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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

Please help me, Is my partner controlling me?

123 replies

Noideawhattodoanymore · 14/08/2016 11:00

Hi all, this is my first post. I just don't know what to do anymore.

My partner of almost four years us making me feel like dirt all the time. He is a vey odd guy, he has a huge ego and desire for everyone to bow down to him.

He decides my emotions and then treats me in accordance with how he perceives I am feeling. For example, he will decide I am in a mood over something, or "niggled", and then punishes me for days by being snappy, standoffish, name calling, distant and listing all my faults. If I tell him he's got it wrong, and I fact I was perfectly happy, he says I am lying or that I am "checking" myself so I don't look bad. He insists on listing every possible fault with me and telling me I should be grateful to be with someone like him. He says my family hate me and I have been over indulged. To add perspective, my family never overindulge anyone. I am entirely independent and my family say it as it is, there is no nonesense or mollycoddling. You have to behave or get told you're doing something wrong. I confided in my sister about the over indulged comment and she laughed it loud and said that couldn't be further from the truth.

It feels like he is smashing my confidence bit by bit.

He upped and left after a row in March this year. The background being that for the previous 12-18 months I had a serious illness requiring 7 operations. He said I was ill for "attention" and called me "sick note" all the time. After the last operation in December (2 weeks before Christmas, which he invited his family round for so I had to cook Christmas dinner for him, mother, brother and sister in law and her family! After I had major surgery on my kidneys) I caught him using an online interactive porn site. The site was with local girls and he paid for the services. He initially lied to my face and said he hadn't used it and made our like I was deranged. Then he said it was an old account from prior to our relationship. I knew this wasn't true as I had actually set up the email account he was registered with. He then said he'd been waiting for too long for sex (5 days since we had last dtd).

So to come full circle, my confidence was destroyed. He, his friends and family crow about his ex fiancé from several years ago and I felt like shit about everything. He started raking up old "incidents", in particular that I didn't go to his sister in laws hen do. Firstly, I was in surgery on the day of the hen do, and secondly on her second hen do, I wasn't invited. For 7 months he had called me an embarrassment and horrible person for not going on the second one. He said his mum and sister in law had repeatedly asked where I was. To put further perspective on this, his mum and sister in law had told me the do was just for the bride to be and mothers. I was categorically not invited, so I know he was lying to me, seemingly to just make me feel shit.

We ended up in a row about the whole thing and he said my lack of confidence annoys him. He finds it irritating that I don't think I am pretty or confident...unlike his ex fiancé and girlfriends.

He told me I would be an appalling mother and wife and he couldn't think of anything he'd rather do less with me. I will also say I am one of 5 siblings and have 10 nephews and nieces. I adore them and look after them regularly and they love spending time with me. I of all the housework, cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, bills etc. He literally sits on his backside watching tv and that's it.

He left during the day whilst I was at work. Just moved out. He eventually came back after 4 weeks on the condition that I go to counselling because he thinks I am damaged and I need lots of work. He said he has been trying to fix me for years. He has isolated me from friends and family and expects me to run around after his family and only socialise with his friends.

When he came back, if ever there is a cross word, he says I need to go to counselling more. He says I begged him to come back and should be grateful he's here... I feel shit.

He later said he didn't mean his comments about me being a mother. Said we could try in a year or so for a baby and he wouldn't rule out marriage. He then said he never wants that with me...We went on holiday a month ago and he did the whole determining my mood And then punishing me for it. Eventually I asked what I had done wrong. He said I was expecting a proposal! WTF, I told him he had made it categorically clear he would never do that, or that he would ever want a baby. He then got defensive saying "how do you know I don't propose?". I referred him to his thoughts about me and he dismissed them as me being a "victim" and childish.... Then daily he started saying "if we have a child..." I eventually had to question this and he said he'd never rule out having a child, just never with me.... I mean, as far as I can tell that means, watch your back you're replaceable and will do for now.

