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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

should I send H this email? unsure of self (again)

268 replies

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 14:11

I've posted before about my H of six months. Things haven't gone as hoped. I have 2DC who love him to bits.

We have some key issues and I try to address them but in truth they are his issues - drinking and porn/not wanting sex.
And we argue about it.
Or I try to address and he ignores emails or says he won't talk.
Sometimes he does talk.
He says I am pushing and pushing and not leaving it alone and that the curent problems are down to me.

I am at the end now and have said so, but cowardice and low self esteem mean I find it so hard to just stick to it and "be the bad guy" and all his friends hating me and so on. And only married in Jan!
I know it's pathetic.

He's cried and asked me to go to Relate. We have an appontment this week.
I've confided in a couple of friends and they say go so that he can't say you didn't try.
I think I am looking for his agreement to end it Confused
Anyway we've had a discussion again this morning and he doesn't, to me, appear to be taking responsibility and I have drafted this - shall I send it??

Dear Mr42,

Before we moved in together, we agreed that one or two nights a week with no booze to be together was what we'd do so that we could strengthen our relationship and also it might help the sex life.

We agreed drinking in front of the boys to be kept to maybe once a week at pub tea etc. These two seemed to be OK for a while but since our wedding they haven't happened.

You also said you wanted to drink less and you've done that and although it is at a level very damaging for your health , I know you have made a lot of effort with the intake.

On many but not all dry nights (when it's not an early shift so in bed at 8) you tell me you feel anxious and you appear down.
Dry nights have diminished since wedding.

These are facts.

In discussion/argument you make excuses or seem to try to get away from the facts saying for example: "Well if I do a dry night you tell me I'm fucking miserable " as if I am being unreasonable, when it is a fact, you DO look miserable and you say yourself that you're anxious. I have never said that to you at the time, just tried to distract you or be there for you.

You also said you don't do dry nights because I am not supportive, but even if that were true, it's another excuse.
You feel there's "nothing you can say" to make me happy, implying that I have unilaterally decided on the above and demanded that you stick to it.

What we agreed hasn't panned out.

IMHO this is because you have an alcohol problem which persists despite your success in reducing your unit intake.

You appear compelled to put drinking before your health, our relationship and the commitment you made to be a parent to the boys.
Not always, but too much of the time.
You say you're trying but you won't get help.

The nasty words when you're drunk and the accusing me of lying to hurt your feelings and then lying to cover it up - you are saying is my fault. You slagged me off in my own house when the boys could hear some of it. Not OK.

You said you would book a counselling appointment. Now you won't, and it seems you weren't going to tell me that.

You're also now saying the no sex is my fault for being sad and "the atmosphere". That might be true now, as we have the impasse as described above.

But, from the start of our relationship you've been reluctant and say that you have not been able to think of why, saying you do want a sex life, even if your actions say something different - you have turned down kisses and my initiating sex a lot of times.

I think you prefer going solo and aren't admitting it.

We have slept in separate rooms from just a few weeks after we married - with a reason, but one that's not been investigated. I miss you and want to sleep curled up with you but given that you don't come in to me (apart from a couple of times) or work on the snoring, it appears that you're OK with the separate rooms. I have tried to come in to you but as I told you when we moved the rooms, it is hard for me to do that because I get rejected.
Last time I came in for a cuddle you actually pushed me out.

Well it is not words but change in behaviour that is needed.
I have tried and tried and tried, to talk, to not talk and give you time (which you have thanked me for, but now is forgotten) to email to give you chance to think.

I sometimes ask you to delay drinking for a while and it's a "no".
I got a book for us to read you didn't.
You said you'd plan the dry nights and other things the counsellor you went to once suggested but you haven't.

I've tried initiating intimacy and not initiating, I've tried underwear and waiting for the right moment. I've tried to understand about you liking it only when showered...I've masturbated you cos you like it even though that doesn't include me.

I have grown sadder and sometimes cross and then the problems have been blamed on me as if it'd all go away if I were nicer.

I thought I was nice and that you thought I was nice.
I am now uncomfortable around you because you're angry and blaming me.

If you do feel I am unreasonable and unpleasant I would question why you married me?

