Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

What do you think about my husband's behaviour? I need outside perspectives

162 replies

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 10:04

For balance, he's great 70% of the time: texts me every day to say I love you, buys flowers and thoughtful gifts, is supportive, is brilliant in a crisis, we laugh a lot, like the same things, enjoy going away together, days out, etc.

No children by mutual choice and we've been together 20 years.

I'll try to be as brief as I can without drip feeding!

He's fussy and obsessive. He places huge importance on 'things' - furniture, decor, clothes, etc. If something gets knocked, he inspects it, often with a torch if he can't see any damage with his naked eye. Then he'll quiz me: do I think it's damaged? Do I think it's stained? Do I think it's ok? That's if he has had the accident. If it's me who has done something, he goes on and on and on at me or he'll lecture me about it about the correct way to do the task to ensure no accident.

He can't stand losing things and will spend hours and hours systematically taking the house apart looking for something he has lost. He once emptied all the outside bins and checked every single piece of rubbish, including rotting food, looking for a hair comb that had cost £4.

He always blames me for anything that gets misplaced. Likewise, he always blames me if anything is damaged, even natural wear and tear.

He is very untidy and I am fairly tidy. He has clothes and shoes on all three bedroom floors. Despite this, I have found several items of mine seemingly thrown or kicked around. E.g. a pair of my shoes that I had left stood upright by the bed were both on their sides and in the middle of the floor, as if they had been kicked. He denied he had kicked them and when I pressed him, he said he had merely picked them up and moved them because they were in the way.

We share a car. If I've last driven it, he always sighs loudly when he gets in and needs to adjust the seat. Likewise, he sighs loudly when the car stereo comes on and it's on one of my music albums.

If we fall out, he refuses to discuss it. He acts huffy, gives me the silent treatment for a few hours, or pretends nothing has happened. If I try to discuss anything, he always denies he was in any way in the wrong, or he minimises what happened, or he shuts me down as fast as possible.

He is generally bad mannered and acts irritable with me. He can't stand saying please or thank you to me. If I say something and he hasn't heard me, he will sigh and say 'What' in this bored tone. He demands information from me, rather than asking nicely. E.g. 'where is the car key?' in an impatient snappy voice.

He leaves dirty pots out on the counter where I prep food, so they're in my way and I have to move them in order to make a meal - when when I've emptied the dishwasher so he could put them directly in there instead. He denies doing this specifically to annoy me, but he continues to do it, even though I've asked him not to many times over many years.

He can't stand me asking things of him. For example, if he's gardening and I ask him to cut back a branch while he's got the tools on the go, he'll tut, sigh and get irritable and say he hasn't got time.

I once asked what time he would be ready when we were going out somewhere, and he snapped 'Why?' And 'you're pressuring me'.

If he's taking the dog for a walk on his own and I'm staying in the house, maybe because I'm feeling rough or am staying in to cook dinner, he refuses to say 'bye' to me - he just walks out of the house. But he always says goodbye if he's going to work or out with friends, etc. Likewise, if it's his turn to take the dog in the garden for a wee, he leaves the door wide open next to where I'm sitting so I get cold while he's outside, rather than pushing the door to.

There are millions more examples, but I'm trying to keep this from getting too long! Generally, I get this underlying sense of power games and control from him, but because his MO is to deny, deny, deny, or to minimise anything I bring up, or to refuse to discuss anything with me, I have no idea.

OP posts:
peaceout · 10/04/2017 11:34

It does sound as if he is locked into certain ways of behaving, perhaps he can change but how long should you put up with the stress of living like this, it all takes a toll on your mental and physical health
Sucks the joy out of life!

hellsbellsmelons · 10/04/2017 11:40

Dear lord.
This guy would have been kicked to the curb ages ago if it was me.
It sounds exhausting and joyless.
20 years of this!!???
Don't watch another 20 go by and wonder WTF you didn't leave 20 years ago.
Get out there and enjoy your life.

Magicpaintbrush · 10/04/2017 11:47

My DH shares a couple of the behaviours that you mention and it can feel quite insufferable, but I don't quite know what the answer is. I think the difficulty here is that when you try to discuss these things your DH just shuts down and won't discuss it, whereas if I brought stuff up with my DH he would get very defensive and stroppy (equally unhelpful really). My DH can be very OCD about the house and cleanliness (to a suffocating degree sometimes) and your DHs obsession with inspecting things for flaws with a torch sounds in a similar vein - presumably if he finds the flaw or damage he is looking for you will get the blame, so it's like he's going out of his way to make a point and get in a huff with you, however that sounds quite odd when balanced with his lack of tidiness which doesn't seem to show much care for his or your belongings? That doesn't make much sense.

