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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

Advice needed - heads totally fucked

97 replies

WankingMonkey · 26/01/2017 22:06

I don't really know what I hope to achieve by writing this. I guess I am just looking for unbiased opinions..this is likely to be long as I don't want to be dripfeeding later on so I will try to cover as much as I can

I have been with my husband coming up 10 years now. He has always been a bit jealous and possessive but its never caused any real problems until pretty recently. Yeah we have bickered about stuff, but never properly fell out over it.

This will seem irrelevant but it may go someway to explaining some of the recent behaviour. I don't know if it does as I do tend to think sometimes he uses this as an excuse but anyway. My mother has always favoured my sister. I have in the past got upset about this. My mother also did not come to my wedding. She had plans, though there was a few months notice and honestly, its something thats easily rearranged/cancelled. She has also previously fell out with my husband though they seem to get on fine now.

I rarely go out on my own. This is partly as we are very skint and partly as I canot be arsed to deal with the strops that would happen if I did. I know this makes me seem a fool from the offset for putting up with this, but as I said, its never really been that much of an issue before. However, because of this, I have pretty much isolated myself from my group of 'friends outside of him'.

I am currently on medication for chronic pain issues. My pain means I am often unable to do anything at all besides lie/sit in agony for hours on end. When this happens, he deals with the children as I can only give cuddles and talk to them. I am quite sure I could not manage on my own due to this, though I know thats not a reason to ignore this (what I think is) pretty shocking behaviour.

So. It has been my birthday recently. My mother paid for a spa day with overnight stay for me as she said I could do with a break plus she had done the same for my sister on her birthday. I was pretty happy, its quite rare I spend any time one on one with my mother, and though we have had problems in the past about various things, we are pretty close and tend to get on well. She informed me of this a month or so before we were due to go. My husband had a bit of a bitch on about it, long the lines of 'she doesn't care any other time so why now' and such, that I brushed off and told him to not be so silly and that I was looking forward to it. Then everything seemed fine. Until 2 weeks before I was due to go when he suddenly decided that he absolutely had to go to the same spa. He knew round about when we were going but dates aren't his strong suit. He went ahead and booked for the 23rd Jan. He then claimed that this was nothing to do with us, just something he wanted to do. I was suspicious tbh as he is not really a spa person at all and it just seemed too coincidental that he had had a problem previously and then happened to book for that date..so (and I may have been in the wrong here) I lied to him and said that thats perfectly fine as we were going on the 21st so would be back intime for him to go so there would be no issues with childcare and that. He then 'randomly' decided that he didn't want to go on the 23rd, but he absolutely had to go on the 21st. Now, I knew he was just trying to cause problems for sure. At this stage I told him he was just being a dick, and that he could go anytime he wanted and he was obviously trying to cause trouble..he denied this and stuck to his 'I just want to go, and just happened to book what I thought was the same day as you, then change it the same day as you when I thought I was wrong on the date you were going..total coincidence'. After this followed 3 DAYS of bitching on. Saying I should cancel with my mam as she doesn't 'give a fuck any other time' and then trying to persuade me to go with him instead...even then deciding that me and him were to go the night before I was due to go with my mam, then me go back. At this stage I was just irritated with him and (again I may be at fault here) started just either ignoring his snipes or giving sarcastic replies. He continued kicking off and eventually I snapped and told him to grow the fuck up and pull himself together and under no circumstances would I be not going to this day/night with my mother. He then decided to tell me hes not been feeling himself recently and tried to tell me he had attempted suicide by tying a plastic bag round his head..but failed as there was holes in. Now, call me cynical but I knew this was bullshit, but on the offchance he was actually feeling suicidal instead of trying to manipulate me, I said that if he was really feeling that way he should speak to a GP. He called the GP the next day and got a sameday appointment, was given some antidepressants and a follow up appointment for the next week. He did not take the tablets, and cancelled the appointment for the next week also. He then kept dropping little comments pitying himself because I was so horrible as to still stick to my spa day when I knew he was feeling down, and so on. He was behaving so erratically I asked his father to watch the kids the night I was away. Because both...there was a 0.01% chance he was actually ill and not trying to be a dick and was a bit worried about leaving the kids with him if he was as unstable as he was coming across, plus I could see him deciding the day before or something that he couldn't watch the kids as a means of giving me no option but to stay home. Obviously his dad wanted to know what the hell was going on, so I told him. He called my husband and told him to stop being such an idiot..at this stage my husband tried playing the 'I have done nothing wrong' card and accused me of making it all up...however, after his conversation with his dad, during which his dad told him in no uncertain terms that he knows I did not make it up...everything seemed to calm down.

