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

Where do I start?

999 replies

skyyequake · 15/09/2016 16:34

I have no idea what I'm expecting to get from posting here, so I guess that I'll just tell the story and you can just shake me/comment whatever you think

When I met DP he was wonderful, we clicked straight away, had lots of laughs and he seemed really down to earth and wonderful. We quickly started spending most of out time together (I worked PT but with lots of overtime, he was unemployed) All my friends had gone off on their second year of uni around this time and so I wasn't spending time with anyone other than him. I was 20, he was 22.

Anyway, I guess I kind of got lost in that world without many outside influences and before I knew it (far too soon and before I really had time for my thoughts to catch up with me) we were engaged and I was pregnant. (I was happy about being pregnant and I wasn't forced into it)

The first time we had a disagreement was about me texting my friend (who was male) he said I was texting and felt like I was more engrossed in my phone than on our time together. I disagreed but compromised and agreed to text less. This quickly dwindled into not texting at all due to DPs sulking every time I sent a single text.

The next time I heard from my friend was when he sent out a mass Christmas text, I replied and we got talking. I mention I was pregnant and he congratulated me. It was at this point that DP went mental because I was smiling at my phone (because I was excited about pregnancy) and I apparently gave him a "look" which meant I must be flirting/cheating or something. I told him I could talk to whoever I liked and this just seemed to confirm to him that I was doing something dodgy. We had a massive argument. He told me I had no self-respect (I had been completely honest about my sexual history). This was the first time he pushed me to break down in tears.

Over my pregnancy, we had a ton of arguments where he would blow up and tell me I was lazy, stupid, naive, etc telling me that he was just trying to make me a "better person". I can't count the amount of times he left me in the bedroom balling my eyes out, cradling my bump and apologising for bringing her into such crap.

During my first trimester I had really bad morning sickness which left me feeling nauseous all of the time, I could barely sleep, and I was still working PT on a shop floor so on my feet all shift. It left me feeling depressed and exhausted. He would complain to me that we weren't having sex, because it made him feel like I didn't care about/love him anymore. One time we were in the middle of doing some sexual stuff and I suddenly had to dart out of the room to literally go and throw up in the toilet. When I got back he was sulking because "it didn't make him feel very wanted"

After DD was born, DP had to go away for a couple of days to paint up and move us into our new flat (we were in a shared house before). It was supposed to be a couple of days and I was in hospital for 3, when he still wasn't done I went to stay with my DGM. It took him (and family members) 3 weeks to complete it. When I would get frustrated that he would give me a "done by" date and then on that day say that they were nowhere near finished, he would yell down the phone at me that he was stressed and exhausted (I was looking after a newborn essentially on my own, whilst DGM did what she could she was nearly 80 at the time).

DGM overheard some of this, and when I told him that he was just stressed etc, she told me to never let him get up with the baby at night, as it only takes one time of anger for him to do something. He's never laid a hand on DD (now 14 months) but I always keep that in the back of my head.

Since we subsequently moved into our flat, DP has left basically everything up to me. He never did night feeds, rarely did nappies, hardly ever did any cleaning/housework. I was left with PND and when we argued he would corner me (although he denies this) and yell in my face whilst I was holding DD. Sometimes he would force me to give her to him, I would resist at first but then give in for fear he would try and snatch her off me and hurt her. Then he would continue screaming at me whilst he held her. He would continue to call me a lazy, naive little girl and would tell me that he had to break me down from what I was in order to build me back up again, and that at least now I had some self-respect.

In between all this he would be lovely. He would apologise for things he had said, citing anger problems as the reason. He said that he didn't mean anything he said during anger, even when I pointed out that that surely is what he's really thinking and he'd just done away with his filter. He denies this.

We broke up earlier this year for three months. It was always temporary, until he proved that he could step up and do his share of housework and childcare. After that amount of time he really seemed to have changed and so I (stupidly) let him back.

Almost immediately he began to fall backwards and has become more and more difficult to try and talk to about it. Telling me I'm nagging/moaning/"the only one who hasn't changed is you". This culminated last night when he accused me of not cleaning to "the same standard he can" and that when I was on my own with DD my "standard of hygiene was unlivable" (I spoke to my NDN today, who was around a lot during that time, she said there was nothing wrong with the cleanliness of my home)

He has also told me on occasion that I'm not really Bi, because you can only be gay and straight, and that it doesn't matter anyway because I'm with him so sexuality is irrelevant. He's also suggested that I'm more likely to cheat on him because I'm Bi.

I have no friends left, I don't know if my dad will understand how bad it is (he usually has excuses for him), and my DGM died in June. I'm NC with my mum, and I have no one left except my NDN who is lovely and probably the only reason I haven't gone insane.

I don't know if I can get him to leave again. The only reason he left before was because I got him to think it was his idea, he won't make that mistake again.

I keep telling him that I want the person I met back, but I don't think that person exists anymore, if they ever did.

Sorry for any typos and that this is so long.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
51
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 09:41

Sixties This is Tom Cavanagh... he is 52 Dan Craig is 48 and I have the biggest crush on him and yes I know he's 30 years older than me I have no shame

Where do I start?
OP posts:
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 09:46

Skyye I wanted to cry reading about how you were treated. You're an absolute credit to yourself, and your DD will really enjoy the relationship you have together. The more I hear about you, the more amazed I am by just how strong and determined you are.