The irritable, huffy behaviour and big sighs I can totally relate to. I've actually been getting really pissed off my DH this week because he can be so patronising and abrupt, is irritable when either I or our DD try to speak to him as though we are interrupting him when he is so important and busy and - this is the thing that really boils my piss and is something I can see myself exploding at him about in the very near furture - he cuts me off mid-sentence when I am speaking, as though he knows better than me and hasn't got time to wait for me to finish what I'm saying because he just assumes he knows what is coming and that he knows best. It's so fucking RUDE. If he does it one more time this week I am truly going to lose my shit with him. It's as if me and DD are some kind of irritant to him just now - and I know his moodiness is mostly down to work pressures - but he takes it out on us, and I don't actually think he realises how insufferable he can be at times. Your DH sounds very similar to this OP.

Ditto the asking your DH not to do things and being ignored over and over again - my DH also does this, and it's stupid little things but it's bloody annoying and in some ways quite disrespectful - putting my white clothes in with a dark wash because he's impatient / tumbling certain clothes which then shrink / I could go on and on, but yes it's very frustrating.

I think the passive aggressive sighing when he uses the car and has to adjust the seat is really childish - it's a shared car, what does he expect? Does he change all the seats and mirrors and radio channels after he's been driving so that it's ready for you??? I doubt it. He may as well be saying that his car 'settings' are more important than yours, although why he would think this....????

It is hard when you know somebody is a good person but sometimes they behave in these hurtful ways, it's difficult to approach the subject if you know you won't get a positive response, and it grinds you down after time as you feel like your partner has no respect for you. I totally get where you are coming from OP. But what the answer is I really don't know.

GoodDayToYou · 10/04/2017 11:48

He does this thing where he'll start a conversation, then as I answer him, he'll leave the room so I either have to follow him out or I have to shout so he can hear me. If I carry on in the same tone of voice, he'll sigh and say 'I can't hear you'.

My dp used to do this as well. (He's got aspergers.) We've handled it with discussions (a few rows too) and humour. These days, sometimes he stands to attention when I'm talking to him, like a soldier/Benny Hill which always lightens things. It took time but he now understands that I need him to stand still for us to have a conversation, otherwise it's just him talking to himself, which he knows isn't what he really wants.

I've had the resentment over dog walking as well and the difficulty of getting him to trim a branch etc - pure resentment that he was having to do these jobs in the first place. Mine also hates changes to routine so unless the gardening is a regular event, he's already at capacity just doing it - he can't tolerate any further requests.

I found it really helpful to read up on aspergers and from there, to tell myself, this is his stuff - it doesn't reflect on me. I've also come to realise that he's much more sensitive than he let's on - being gentle with him has really helped too.

OP, I know my experience isn't yours but hopefully, it might help you, or someone, a little.

ohtheholidays · 10/04/2017 11:50

I'm seriously shocked at some of the replys you've received on here!

He sounds like a monumental dick and any good aspects of his behaviour would be far outweighed by all of his bad from what you've described.

I'd be a bloody nervous wreck if I had to live with what you have been!

For me if he couldn't change lots of the negative(or more likely from what you've said would refuse to)then I'd have to leave the relationship.

I tolerated lots of crap,all sorts of abuse from my ex husband but then one day it all got to much and I thankfully found the strength to end the marriage,I know it's hard especially when you've been together for along time,we'd been together nearly 10 years and had 2 young DS and my parents turned against me when I first ended the relationship,but things changed for me and got alot better.

I honestly wouldn't spend another 10 or 20 years living on a wire waiting for the next thing for him to have ago at you about,you must walk around constantly holding your breath.

No one should have to live like this and you don't have to! Flowers

NeedsAsockamnesty · 10/04/2017 12:00

What did you do when he got ridiculous about the drawer?

Ellisandra · 10/04/2017 12:03

He sounds like a total arsehole.

I am certain you'd be happier without him treating you like shit.

Going through bins for a comb? His business, quite possibly a MH issue.

But there's enough there otherwise that's just pure arsehole, no diagnosis or analysis required.

20 years love. Don't give him another 20 years of your life Sad

TheTabardOfDoom · 10/04/2017 12:16

I moved in with an ex. His behaviour went from comparatively normal (or else I wouldn't have moved in) to similar stuff you are seeing OP. in his cleaning frenzy he would actually unscrew screws from woodwork, polish the heads with emery paper and reseat them with all the slots lined up too. I left after he tried to strangle me over a perceived infraction of his fucked up rules. I concluded we were bad for each other.

ClemDanfango · 10/04/2017 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aniceglassofchianti · 10/04/2017 12:19

you married to my husband?

pinkiponk · 10/04/2017 12:22

I wouldn't put up with someone treating me like this, let alone someone that's meant to love me. No kids involved therefore easy to get rid!
Just re-read what you've written about him...