Infact, things seemed...too good. I should have suspected something at this stage really as it was a bit odd to switch from how he had been...to offering to pack my bags and being overly happy about the whole situation. So the day came, I went, everything seemed to be fine. I got to sleep before 12am for the first time in months (I don't sleep well) and then at 1.30am..we are knocked out of bed by the hotel receptionist. She tells my mam that there has been a drunk guy on the phone who is saying he is my husband and there is something wrong with my children as a means to speak to me. I called him back off my mothers mobile and he slurs 'I don't like being in this house on my own, come home now'. I know he is pissed..its blatantly obvious. I cannot be arsed with his drunken paranoia and stuff and am so tired and just told him I would speak to him when he was sober. He tells me he hasn't touched a drop of alcohol and the only reason he is slurring is because he currently (whilst talking to me) has a sandwich in his mouth (?!). He won't answer anything about the kids..so I say bye and call his dad to check if the kids are actually ill as was claimed or if (and this was my suspicion) he was trying to manipulate me again. Obviously, turned out there was nothing wrong with the kids, but his dad wanted to know why I had called him at 1.30 asking about them so again, I am not going to lie about it. I told him. I should probably mention at this stage, that he threatened the receptionist. I am not sure exactly what he said to her, but she told us he had threatened her and was saying he would come down there and bless her she seemed so apologetic even though it was not her fault at all. She also said if he did turn up, she would have to phone the police. I said fine, it might teach him a lesson to be banged up for the night as he can't go around threatening random people. About 15 mins after this, I get a call back off my father in law...my husband had claimed he was asleep all fucking night and that the call off his dad had just woken him up. So yet again trying to make out I was making it all up. His dad had then asked what he was playing at calling the hotel and threatening the receptionist and he said she was making it up (tripping up his 'I was fast asleep' story at the same time)...this is a woman who has never met him ever, has no axe to grind at all, and who was simply doing her job. Again, his dad told him he was being an arsehole and hung up. I then got a text saying nothing but 'goodbye' which I took to be him threatening suicide or something, and this may not have been my finest hour as I guess there was a small chance he was serious but I told my mam that I was 100% sure he was just manipulating me again...so fuck him. And ignored it. It also came out when I did get home (no earlier than planned) that he had spent all of our money out on the piss, buying everyone rounds and stuff. I was soo pissed off as we are so short on cash anyway at the moment and he had spent over 200 quid in a night. All seemingly to punish me for daring to go somewhere without him...

That was the end of all of that. Then my dad upon hearing of the whole event commented on my mothers facebook status about the spa, that 'it should have been a nice relaxing night if someone didn't ruin it. Some leopards never change their spots' or something. I hate facebook dramas but what my dad puts is upto him and its not really like anyone (bar me, my husband and his father) would even know what the hell he was on about. So the next morning I am woken up by my husband banging around going on about some 'dickhead' and that. I ask what on earths the matter and he says my dad put up that about him..well I knew this the day before but I guess he just didn't see it til the morning. He then bangs around a bit more muttering on, then comes back in with a huge smile on his face saying 'I told your arsehole father whats up'. With dread I check facebook and he has put up a status directed at my father calling him a dickhead and saying he needs to 'take a look at his wife before slagging others off'...so also insulting my mother at the same time. He then proceeds to tell me that my parents are no longer welcome in this house, and pretty much offers me an unltimatum between him and them...which I ignored completely. I hate people who ask others to make decisions like that (especially over something so small...). I then started texting my mam asking her/my dad to please not reply and put our lives on facbook even though I know that I would have a hard time not replying to that. I told my mother about what had gone on and she said it was a disgusting thing to ask me and that noone should ever expect their partner to make a choice like that. So that day...a lot of stropping and such, and random mentions of how he 'spoke to that girls manager and she will probably get sacked' for 'lying about him' and such. Yeah right...sure she will. Even less sure when I wrote out a whole comment card thing complimenting her on how professional she was throughout it all and apologising to her once again on behalf of my husband...