We have now booked his dream holiday which has out a fortune, (and means my choice if holiday cannot happen) as soon as it was booked he reverted to Arsy, nasty comments and digs at me. It's too late to cancel the holiday.

His brother had a child yesterday, and ever since my partner has been over the moon about it, but has been treating me with absolute disdain and disgust. He is obnoxious, called me a cun and a fucing bitch. He said that's because I was a prick because I asked him to check with his brother when hospital visiting times were... I cannot win. I don't know what do do. I poured my entire savings into our house and treats for him to keep him sweet (spa last weekend, after which he then treated me like crAp, silent treatment etc...).

Sorry for the rambling message. I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
toptoe · 15/08/2016 19:29

It's him.

He will never change.

Life is too short to spend it with people who make you miserable. He calls you names. No one should call you names, even if you do something really shitty (which you haven't). Do not accept it.

I wouldn't bother explaining anything to him. Get a rental lined up, move out without him knowing anything about it and then instruct a solicitor so you can get your half of the house back once it's sold.

Don't waste any breath asking him to a. change, b. explain his behaviour c. what you are doing and why. Because he wont change - it won't benefit him - and he will only try to manipulate you into staying as he won't want to lose your income.

toptoe · 15/08/2016 19:30

c. explain what you are doing and why (he will use any explanation you give to turn it around on you and make you feel like a shit for wanting to leave. Then you'll stay and your life will carry on being miserable with him).

SandyY2K · 15/08/2016 20:00

I don't throw around the LTB phrase wily nilly, but please for your sanity and safely LTB.

What is it you actually like about him?

HerdsOfWilderbeest · 15/08/2016 20:11

Stop asking him for examples of things you've done. Detach. Tell him it's over and you're sure you will both be much happier alone.

GET OUT.

Look up rentals on rightmove. Nice and near your friends and family.

43percentburnt · 15/08/2016 20:28

Sofa at your parents. If you were my dd I'd put you in my room and I'd sleep in a tent in my garden, I wouldn't want you to spend a moment longer with such a dickhead.

Call your parents - tell them how it is. Take Wednesday off work, hire a van and put your stuff into storage (b and q often do van hire on the day by the hour).

Also watch out - could he be tracking you phone and net usage? Did he set your phone up for you?

HerdsOfWilderbeest · 15/08/2016 20:29

Also change passwords on email accounts etc

43percentburnt · 15/08/2016 20:29

Ps if you are so moody, ugly and horrid to be with surely he will be happy to break up with you! He's an abusive dickhead - ltb.

YorkieDorkie · 15/08/2016 20:37

I am Shock.

This isn't a bit of "controlling behaviour" this is emotional abuse. You're in an abusive relationship OP. Please LTB. LTB. LTB.

The man is scum!

LuckySantangelo1 · 15/08/2016 20:41

Oh OP. You say you want your relationship to work out, I have to ask, why is that? This man seems absolute unloveable. I can't see that he has one redeeming feature. Please move out. And be totally honest with your friends & family & you will have their support.

DoitotmeSheldon · 15/08/2016 20:52

This man is FUBAR and your life is to short to keep indulging him. You're too good for him and you know it

Memoires · 15/08/2016 22:17

Please set your sights on leaving this horrible excuse for a man. Whenever you might feel doubt, read the opening post her on this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/698029-Right-listen-up-everybody to remind you of how far away you are from a happy and equal relationship.

You only have one life. Don't waste it on this wankbadger sorry twat.

Grumpyoldblonde · 16/08/2016 10:40

This man hates you, he is an utter wanker, grab your stuff and get out. You deserve a great deal more, run like the wind and thank your lucky stars you don't have a child with him or a marriage certificate. Tell you family, don't keep his awful secret anymore and let people help you. Please LTB (actually LTC - cunt)

DaDman66 · 16/08/2016 10:57

Bin him.

He sounds like a massive twat.

springydaffs · 16/08/2016 11:07

You are in a frighteningly abusive relationship. Call your local Womens Aid if you can't get through on the national 0808 2000 247 helpline.

