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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

He calls her a Psycho, but still indulges in an Emotional Affair with her

46 replies

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 14:46

I've been married a couple of months, but been with him for 5. When we first got together one of his female friends would randomly start publicly messaging him on Facebook asking him if he wanted to meet etc. I found this quite bizarre, because a text would have been more appropriate. I quickly realised it was for my benefit but it was laughable so I brushed it off. Over time he told me that she was very ill, had been sexually abused as a child, and led a difficult life. He said she was in a wheelchair and was not doing so good. I had a lot of sympathy for her, and encouraged him to see her/ text her whenever I enquired how she was. He always said he'd been busy and would later. I'd tell him what a shit friend he was and we'd moved on. He would always say she's temperamental and falls out with this so he kept things distant and civil. It was always clear to me, in the way she's texted him that she had feelings for him. I asked him if they had history and he said that she had asked him out but he was never interested. Something about her screamed needy and desperate. She never sat easy with me and his responses never did anything to alleviate my suspicions. I knew he wasn't having an affair but I always felt he was hiding something.
When we decided to get married he text her and invited her to the wedding. She responded by saying he was insensitive for inviting her and wanted space from him. A few days later she text him to say she was getting married too. We both laughed and he called her a crazy psycho, who was attention seeking again. He said her illness, abuse stories were all questionable because she liked drama. I told him he shouldn't be entertaining her because she clearly has feelings for him. Her Twitter was full of cryptic unrequited love statuses/quotes. She had asked him to help her out financially but he led her on making her think he would help, but didn't because it 'was too much commitment and not worth the risk'. She got angry and cut off contact. This 'I'm leaving whatsapp, need space for a while' was a constant occurrence. But she'd always be back days, weeks later.
After we got married, she text him asking how old I was etc and if they wanted to meet. Coincidentally he was driving and I was holding his phone. He asked me to check the message and then said he wasn't going to reply. She text him again later at midnight asking if I was asleep. I was seriously annoyed at this point because I just found her wholly inappropriate. He didn't respond because I was around most likely, so surprise surprise - she sent him a 'I'm leaving whatsapp, need space' message. We argued and he promised to block her. He did. I was still uneasy and kept checking his phone, he had unblocked her. I felt like such a possessive wife for doing this, but I couldn't shake off the negativity about her.
It was quiet for the next few months and once or twice I'd asked him if he had heard from her and he said no.
Earlier this week my curiosity got the better of me and I checked his phone to see if she'd been in touch. He's deleted his Facebook icon. I went on his messenger and found that she had messaged him earlier in the day. From the gist of the conversation it had clearly been a while since they had spoken. She began by mocking him for not being 'allowed to have female friends'. He apologised profusely for cutting contact with her, saying that i was territorial and he had to cut of female contact until things had settled. I was livid - this was never about 'women', it was about her only. He tried to talk about other things, but she always brought the conversation back to me, asking how he 'calmed me down' and if he was allowed to hang out. She called me petty and saying he had upset her but she realised he was helpless. Predictably, her Twitter then exploded with 'insecure women' quotes.
I feel so betrayed by him and humiliated that he allowed her to talk about me like that an indulged in it himself. I have never stopped him having female friends or communicating with anyone. He refuses to see that he has done anything wrong. I think that he will just be careful now but still continue his contact with her in secret.

OP posts:
toptoe · 07/12/2016 14:55

He's enjoying the attention from her. He also doesn't mind running you down to her saying you're 'territorial' aka possessive or her down to you saying she's a 'crazy psycho'. He sounds like he's playing her and you a bit too even though you're married.

I shouldn't think any amount of explaining to him will change his views. He will already know what he's doing, he just isn't interested in your/her feelings. He's enjoying himself and that's that.

What are you going to do? I suggest coming off social media or at least blocking her because you don't need that shite. Tell him straight you know what he's up to. But all you can really do is hope he stops, as you can't control/change his attitude to women.

TheNaze73 · 07/12/2016 15:34

She sounds very manipulative & has scant regard for your marriage.

His mistake is giving a shit about what she thinks.

Bluntness100 · 07/12/2016 15:38

Hmmm, weird, has there been something between them in the past? Could there be now? To be honest, he's running down her to you and you to her. You can see that right?

I'm sorry, but from what you'd describe I think there is more to this than he's telling you.

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 16:14

I have asked him if there has been anything going on in the past. He said she was interested in him but he wasn't in her. I would have had no issue with them communicating, but I just don't understand why he needs to be so derogatory toward me when he talks to her and allowing her to do the same.

OP posts:
Adora10 · 07/12/2016 16:17

He's weak and needs to tell her to fuck off literally, he won't do that, you need to find out why he thinks she's so important whilst calling her a psycho at the same time.