Today...it just seems he is wanting to argue for nothing. He woke me up this morning going on about how if I want him to leave he will leave and why don't I just tell him I don't want to be with him and such. I told him if he wants to leave thats up to him but not to make out it was my decision. He then decided he was sorry for saying this and that he didn't mean anything, but starts going on about how I should 'stick up for him' against my parents. I told him I would, if he was in the right but I do not think he is. Quiet for a bit, then he starts making cryptic comments about ultimatums and how he wouldn't like the answer (my message to my mum about this was something along the lines of 'if he pushes me for an answer, he won't like the answer I give' so it was fairly clear he had been reading my facebook messages). Pretty much brushed it off as I just feel so drained. Just kinda said 'ok' to pretty much everything for the rest of the day and didn't speak properly to him at all as I was so annoyed. Then he starts bleating on about getting some protein powder for the gym. We have had discussions about this before and when he started doing the gym he agreed that until our money situation is better...he wouldn't be asking for crap like that. Honestly, after how much of our money he wasted I felt he had such a cheek even mentioning this protein rubbish. I told him we do not have 30 quid to buy some powder that he doesn't need. He stropped. He asked again, I answered the same. He stropped and said he wouldn't bother going to the gym at all as there is no point without using protein powder. I stayed calm (though was screaming inside) and said that if he didn't want to go to the gym anymore, its entirely his choice. Half an hour later, he starts banging on about the powder again. I am sick to the back teeth of it all at this stage so I go upstairs out of the way, he shouts me back down and I say no, I have had enough. Hear a load of banging, which was clearly him throwing stuff around (though again, he denies that he threw anything, claims he fell over...4 times in a row and whilst muttering onto himself about how horrible I am)...and now here I am writing this out on my laptop in my bedroom while he huffs downstairs.

I am pretty sure this behavior isn't normal. What the fuck do I do? I cannot deal with anymore of this childishness and I have kids to think about also who don't need to see their father behaving like a petulant teenager.

Or is it me that needs to be more understanding..am I blowing this out of proportion?

My head is up my arse tbh.

OP posts:
AshesandDust · 27/01/2017 00:36

If he's going off on one again don't take any risks, OP, get yourselves off to your family with the DC if you can.
And the cousin is off the trusted list, what a snake.

tipsytrifle · 27/01/2017 00:37

Thing is, he does smash stuff up doesn't he? Destructive behaviour includes things like threatening that woman at the spa too and his inflated rage assuming he had the power to get her sacked just like that. He has now suggested that people would be smashed up too. Hmmm ...

Is it at all possible for you and dc just to leave tomorrow?

For now, tonight, it might just be better to "play dumb". It's late, you don't need him to go on a rant right this moment. Sleep might be hard come by but you might be safer if you can prevent an escalation right now, bide your time til morning. Does he work? Will he be gone through the day?

WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 00:40

Nah he won't be reading this, he doesn't even know I come on here plus he is badly dyslexic, can pretty much not read at all.

Now...hes making me a cuppa and bringing me brownies. This is mental. I can see it all now and this is how he has done it. Gone from being like that to perfectly nice and normal the next second.

OP posts:
WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 00:59

Drill sergeant is a pretty much exact description...and partly water torturer too

From the link to the mumsnet thread that was posted earlier

OP posts:
tipsytrifle · 27/01/2017 01:05

I'm going offline for tonight (didn't want you to think I just vanished) but the night owls and internationals will be here so there is support right through the night, OP. Please stay safe, don't hesitate to call the police if things get crazy.

ageingrunner · 27/01/2017 01:09

It sounds exhausting. Could his behaviour be exacerbating your chronic pain condition? I bet he likes having you where he can keep an eye on you though Hmm
Please be careful he sounds like he could be dangerous to you and the children. Can you get in touch with women's aid for some advice on how to leave safely?
No it's not normal

WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 01:17

He was my first 'real' partner tbh. I have known nothing else. I think this is part of the reason for how its gone on so long. I don't have any 'normal' relationship experience to compare to. I have been with him since I was 19. I know this comes across as excuses, and tbh it might well be but I am just trying to work out stuff in my head at the moment. I cannot believe I thought any of it was even vaguely normal.

OP posts:
WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 01:19

I don't know about womens aid..I have NO time to myself at all. I would have 20 mins or so when he was taking the kids along to school but I don't think I even feel comfortable letting him do that on his own right now, so am unlikely to be able to talk to anyone, until I am at my parents' of course

OP posts:
WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 01:27

Aaaand we are back onto the protein powder now that he thinks he has buttered me up with a cuppa. Seriously?! Even more baffling that I didn't see it before. Back in a strop again now because I said I didn't want to hear it as I am tired and it will be the 4th time having the same conversation today.