Womens Aid are THE experts and will give you close support and advice (legal, financial, practical) to get you out. You must get out.

At some point (soon!) do the Freedom Programme - find a course near you. I can't recommend this course highly enough. It will get your head straight in record time.

You can do it. Many of us on here have Flowers

Rainbowunicorn73 · 16/08/2016 11:14

I get it, op, I was with somebody for two years that destroyed my confidence, belittled and found fault constantly but then was able to play the victim and make it all my fault.
It drags you down and makes you unsure of yourself and so you stay even though you're unhappy because you believe you are in the wrong somehow.
Honestly though, the only way you can fix this is to leave, cut contact and begin the long hard road to building yourself back up again.
Good luck!

mydietstartsmonday · 16/08/2016 11:20

You need to leave.
Can you afford to rent a room somewhere in a shared house.
Material things are not worth it, forget the holiday, forget the house for now.

Just get out. Are you sure your parents can't put you up even if you sleep on the sofa. You just need to get out.

Plan your escape now. Call the numbers above and get moving.

whattheactualflump · 16/08/2016 11:28

Please leave him - what an absolute cock he sounds. Don't stay for the holiday (if it is him that has told you it is too late to cancel then check yourself - see what your options are on that one, sometimes you might get a percentage back). Good luck Flowers

YouAreMyRain · 16/08/2016 11:39

Hope you're ok OP. I've just seen this thread and I am open mouthed in shock at how nasty and vile he is! You can never appease him. He is hideously abusive.

I really hope you are making progress to get away from him. You will be so much better off without him!!

wizzywig · 16/08/2016 11:49

Is there a way you can pretend you are going on this holiday, pack yr suitcase with useless stuff like towels, go to the airport, check in and when he is on the plane pretend you need to go to the loo and get off the plane. Go home and pack up/ do what you need to. Just get away from him

Fauchelevent · 16/08/2016 11:55

None of what he says is true OP, but he's using you to take out his fucked up gross aggression and unhappiness and you deserve WAY better. LT fuck out of

Fauchelevent · 16/08/2016 11:57

Posted too early! Leave the fuck out of the bastard.

what really upsets me is in your post you almost try to prove to us that you're not what he says. You don't have to prove it. We know. He is just a vile pig of a man and your life and self esteem will be so much better once you're rid of him.

Idrinkandiknowstuff · 16/08/2016 12:03

Fucking hell, I'd leave him just for the silly girl comment. Patronising sexist abusive cockwomble.

LTB, right this instant.

milkykid · 16/08/2016 12:08

TBH If you leave you're still responsible for the mortgage. As it is in joint names.
If you can afford to leave and still pay your part then do that.
You could go via the courts and try to get him moved out for a certain amount of time, whilst you sell up.
You need legal and professional help ASAP.
Don't let this cock take everything from you !

PurpleWithRed · 16/08/2016 12:08

He is destroying you - but you still have time to save yourself. Get proper advice today from wherever you can (Women's Aid, Solicitor, CAB) to plan your break. I suggest you also start collecting evidence of ownership, financial records etc. Break it down into parts - you need to a) get away from him (or get him away from you), b) make sure you can get your property/investment back. These are separate things and may need different approaches and timing.

You are probably dreading the split and it is likely to be messy - he is not going to like having a decision like that made for him - which is why you need to make sure you do it right.

MorrisZapp · 16/08/2016 12:13

What they all said. But bearing in mind that you haven't already laughed in his face and booted him out, you aren't seeing things objectively and it won't be as simple as LTB.

So can I wave a neon sign at you saying DGP?

For the love of all that is holy, Don't Get Pregnant. Just don't. No ifs or buts. No I forgot to buy condoms or I had too much wine or my body can't tolerate the pill.

What ever you use for contraception, double it, triple it, nail it down. No chances, no risks. No room for rash caution throwing.

DGFP!! Because if you do, you're fucked. Good luck.