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

Is Dh controlling?

379 replies

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 08:00

I'm unsure if I will even post this, but I just want to write it out.

I've been feeling a bit down recently, so my dm suggested that dd and I could stay with them for a few days. We don't live close to family and I don't drive (am learning), so I don't get to see them much and have been missing them. The plan was for my sister to kindly drive us there and back in a few days.

I've been asking Dh what he thinks of the idea and if he's happy with it as he's been having a hard time at work, but every time I ask he just says he'll think about it. My family have needed an answer, so I perhaps wrongly pretty much said dd and I would be able to come.

Dh and I were talking about it again last night, and I could see he just wasn't happy about it. So I text my sister to tell her unfortunately we couldn't come now, but that Dh thinks we can all come as a family soon anyway. I told Dh but he wanted to look at what I had written. I told him no, it's the principal of not trusting me, I didn't want him to read my messages. That's just not something we do. But he kept pressuring me over and over, asking me lots of questions and making me feel nervous. In the end I let him read the messages (covering what my sister had written, as she had seen through what I'd said and wasn't too happy with dh and I didn't want him reading that).

Dh was upset about what I'd written, when I had only written the reasons he would rather I didn't go with dd. Maybe I shouldn't have written it in that way which I apologised for, but for years I feel I don't always give my family the full impression as I don't want them to be upset with dh, and I didn't want to do that again. Still, I had only written the truth to my sister.

Afterwards I was upset, and explained to Dh I felt he was bullying me into showing my messages which I was unhappy about. I also mentioned that over the years people have often told me that they think he can be controlling of me. He just didn't seem to understand and I just apologised.

Most of the time we genuinely have a wonderful relationship. He builds me up and makes me feel valued, loved and special. He's a fantastic dad to dd. He takes care of us, and is always there for us. But occasionally, things like this happen which I'm just not okay with. I try to speak to Dh, but he's is very clever and I feel I always just feel bad for saying anything.

I guess I'm just wondering what others opinions are in this please. Thank you

OP posts:
enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:33

I think perhaps since having dd I see it more, as I've asked myself if I would want her to be treated like that.

OP posts:
Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:33

Go to Waterstones and buy a book. Or get a family member to order one for you.

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:34

I promise I'm not a troll, I'm very real. I had no idea it was this bad until people started replying. Dh was my first proper boyfriend /love so it's all I know.

OP posts:
Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:35

The more you've revealed the worse it's got op :(

Blackbird82 · 10/02/2017 17:36

Keep talking on here. There are so many people who will help you. We don't know you personally but this could really be a great source of support for you right now

Kr1stina · 10/02/2017 17:38

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/coercive-control-how-can-you-tell-whether-your-partner-is-emotio/

Coercive control is now a criminal offence in England. Heres some examples from the CPS guidelines:

Isolating a person from their friends and family
Monitoring their time
Taking control over aspects of their everyday life, such as where they can go, who they can see, what to wear and when they can sleep
Depriving them access to support services, such as specialist support or medical services
Repeatedly putting them down such as telling them they are worthless
Enforcing rules and activity which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the victim
Financial abuse including control of finances, such as only allowing a person a punitive allowance
Control ability to go to school or place of study
Taking wages, benefits or allowances
Preventing a person from having access to transport or from working
Preventing a person from being able to attend school, college or University
Family 'dishonour'
Reputational damage
Limiting access to family, friends and finances

Blinkyblink · 10/02/2017 17:39

Be careful posters.

This is clearly a vulnerable poster and ordering her to the LTB is knee jerk reaction.

Op, you say that has an issue re money and you spoke to him about it and he has since eased off.

You told him that he was not to message your family on your behalf, and he hasn't since.

Yes, I think he sounds controlling but i certainly think there are glimmers of hope.

You have stood up for yourself on the past. Could you do again?

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:40

It's actually amazed me how much people seem to care. I thought I was being over dramatic or losing my mind. I'm not brave enough for all of this. I have a duty and a family, and I feel like I must keep my family together. Maybe a few days away next week is just what I need. Dh just doesn't like my family getting in my head.

OP posts:
Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:41

blinky

You are giving the op very bad advice. It might be dangerous for her to "stand up for herself".

FFS Sad

Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:42

Dh just doesn't like my family getting in my head.

No he doesn't, because it affects his control of you.

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:42

I think I could if I wrote down and practised what to say, yes.

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 10/02/2017 17:42

OP please ignore Blinkyblink. Unfortunately there are posters like him on most abuse threads trying to undermine the thread. Your H will not change. It is not safe for you to discuss these issues with him. Just give yourself some time to think and calm down. It's very shocking when you start to see what you have really been going through.

Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:43

Op PLEASE don't say anything to him. He will up his game if he thinks you are onto him.

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:44

Just to clarify, Dh has never even been close to physically hurting me. If he feels angry he does some exercise, and just takes time for himself. It's something he has really worked on. I've never felt scared he would ever hurt me or dd.

OP posts:
Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:45

That means nothing op. Emotional abuse is as bad as physical.

Blinkyblink · 10/02/2017 17:46

But the OP has stood up for herself on the past.

And he has listened and taken heed.

I'm just saying worth another go

Parsley1234 · 10/02/2017 17:46

This is really shocking reading makes my blood run cold. Op you seems really overwhelmed by your reality and brainwashed by your husband. Are your family/ sister religious ? What would happen if you talked to her honestly she seems like she cares for you ?

kittybiscuits · 10/02/2017 17:46

He has no need to hurt you physically. He has been in complete control of you without any physical violence.

kittybiscuits · 10/02/2017 17:46

Blinky just shut up - your 'advice ' is a danger to the OP.

Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:47

Blinky you haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:49

I am never one to judge someone else's faith, but I would say my family believe in God but aren't 'practising' Christians like us. My sister cares so deeply for me, she's amazing. I'm just worried if I said something, then regretted it as she'd never like Dh again.

OP posts:
Blinkyblink · 10/02/2017 17:49

No of course you other posters are fully aware of a the details of this situation. So I'll leave you to it.

Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:50

Your primary concern should be protecting yourself and your daughter. The very fact you don't want to say anything to her because she won't like him is proof you know his behaviour isn't ok.

enchantmentandlove · 10/02/2017 17:50

I've noticed over the years that my marriage doesn't seem too unusual in churches we have been to, so I guess I've just accepted it.

OP posts:
Hatemylifenow · 10/02/2017 17:50

Blinky we have the details the OP has told us. That's what we have based our advice on.