I am fucking fed up. There's promises been broken and I am now suffering acute anxiety I think, unless my arms and legs are really broken.

I am always ready to try and to take on 50% responsibility, are you? As that would look like going for help, planning the dry nights etc....

My expectations are - what we agreed about drinking or at least you getting help towards it, being treated with respect not nasty words or accused of things and a loving intimate life with my husband.

Can you be clear about what you want and what you're going to do about it?
If the answer is "nothing more" could you be honest about that?
You can have expectations of me/the relationship as well.

If these expectations of mine aren't acceptable and aren't going to happen, YOU SHOULD SAY SO.

If you still want to go to counselling we can do and that's partly why I've set this out here to help me be clear about my point of view.

If you choose not to reply again, I will assume you don't want to go into all this anymore at all

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 18:34

That's a helpful way to look at it AF , that he's given up on me.
I do need to get the three of us out of this fog.
And it is emotional blackmail and I can resist it.

OP posts:
Hissy · 31/07/2016 19:19

Repeat the three C' say him.

Over and over.

It is his responsibility to address this. He is the one giving up on himself.

Cut the emotional blackmail dead there and then whenever he tries it. Call it and name it and tell him to have a long hard think about why he's so keen to make you responsible for his misery?

loveyoutothemoon · 31/07/2016 19:24

Sorry you're in this mess.

It does sound like he's in denial doesn't it? He thinks that if he doesn't have many units on the odd occasion then that's OK. But he's dependant on it.

I think he's had too many chances to help himself and you're doing the right thing. Sounds like you'll be happier without him. I know I was when I left my H.

All the best to you.

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 20:32

Thanks Hissy I will name it when he does it.
And thanks moon for your support.

OP posts:
Gfplux · 31/07/2016 20:36

He drinks, he will not stop. He loves the booze more than you. Get out.

Mamaka · 31/07/2016 20:41

It wasn't clear if you're going to relate or not, but my dh drank every night for 18 months and our relate counsellor told me he wasn't necessarily an alcoholic maybe he just liked the taste of alcohol. I wouldn't put much faith in marriage counsellors.

My dh has since stopped drinking (so far anyway!) because HE wanted to. I really don't think anything I did or said made the blindest bit of difference.

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 20:45

mamaka I hope things are better for you now that your DH has stopped.
No I'm likely not going to Relate, I'm going to phone and see what they say about alcohol misuse.
Yours sounds like a right peach Confused

OP posts:
Memoires · 31/07/2016 21:04

Relate are a bit of a curate's egg, depends on each individual counsellor, some are better than others.

I wouldn't bother though, 42. Take yourself and your children out of there and good luck to you (you'll be fine).

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 14:51

I've told him Relate probably won't do counselling when there's an alcohol issue. He wants to go (this was just in a text).

I sent this yesterday afternoon. No reply.
Why no reply? What the hell??

Dear Mr 42

We agreed that one or two nights a week with no booze to be together was what we'd do so that we could strengthen our relationship and also it might help the sex life.

We agreed drinking in front of the boys to be kept to maybe once a week.

These two seemed to be OK for a while but since our wedding not as OK.

You also said you wanted to drink less and you've done that and although it is at a level very damaging for your health, I know you have made a lot of effort with the intake.

On many dry nights (when it's not an early shift so in bed at 8) you tell me you feel anxious and that you feel down.

Dry nights have diminished since wedding. These are facts. What we agreed hasn't panned out.

IMHO this is because you have an alcohol problem which persists despite your success in reducing your unit intake.

You appear compelled to put drinking before your health, our relationship and the commitment you made to be a parent to the boys.

The nasty words when you're drunk and the accusing me of lying to hurt your feelings and then lying to cover it up - you are saying is my fault, this is not OK.

You say no sex is my fault for being sad and "the atmosphere". But, from the start of our relationship you've been uninterested. You say you do want a sex life, but your actions say something different - you have turned down kisses and my initiating sex a lot of times. I think you prefer going solo and aren't admitting it.

