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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

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.

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skyyequake · 06/10/2016 17:51

You know I could, if it wasn't for the fact that my brain would be screaming don't be so damn melodramatic you wuss! at me because as soon as I even think the word "abusive" I have his voice in my head saying "don't be ridiculous".

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 17:52

And don't be afraid to cry!! If you need to, it's ok. I burst into years in the waiting room when my ace GP smiled at me Blush

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 17:54

as soon as I even think the word "abusive" I have his voice in my head saying "don't be ridiculous this is because he was an abusive bastard! Cry if you need to, you're a survivor!

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 17:54

we're all here for a heavy duty handhold if you need us too xxx

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 17:58

Well say you've spoken to CAB who described him as abusive.

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 18:01

I will probably cry, whether I want to or not!

I'm feeling really nervous! How ridiculous is that? I think I'm scared that she's going to be the person to tell me that I'm making a fuss about nothing.

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 18:12

Can you show the GP your original post? Either on your phone or printed out? Or read it

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 18:15

I would feel really awkward doing that... BUT I could probably memorise most of it in the next 10 minutes

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Hidingtonothing · 06/10/2016 18:17

I guarantee she won't, forgive me for being blunt Sky but the only person minimising what he is and what he did is you, no one else thinks he's anything other than abusive. That's normal I think, when you've lived through it you kind of have to minimise to cope but honestly, you're not being melodramatic, you're not a wuss and you're not making a fuss about nothing!

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 18:21

Thank you Hiding I know logically that I'm not, but I've had that self-doubting voice in my head since I was 7 years old so it's a hard habit to break. I've got to get DD ready and go now so I will talk to you all later Flowers

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Hidingtonothing · 06/10/2016 18:28

Hope it goes well, ultimately I'm not sure it matters how it comes out as long as it does but I do understand how you feel, I suffer with depression periodically and get myself in a right state everytime I have to explain to the GP. Will be thinking about you Flowers

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 18:33
Flowers
ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 18:52

Hope it went ok Skyye

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 19:25

Hey I'm back and DD is safely tucked up in bed...

I didn't cry!

But yeah it went well, was only a short appointment but the doctor was absolutely lovely. To cut a long story short I described my situation, she asked a couple of questions and offered some reassurance, asked if I felt that I needed anti-depressants or if I would be ok with being referred to a counsellor. I said that I didn't feel I needed anti-depressants but it would be good to talk to a counsellor so she's referring me and I should get a call about it in the near future. She said if I felt like my depressive symptoms were getting worse or not improving that I should make another appointment to get a prescription for ADs but she's left the ball in my court on that front.

But yeah it went very well! Thanks for helping guys Flowers

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ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 19:26

Well done! It might not feel it but you took an absolutely massive step in talking to the GP and telling her everything. I'm so glad she was reassuring and was able to offer you ways to help. How do you feel now? Xx

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 19:46

Tbh it felt a little anti-climactic. I think I built it up so much in my head and then it was just like... normal. But yeah, I'm glad I'm going to be getting counselling, but again a little nervous. I get nervous about everything though as evidenced today

I think I just need to chill out for a bit now. I've got Freedom tomorrow too... And dad's coming over some time during the weekend and I don't know how I'm going to talk about it to him tbh. He doesn't deal well with feelings so he'll probably be quite dismissive.. Not in a nasty way in a kind of "oh well, you made a mistake with him, it happens." Kind of way. I know he's trying to kind of not linger on difficult topics and convince me everything's fine but... he's just a bit emotionally stunted tbh Grin

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tiredvommachine · 06/10/2016 19:55

Well done sweetie x

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 20:06

Ah that sounds exactly right :) Did you get an idea of waiting times for the counselling?
Have you added the GP to the list of people who haven't said you're making a fuss?
Your dad sounds like DH. Will have a think on how to talk to him for you.
Well done :)

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 20:20

No I didn't whoops Confused

Yeah I guess I can do that can't I? And you all get to say "I told you so" Grin

And thank you, I need all the help I can get with dad!

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GabsAlot · 06/10/2016 20:26

hi sky

glad gp went well-i just remembered did the police ever call you back?

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 20:34

hi Gabs no they didn't... bit shitty isn't it?

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Onnapostit · 06/10/2016 21:36

Hi Sky, delurking here.

My dad was a very practical sort. Few words type and I didnt think that I would get any emotional support from him after my abusive relationship, but he pleasantly surprised me. He was just supportive and encouraging in a mostly unsaid form. And that was all that I needed. We would go for long walks with the dog, or to the local for a quiet drink. Sometimes we'd talk about how I was feeling, but not all that often. Just having his company helped me so much.

Like you, my local WA offered counselling so I had experts in DV to talk to . My GP also was very supportive. So Dad was the exact type of support I didn't know I needed - I hope your dad is too for you.

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 21:47

Thanks Onna I'm glad you had the support you needed Flowers

My dad can talk for England but without really saying anything, you know? He also has the very annoying habit of projecting onto situations. I get that it's his way of being supportive and giving advice, but it does sometimes feel like he's just telling me how it is, without actually having experienced the situation... He is very opinionated and sometimes I just have to get him to stop and listen and actually take something seriously rather than just putting it down to my limited life experience.

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ayeokthen · 07/10/2016 16:52

Hey Skyye sorry I've not been about, youngest DS is poorly and needing lots of cuddles bless him. How are you doing? Xxx

skyyequake · 07/10/2016 17:16

Oh no Sad hope he gets better soon!

Todays been up and down... Freedom was difficult as we went over the "Badfather" type of abuser and it really hit home, but everyone was lovely and supportive and I cried

Had a nice chat with one of the ladies who runs the group afterwards so that was nice...

DD was wonderful in the creche, and fell asleep in the buggy on the way home. Then when she woke up she had obviously been possessed by satan. After a bit I took her out to Sainsbury's and gave her a biscuit and she seemed alright after that. She's even eaten some of the food I cooked her tonight!

So yeah, feeling a bit burnt out again but positive on the whole!

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