OP posts:
ohtheholidays · 27/01/2017 01:43

Does he work and if he does will he be at work tomorrow?If he will,then as soon as your sure he's gone pack up what you and your DC need,including your passports(do not leave them for him to get his hands onto)anything you'll need to do with any bank/building society accounts of yours and your DC's,benefit letters,ect and don't tell anyone in RL what your doing(not even your parents,his parents or any friends)because someone could let something slip even if they don't mean to.

Do that as quick as you can and then leave,go to your parents if you can,if your scared he'll turn up whilst your packing then ask someone to be there with you whilst you pack but make sure you only tell that person and that they don't tell anyone else,keep yourself safe!

Contact your DC school as well (as soon as they've been dropped of at school)and tell them that under no circumstances are the children to be collected by anyone but you/who you say can pick them up.

I know it's alot to take in all at once,I was once where you are now,he was my first real relationship and we were together from when I'd just turned 16 till I was 25,I'd married him and we had 2DC.

He was like your husband and I had to get away for mine and my DC's safety! I honestly believe if I hadn't we may not be here now and I didn't want us to be another family ended because of an abusive marriage!

There's lots of support on here and you can do this and you should Flowers

Takealeafoutofyourownbook · 27/01/2017 01:46

I have a new partner like this man, I know exactly how your feeling 💐

He is ruining my life, but I love him. I'm also a mess op, your not alone

WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 01:46

He doesn't work at the moment, he had to give up for my health issues as I just couldn't deal with the kids on my own incase of a bad attack. Another thing I am shitting about as I already know I will struggle (at best) to cope. I know I could stay with my parents for a while but after that...

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 27/01/2017 01:58

I am aghast.

The suicide stuff - if he ever mentions it again, call 999. THis is not your problem to handle. (It is all bollocks btw).

He is creating chaos right now to prevent you from having any time to think. All of your energy is devoted to watching him and he is completely occupying your mind. He is bombarding you with nonsense so you won't have a square inch of mental space left to focus on yourself.

You say you have no time at all by yourself - he has no job to go to?

Can you go for a walk on your own?

He has made a mention of smashing things up and you heard him throwing stuff around. Your plan to get the kids out of there is a sound one. Please leave yourself asap. Gather all documentation that you are able to get your hands on - medical records, passports if any, certificates of marriage, any details on bank account numbers and amounts in them.

Also, if he can read FB posts he can read MN posts, so PLEASE log out when you are not posting.

There is no time to analyse him right now. You can pick it all apart later. For now, concentrate on leaving and put the rest on hold. You will only get bogged down in stressful memories if you try to rake over it all now, so focus on how you can get out.

mathanxiety · 27/01/2017 01:59

I would be very keen to get your mum, your FIL or your dad over there to help you pack and get out. I would do this asap.

FantasticButtocks · 27/01/2017 02:03

You'll find a way. You sound as though your head is totally screwed on.

Physically you may have the disadvantage, but mentally and emotionally you are plainly the stronger, saner, more competent one. You have dealt with all his ridiculous shenanigans admirably, attempting to keep normal boundaries in place etc. But he is beyond reason. It's going to be tricky working out a way to live without the practicalities of having him around, but you will make it work.

Is there any chance of recovery from your health issues? Could the stress of living with someone like this be an exacerbating factor?

e1y1 · 27/01/2017 02:14

Get out and get out now! Honestly, I think you could be forgiven for murder after putting up with that shit.

This is so beyond LTB, I'm going to say leave the cunt. I know that is a vile word to call someone, but on all that is Holy, leave! You CAN manage, you WILL manage.

Good luck.

Coffeegrain · 27/01/2017 02:18

I cannot believe you are talking about a grown man here, a father. What an absolute arse. I'm not surprised your head is fucked. I'm angry on your behalf. I hope you can find the strength to leave him, although I do think he'll get worse. He is trying to control you. There are always ways, you don't have to live like this Flowers

ohtheholidays · 27/01/2017 08:44

Sorry Monkey I've just come back on here now,will he leave the house at all today long enough for you to get yours and your DC's stuff together and to get out of the house?
Do you need him to do some food shopping?Or will he go to the Gym?

