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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:
TempusEedjit · 25/08/2016 16:50

He likes his words doesn't he? Not actions though (well not unless they're yours] . Wishing you all the best for tomorrow at the agents Flowers

theansweris42 · 25/08/2016 20:18

He's saying he'll get help and we love each other we should try. Asking for a few weeks. I've said he asked this before.

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 25/08/2016 21:56

You could tell him that you might consider 'trying' once he has sorted himself out. But while he hasn't/isn't, you can't/won't. He has already said he doesn't want to stop drinking though. So has he changed his mind about that, or is he saying it in order to get you to stay with him? You won't know if he means it until he proves it. He's already said all the stuff about cutting down etc and it hasn't worked so far. Now he needs to address this problem. Then he can get back to you and see if you'd like to try again.

He is asking for a few weeks. A few weeks is what it would take for him to go into rehab and take this seriously. If you give in now and let things carry on, then things will carry on. If he goes off straightaway and starts to tackle this then maybe he stands a chance. If he believes you mean it and you're sticking to it, then maybe he will actually do it. But if he's just got to 'behave' for a few weeks and isn't taking the addiction to alcohol seriously enough any changes are unlikely to be permanent.

JerryFerry · 25/08/2016 22:07

You have the problem with his alcohol consumption, he doesn't have any problem with it. And you can only control how you deal with this. Live with it or leave it, but don't be thinking you can change his relationship with alcohol - because you can't. I know you don't want to hear this, but the sooner you realise it, the sooner you can get on with the rest of your life.

Hissy · 25/08/2016 22:12

He wants to address his drinking after his holiday

He's putting the alcohol before his wife leaving him

He's putting his holiday before his wife leaving Him because of his drinking

He could get AA support today. He could call helplines today.

He's booked an appointment for 6 weeks away.

That's where his marriage/family/home means to him. Everything is second, third, fourth or more places after alcohol.

There is no way back from this. He's not taking you seriously. He won't, until he hits rock bottom. The longer you are a part of the prop, the longer it will continue to blight your life

theansweris42 · 25/08/2016 22:21

You're all right.
He keeps saying he told me he'd rung the GP I didn't tell him then he should do more. I said it's not for me to instruct him.
Jerry, yes the crux is that I am unhappy with it for myself and my boys. He's fine with it. Feels he's doing well.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 25/08/2016 22:25

No fantastic He's not saying he'll give up, still that he'll decrease further & have alcohol free days.
You're all very kind to offer support.
Especially as I know I'm going over and over it.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 25/08/2016 22:28

What I need to do is tell him I'll be moving out, that if we both want to when he's worked on this stuff we can "try".
And leave it at that without trying to get him to agree/make it less difficult.

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 26/08/2016 07:06

Good plan OP Flowers

SickInBedOnTwoChairs · 26/08/2016 07:17

I agree with FB move out and get everything sorted gradually towards divorce. It's the way it's framed that may help you both psychologically. You will move on much faster than him. He will wake up one day divorced but in his head you two are still 'trying' and it will be a slow dawning that because he is essentially an ineffectual twat that is not prepared to take responsibility for his own actions, he is alone and has missed the best opportunity of his life. He has even had the benefit of you setting out your minimum requirements and yet he has failed every time to listen and take action. Move on OP, he won't change. You deserve far more than this.

theansweris42 · 26/08/2016 12:16

Thank you sickinbed we have talked a lot about what we agreed it would have to be and he hasn't managed it.
On way home to tell him.
Last night he was giving me a cuddle saying "it'll all be ok, well be ok" and said he'd come to bed with me. I said no and he was looking all puppy dog eyes. Ffs.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 26/08/2016 12:17

Bricking it about this conversation.
Because whatever his reaction I will have to fight my compulsion to react/make it better/ do what HE defines as reasonable.
Sigh.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 26/08/2016 13:19

Gah. He's been called into work.
Feel awful having the conversation on Friday evening of a BH weekend!
But I will do

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 26/08/2016 13:26

There's never a good time though.

theansweris42 · 26/08/2016 13:52

I know. I've texted him and said to we'll talk when he gets back.
Awfulness Sad

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 26/08/2016 21:08

Hideous

theansweris42 · 27/08/2016 08:00

Said to him the arguing has to stop.
We've tried everything and we can't sort it out.
I said we need to find separate living space.
He asked what drinking would I find acceptable?
I said that can only come from him, he thinks he's doing well as it is and it's not going to work unless he feels he needs to change his drinking.
We were calm, he said he didn't know what to say.
I said if he doesn't want to talk that's fine, I have decided.
He said can we talk over weekend and I said yes but that I don't feel there's anything we can do.
I've applied for new house.
I feel slightly better.

OP posts:
QueenofFatAsses · 27/08/2016 08:19

Awwwww shit hun, get out, get out, get out now!
I spent 10 years with an alcoholic, by the end I questioned every thing I thought.

He will always have a story that means he can drink and you and your children will always come second.
You deserve better x

QuiteLikely5 · 27/08/2016 08:28

Op can I ask how much he drinks and how often?

You mentioned two gin and tonics? Is that each night

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 27/08/2016 08:44

Op, have you read co-dependent no more? If you haven't, I recommend it. There's lots in there about learning to stop reacting and stop taking on responsibility for other people's feelings. It might just be a lightbulb moment for you.

dogsdieinhotcars · 27/08/2016 08:51

Having read the complete thread just got to say I really feel for you, good luck in everything. This sounds such a dreadful situation. Hope you find house and he sorts out his alcoholism. Cyber hug Flowers

Joysmum · 27/08/2016 08:52

The point is that if any amount of drinking is that important to him when your saying your relationship is over because of drink then any amount of drinking is too much.

theansweris42 · 27/08/2016 09:16

Thank you for all the replies.
They all help and support me.
Do recognise codependency in myself.
Told H last night I'm looking for a house and seen one and will not change mind.
He wants to sort it but I've said no.
I said we can try in the future if we both want to and the drinking isn't an issue.
I've applied for a house with estate agent.
Thank you again
(sorry and no, the 2 G&T's is a night he is staying sober)

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 27/08/2016 09:18

I'm being gradual with the detachment to try and mitigate his response (last time at this point he was shouting and crying on another room on phone and the boys could hear) and so that he doesn't do any sabotage (don't know what, but....)

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 27/08/2016 09:45

I said aim for end Sept to move. He said ok.
We're both sad.
Progress.

OP posts:
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