We have slept in separate rooms from just a few weeks after we married - with a reason, but one that's not been investigated. I miss sharing a bed with you but given that you don't come in to me (apart from a couple of times) or address the snoring, it appears that you're OK with the separate rooms. I have tried to come in to you but as I told you when we moved the rooms, it is hard for me to do that because I get rejected. Last time I came in for a cuddle you pushed me out.

I have grown sadder and sometimes cross and then the problems have been blamed on me as if it'd all go away if I were nicer. I thought I was nice and that you thought I was nice. If you do feel I am unreasonable and unpleasant I would question why you married me?

My expectations were - what we agreed about drinking (all of it) or at least you getting help towards it, being treated with respect not nasty words or accused of things and a loving intimate life with my husband.

If you choose not to reply again, I will assume you don't want to go into all this anymore at all.

As I have said but you don't seem to be hearing, we are on the brink of separation unless there are changes, but you've told me you won't get help and you don't see the same need. So...what then?

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 14:54

I know many of you said don't bother.
I just wanted to set it out.
Also he was on a late shift and same today so I won't see him.
The no reply makes me feel ignored and crucially he knows this

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 01/08/2016 15:02

exactly. But he doesn't give a shit. Thats the issue!

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 15:08

Wow. He really doesn't!

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 15:08

But why get married and everything if you don't give a shit??

OP posts:
Doinmummy · 01/08/2016 15:20

Don't send the email to him , he won't read it because he's an addict and doesn't want a mirror holding up in front of him so he has to look at himself.

Send the email to yourself , keep reading it, what does it tell you ?

DietCockBreak · 01/08/2016 15:28

Maybe take the letter with you to relate to be clear about what the issues are from your perspective, while he's in a good position to be receptive about what you're saying.

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 15:29

Things are bad Sad

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 15:32

OK dietcock that's a good idea

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 01/08/2016 15:46

if he can't be arsed to reply to your recent message, he certainly won't engage at Relate

you are flogging a dead horse

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 15:58

I cannot imagine what he thinks is going to happen at Relate!

OP posts:
Doinmummy · 01/08/2016 16:00

He is an alcoholic . You will get nowhere until he has been sober for at least a year . No cutting down , no dry nights ,100% SOBER.

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 16:04

He has taken no action about anything!
Ever!
he has reduced his intake a bit by switching red wine for gin basically.
This is about me making a decision and not wishing he'd agree with it

OP posts:
TempusEedjit · 01/08/2016 16:10

I understand why you felt the need to send the email but you're expecting him to read and react to what you're saying as though his moral compass is set the same as yours. Unfortunately as he doesn't see life through the same rational sober lens as you he won't have that lightbulb moment you so hope for as the drinking/not wanting to face up to the person he is/his selfishness will make your words bounce off him like arrows off a shield.

There comes a point where supporting the person can turn into supporting the problem. I think that going to Relate will only allow him to bury his head further into denial, he needs AA not marriage counselling. The only way you can help him now (and yourself of course) is to walk away.

FoggyBottom · 01/08/2016 16:15

He's alcohol dependent clearly - Relate won't help - get yourself to AlAnon which is for people who are involved/families of alcoholics. You can't change his behaviour, it's not your fault, you need support. At AlAnon, there will be others in similar situations, and you'll get support for you. Alcoholics generally think it's all about them. It's not.

theansweris42 · 01/08/2016 16:25

thanks tempus and foggy.
he most definitely doesn't want to face this.

OP posts:
adora1 · 01/08/2016 16:31

I spent 13 years with a man I love dearly and alcohol was constantly in the picture, sometimes I just drank with him because it seemed easier and it make me feel like we were on an equal footing, daft I know but I loved him, when you love someone so much it's very hard to walk away, especially when it's not about another person.

He won't realise how much it is affecting you, even now, they just don't get it, they think they have it under control and you are just being a nag or a fun spoiler. Our sex life went down dramatically and I knew it was due to the booze, it really affects a person's sex drive, again, he wouldn't face up to it because he enjoyed a drink, was highly intelligent, in fact, overly clever and you'd never know he drank every night, he was fully functioning beyond expectations - this just reinforced to him that he was doing nothing wrong and it was all me, eventually I got so fed up of it I had to walk away, have always regretted how we broke up because we could have had a fantastic future.

However much it hurts, you really need to walk away.