With the coping because of your pain,is there any soloution that your Dr's can offer with the pain or is it going to be an ongoing problem?If it's an ongoing problem will your parents help out with the children or your FIL?
If not or if they're help won't be for as long as you'll need it I'd speak to someone at Womens Aid to get some support from them, they are really good
www.womensaid.org.uk/?gclid=COX_n6z04dECFaOw7Qodw28IFQ

and they're help isn't only for women suffering physical abuse
This is from the Womens Aid's own page

*Women’s Aid defines domestic abuse [1] as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner or ex-partner. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse[2]
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial abuse
Harassment
Stalking
Online or digital abuse*

I promise you there is support out there,I know it can feeel even harder in your situation to be able to escape because of your on going pain, when I left my abusive marriage I'd not long been out of hospital after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis,I still have that condition 18 years later,so it can be done.

CityMole · 27/01/2017 09:49

Can you confide all to your mum and dad now? Show them this thread? You need the support of close relatives and a safe haven away from this man who is very unhinged. What is his routine- does he go out to the shops or the gym? you need to make an escape plan and get out with your essential paperwork. Clothes and things like that can be picked up by your relatives later. Sending you lots of love and hugs- it sounds like you need a massive real life hug. You have finally opened your eyes to what he is doing to you and you must feel completely bewildered, betrayed, afraid, confused. however, today is the start of the rest of your life. you cannot possibly be ANY worse off than you are right now in terms of happiness and security. No wonder your chronic pain condition flares up, with this amount of stress to deal with!

WankingMonkey · 27/01/2017 15:10

I fucked up today. I was clearly running on pure adrenaline last night. my dads been at work so haven't heard anything from him yet and my plans went to utter shit. Kids went to school. I avoided him. He came and asked what was up and instead of brazening it out I broke down and told him I thought it was a good idea to split up. We then went through a cycle of his self-pity, paranoia and outright lies (receptionist still lying, everyone blames him for everything) and finally blaming me as apparently we don't talk. Then went back into charming mode. And now I am even more fucked up and questioning myself. This is awful. I actually think I would prefer outright aggression as at least it would be clearer. I know thats a horrible thing to say but its true.

OP posts:
CityMole · 27/01/2017 15:19

you poor love, no WONDER your head is fucked. You didn't mess up though today, not at all. You were just a decent honest person, unlike him. Whether he means to or not, he is controlling you and gaslighting you. You don't behave that way to people that you truly love.

You KNOW that his charming mode is an act, right? I think the only way you are going to get out of this is to play along and pretend that you have been charmed back into submission, all the while making plans in the background,. When you do actually leave, you'll do so with no advance warning to him at all so that he can't launch the faux charm offensive again.

DonaldFlump · 27/01/2017 15:21

Keep reading this thread. It might not be clear to you, after the number he's done on your head, but to anyone outside it, his manipulation and emotional instability couldn't be any more obvious.

You need to end it with him. You are absolutely allowed to end it. Flowers

ohtheholidays · 27/01/2017 15:27

Monkey he's gaslighting you!

If you have a look on here it shows you what some of the signs are,it makes for very interesting reading
www.davidwolfe.com/10-signs-victim-gaslighting/

TGItsNotChristmasAnymore · 27/01/2017 15:38

Omg now usually I will absolutely try and see both sides of the story and I hate making assumptions abot people's mental health based on small pieces of information people disclose in their posts but op you really do need to LTB (my first time at advising this BTW).
The events you have explained are the actions of an incredibly unhinged person. The abusive aggression, the paranoia, the complete inability to see how unacceptable his behaviour is. The demands, the extreme mood swings, emotional manipulation and the want to complete control your every move and completely isolate you.
This isn't normal and tbh I would be very scared for my own safety and that of my children /family. My intention is not to scare you op but I cannot stress enough how irrational and dangerous this man sounds, please please get help/support and yourself and your dc away from this. I understand that things are a struggle and you clearly have health and financial issues to consider, can you ask for support from his dad, the police, women's aid?

witsend2906 · 27/01/2017 15:50

Please leave. As soon as you can. Before you don't even recognise right and wrong or yourself. I have been here. Exactly where you are only without children. Now I have children I can't imagine how potentially destructive he is going to be to them.
If you can't find the reasons to save yourself from this, save your children. Please.
This type of emotionally abusive person NEVER gives up until you are a shell of a person with no friends and family that want anything to do with you.
There is life and love and laughter and joy and space the other side. I promise.

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