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 09:48

Oh and while we're on about mature crushes, Gabriel Byrne is mine Blush he's the same age as my bloody dad Shock

Where do I start?
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 09:57

Tbh I just had to google who that was... and I'm still not sure Grin

Not mature one's but may I offer up Sebastian Stan and Kit Harington!!

Where do I start?
Where do I start?
OP posts:
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:02

Gabriel Byrne is an actor, it's his voice that does it for me (I'm realising I may have a voice obsession!) David Caruso's voice is really sexy too, but he's not my cup of tea.

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:02

Ooh who's the one on the left?

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 10:08

My DGM had a massive crush on David Caruso

That is the wonder that is Sebastian Stan. Age 34. Originally Romanian. Plays Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel films. Also plays Dr. Beck in The Martian. Is also very dreamy.

OP posts:
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:10

He is very dreamy!!!

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:13

Another weird one, Mark Womack (Ronnie off EE husband in real life) and Ruzek from Chicago PD

Where do I start?
Where do I start?
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 10:23

Neither of them are my cup of tea, but I can see the appeal of the guy on the right!

You know doing this has made me realise that I have far more crushes on girls because I'm really struggling to find any more guys I like Grin

OP posts:
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:27

I love a good girl crush!
Sasha Alexander, Mariska Hargitay and Sophia Bush are mine!

Where do I start?
Where do I start?
Where do I start?
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 10:40

You watch a lot of cop shows don't you aye? Grin

I mentioned Chloe Bennet upthread but also Kat Mcnamara, Emilia Clarke and Kristen Stewart... And I realise they're all blonde in the pics Confused but usually Kat is a redhead and the other two are brunettes so...

OP posts:
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 10:41

I do! Far far too many in fact Grin I love Kristen Stewart!

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 10:47

Kristen Stewart is actually gorgeous. Her and Chloe Bennet tie in first place for my crushes Grin

OP posts:
SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies · 06/10/2016 13:26

Sixties This is Tom Cavanagh... he is 52 Dan Craig is 48 and I have the biggest crush on him and yes I know he's 30 years older than me I have no shame ......hey, I have a 10 year start on Daniel Craig and I don't care - cos I have no shame either Grin

Where do I start?
SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies · 06/10/2016 13:45

Giddy George is just beautiful........ I like Dan though cos he's a bit more worn around the edges like me

SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies · 06/10/2016 13:52

Skye I felt so sad when I read about your mum and her behaviour towards you, it beggars belief that an adult can do that to a child.

In spite of it all you come across as a thoughtful, caring and intelligent woman and mother. You now have this opportunity as a positive role model to start your family traditions from here on in. To make them awesome, fabulous , and magical in every way so that your DD and further generations to come will follow them - because how could they not.

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 13:59

10 years isn't that bad though Sixties! Sebastian Stan is 34 and I think it's pretty normal to have a crush on him... But 30 years! He's 7 years older than my dad Blush he is damn sexy in the flash though so I don't care

I am so excited to start making traditions with DD! I'm looking forward to Christmas this year because XPs not here because DD was 5 months last Christmas but this year she'll be almost 18 months so she'll actually half understand what's going on Grin Thank you for your kind words you've made me blush Blush Flowers

OP posts:
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 15:56

Guys I have the doctors in a few hours... Remind me what I should be telling her? Blush I can physically feel myself minimising already

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 16:02

I'd forgotten about you going to the GP Blush
Do you feel you need any help in yourself or are we concentrating on getting the tosspottery down on the record?

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 16:23

Little bit of both... and I love the term tosspottery!!

OP posts:
skyyequake · 06/10/2016 17:02

Guys I don't want to pester but I only have an hour and a half till my appointment and I'm panicking slightly

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 17:28

Sorry. Tea time & homework panics.

Right you.
Self esteem has been put through the mill. But you dont sound depressed or anxious to me. You probably were before but you are sounding better and better. You should possibly discuss options for contraception, counselling etc.
You need to make sure that you cover his abusive behaviour.
Controlling
Violence even if it was only threatened or implied
Isolation

You need them to understand that you are still vulnerable in as much as he's 'gone' but still checking up on you.

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 17:36

That's ok I understand!

I have the implant in so contraception is fine. I knew I wouldn't want any more DC for at least the three years the implant lasts after the ordeal I went through getting DD out!

Any ideas as to how I should start? I struggle bringing the subject up more than anything...

OP posts:
Hidingtonothing · 06/10/2016 17:47

Hi Sky, could you start with the bald truth do you think? That you've just come out of an abusive relationship and want to try and minimise the after effects by having support in place, people who know what you've been through so that, if you struggle at any point, you don't have to start from scratch with the back story? I missed the post where you first mentioned going to the GP so sorry if I'm missing the point Blush If I'm on the right lines I would have thought the GP will ask some relevant questions if you start this way which should, hopefully, make telling him/her the details easier.

Swipe left for the next trending thread