can't you leave? Don't use finance as an excuse.

catgirl1976 · 18/06/2016 20:53

I don't have a bank account, a credit card or a debit card

Even if I had got to that point, where would I get hold of the minimum £2k I would need? And the house to move into given the shortage where we are?

OP posts:
DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 20:54

Hi catgirl

Of course you are allowed to post Flowers - I remember your name from ages ago but haven't looked at any of your other threads on your partner; I'm worried enough but what you've put here.

MN is also good with help on the logistical financial and emotional stuff too. If you want to make a plan, even if it's a back up plan, MN is here for that.

DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 20:55

Oh x post

I don't understand why you don't have a bank account when you have a job? Where do they send the wages?

SummerIsComing234 · 18/06/2016 20:56

No it's very easy to say to leave.

Have you managed to look into the financial and logistical options? Or talked to women's aid? I get that emotionally you are struggling and potentially want to stay. However is it not better to properly know your options and to make the decision with all the facts? And deal with the emotional bit once the practical side is sorted? If you hit a crisis and need to leave instantly would it not be better to know how to do this? (I really hope that never happens but do feel it potentially it might from your posts)

DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 20:57

I agree with summer about crisis planning

smilingeyes11 · 18/06/2016 20:58

So if you are being financially abused you go to Women's Aid and they will help you leave. Where are you getting the mythical £2K from??

LadyStarkOfWinterfell · 18/06/2016 20:58

But you're the earner Confused
And why would you have to leave? Why wouldn't he?

RJnomore1 · 18/06/2016 20:58

Aw cat

I truly think you and I would be good good friends If we really knew each other.

I totally get where you are and I can understand how you got there. It's really easy for us to say leave and give you an earful and I've maybe even done it myself when you've had a name change.

But I know it's not that easy.

You can be happy though mate. You don't need to feel like this. You can start with tiny things too, not the life changers. Incremental steps.

But you can't change him. He's got to do that himself, and want to do it.

DotForShort · 18/06/2016 20:59

What do you mean you don't have a bank account?

RJnomore1 · 18/06/2016 20:59

You don't have a bank account?

I am honestly like this right now 😮

That's shocked me.

DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 21:00

Smiling, I guess £2k is maybe an estimate for a place to live, deposit and some rent?

MsPavlichenko · 18/06/2016 21:02

It isn't easy. It is doable, with support. Call W.A. I'm going to ask again. Do you want your DS to grow up to be an Abuser? Because that's what will happen if you stay.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 18/06/2016 21:05

Wait you don't have a bank account - or even a card on another account?????

Shock Shock Shock Shock Shock Shock

RJnomore1 · 18/06/2016 21:06

Cat where do your wages get paid into and how do you access spending money pet?

flippinada · 18/06/2016 21:10

Catgirl I know some of posts sound blunt and I apologise. I know it's not easy.

I suspect the reason why she doesn't have access to a bank card and bank account is because you know who controls that as well Angry.

Please call Women's Aid Cat? This is so sad. You don't need money, they can get you into a refuge.

smilingeyes11 · 18/06/2016 21:10

So you need to open a bank account now and get your wages and any child benefit/tax credits paid into your own account immediately. This is not impossible to do. Are you saying you give him all of your money and you have no access to a penny?

flippinada · 18/06/2016 21:11

I'm angry at him by the way, not you. Just in case it was taken that way x

DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 21:17

Smiling

That is something that op should plan, though - her DH will know if the wages don't reach the joint account, so she needs to be ready ahead of time.

Women,s aid could also be helpful on this, cat, both with planning and possibly with temporary accommodation whilst you got dome other things sorted.

LouisCK · 18/06/2016 21:17

Every time you post Cat, it's a step closer to leaving him. I truly hope that this will be the case for you but I'm so worried about your little boy growing up seeing all of this.

Could you do a plan. It doesn't mean you have to follow it. Look at in as an exercise.

Could you make a small commitment to yourself that you will call WA at some point in the next week?

The problem is that it is quite possible that he will start to escalate. He sounds on a mission at the moment and all of your attempts to pacify him are coming to nought.

What a fucking arsehole he is.

DetestableHerytike · 18/06/2016 21:19

Cat, another thought - you may well be able to apply for a credit card based on your salary and then simply keep it in reserve.

smilingeyes11 · 18/06/2016 21:22

Which is why she should call WA Detestable.