It's not you, it's him and it's definitely her.

Adora10 · 07/12/2016 16:19

They are both being inappropriate OP, name calling you, her calling him at all hours and him allowing it - tell him to block her completely, if he won't then you have your answer.

Why would you even want to be friends with a woman who is clearly on the edge and capable of anything. Can only assume he enjoys her attention.

Bluntness100 · 07/12/2016 16:24

but I just don't understand why he needs to be so derogatory toward me when he talks to her and allowing her to do the same.

Bluntness100 · 07/12/2016 16:27

Also, what he's telling her about you isn't true. So why are you so sure that what he's telling you about her is?

Emmageddon · 07/12/2016 16:30

I would give your DH an ultimatum. Me or her. If he persists in this ridiculous relationship, then walk away. Don't be a bit player in their petty drama.

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 16:38

I think he bad mouths her to me because he thinks that's what I want to hear. I don't actually want to hear anything about her, but at the same time I don't want to constantly be thinking he's slagging me off and laughing at me with her. He genuinely does not see this as an issue.

OP posts:
HuskyLover1 · 07/12/2016 16:48

What Emma said. It's wholly inappropriate. It does seem as though she is doing most of the running though. I'd be very tempted to call her and give her merry hell. You are allowed to be territorial, FFS, she is pursuing your DH. I'd also ask your DH how he would feel, if you were being pursued by a male and refused to cut contact with said male?? Definitely ultimatum time. He cuts ALL contact or the marriage is over.

AhYerWill · 07/12/2016 18:01

This is ALL him. He's leading this poor girl (unstable or not) on telling her all sorts of lies about how horrible you are, whilst telling you how horrible she is. Basically he wants to have both of you believing his lies about how mental the other woman is and fixating on that rather than seeing him for the gameplaying disrespectful liar he is.

Naicehamshop · 07/12/2016 18:58

Don't turn your anger on to her op!

The blame lies 100% with your dh. He made a commitment to you and he is now criticising you to another woman and sneering at you behind your back. Give him an ultimatum and if he doesn't listen, then get rid. He sounds awful.

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 19:00

I can't leave him. I'm pregnant. He told her I was too. She immediately asked him if he was happy about this. He said yes, but nevertheless continued to berate me.

OP posts:
Naicehamshop · 07/12/2016 20:54

I realise that this is incredibly hard and I'm not trying to dismiss the difficulties, but you can leave even though you are pregnant and in the long run it it may be your better option. How can you stay in a relationship where he is criticising to another woman you like this?

PoisonousSmurf · 07/12/2016 21:00

They sound like they are still in love. You're being made a fool of and you're letting them! Grow a pair and make a stand.
You now have a baby to think of. He needs to grow up and she needs to keep her beak out of it!

PoisonousSmurf · 07/12/2016 21:02

Bunny boiler! Keep well clear of both of them.

HardLightHologram · 07/12/2016 21:09

Have you only been together five months or was that a typo?

RebelRogue · 07/12/2016 21:31

You laughed with him at her. Now they're laughing at you. The only common factor in all this is your OH.

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 21:36

We've been married 5 months, but together 5 years.
I didn't laugh at her in a malicious manner; it was merely at the immaturity and outrageous nature of the attention seeking. I've done nothing but have empathy for her, until the point the stories became unbelievable and and screamed work-of-fiction

OP posts:
Graphista · 07/12/2016 21:52

What makes you so sure they haven't in the past and aren't now having a relationship? That's absolutely what I'd be thinking. His denying it means nothing. You're seeing the evidence that they're having inappropriate conversations at inappropriate times.

I agree being pregnant isn't ideal but I'd give him an ultimatum her or you! Then you'll know where you really stand.

Bluntness100 · 07/12/2016 21:55

I think he bad mouths her to me because he thinks that's what I want to hear.

Jaded85 · 07/12/2016 22:01

She's not in a wheelchair anymore. She said the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her.
I think he enjoys the fact that she's infatuated and obsessed with him. She is constantly talking and asking questions about me. His actions are telling me he has no loyalty to me & that hurts so much.

OP posts:
Deadsouls · 07/12/2016 22:10

Your DH is triangulating.
You are being played off one against the other, whether consciously or unconsciously. If he's describing her as a 'psycho' to your face, but is friendly with her behind your back, what do you think he is saying about you to her?
What is it that you want OP?
If you need him to cut off all contact with this 'friend', then ask him. I think it is disrespectful to you and your relationship that this is carrying on. No matter if he says or makes out that it's all her doing, the fact is he's a part of it too and probably a part of him encourages and enjoys the attention.

kittybiscuits · 07/12/2016 22:37

There is only one person who needs telling to fuck off here and that's your H. Sorry. But he's a cunt.