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 10/04/2017 12:25

I havent read all of the posts but this is yet another man where it is his terms and rules only. You've asked him to change/co-operate and he wont. He sounds very rude. That became one of the deal breakers for me with my ex. I couldnt bear his rudeness and the PA behaviour any more. I wouldnt put up with it - if he can be polite to friends etc eg the goodbye, then he is choosing to not be polite to you. If you think of his behaviour in choice terms I think things will become clearer for you.

BrucieTheShark · 10/04/2017 12:30

My sister married someone just like this and it escalated. By the end he thought it was fine to shout 'you silly girl' at her for the smallest 'transgression' and then refuse to speak to her for weeks. He forgot normal levels of behaviour and would slap her hands away from her face (in front of her family) because he thought she might be starting to bite her nails again.

It gradually came out that he hated ill people, fat people and all my sister's friends. He had acted the doting uncle and then announced he no longer wanted children shortly after their wedding. He loved designer gear despite boasting that he hardly paid tax in his job as an odd-job man. He would buy himself rolexes and vehicle after vehicle, plus renting garages to house them all. My sister had the real job and paid the real bills.

There are so many more things and it was all 'explained' by his difficult childhood and anxiety problems.

I'm sure that was the cause but those things never justify becoming a controlling abuser. When she got away from him I rejoiced and rejoiced.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 12:38

Thanks for all your replies.

What did I do with the kitchen drawer situation? Well, first off I was utterly outraged that he blamed me when it could equally have been him, so I argued back and stuck up for myself. When he was doing the 1.5 hour clean, I left the room and sat in another room, but could still hear him sighing and tutting etc.

I realise a lot of it, especially the obsessiveness, is his issue, but I'm exhausted with the effort of trying to ignore the behaviour and of playing the game of pretending it doesn't bother me when it bothers me massively. Especially because I know that he blames me for every lost item, every scratch, every tear, every spillage, every accident. It's extremely difficult not to defend myself.

I'm constantly thinking to myself things like, Oh I mustn't do xyz that way or it will annoy him, or I must remember to keep that from him or he'll question me about it.

If I clean something, he will question me on my method of cleaning so he can assess it's been done properly. I took it upon myself to shake out the dog towel the other day that we keep in the car before I put it in the wash, and he wanted to know how I'd shook it and where did I shake it.

OP posts:
MsGameandWatch · 10/04/2017 12:57

I'm sorry but I am laughing at some this stuff but not in a "oh this is hilarious" way. My ex quietly asked me to come with him as I sat breastfeeding my week old dd on the sofa. I did and he pointed to a dusty skirting board in the hall, then he said "I don't think I need to say anything else do I?" That was one of many, the huffing and puffing and banging around was standard whenever he had to do something he perceived as WOMEN'S Work.

peaceout · 10/04/2017 13:05

it's very difficult even if you do have a strategy to deal with them, the fact that they are in your home means you can't relax and recharge when you need to

Fanciedachange17 · 10/04/2017 13:20

Crumbs Op, this is so depressing to read. How on earth have you stuck it so long? On balance, for me anyway, the downright spiteful and deliberate mean controlling behaviour far outweighs any nice texts and flowers. The latter are easy to do and don't really prove anything but the former means you can never relax or be happy in your own home.
I'm voting for ltb. Sorry.

Yoksha · 10/04/2017 13:21

GoodDayToYou at 11:03 I was Grin at reading your post.

Adora10 · 10/04/2017 13:27

I don't care if he has OCD, ADHD or whatever; he's a massive nightmare and no, you don't have to stay put and put up with it; he would put me in a mental hospital and I am not kidding; nobody should have to live like this, it sounds intolerable.

What is HE doing about his problem and when is HE going to stop blaming you for his unhinged personality.

I don't think one human being could live like this and nor should they have to!

He's abusive, simple as that.

yetmorecrap · 10/04/2017 13:34

He sounds like he has mild OCD, I once lived with a guy who who wouldnt let me use "pots" he insisted on paper plates, he couldnt stand a house looking anything less than "ideal home" standard. It grew extremely wearing, hence why he is an ex!

caffelatte100 · 10/04/2017 13:48

I haven't rtft but I can see that there is not a lot of fun for you in this relationship. You wrote that he is generally in a bad mood. Ok 70 % of the time. It all sounds heavy and as if he's obsessive , has little respect for you and that he's difficult to live with on a day to day basis. You need to get to the bottom of this, get the help you need, talk to him etc but don't carry on. There's something better for you, and being alone would be much nicer and easier than this. Good luck!

beachcomber243 · 10/04/2017 14:11

I couldn't and wouldn't live like this, walking on eggshells with someone who clearly thinks he is far more important than you and that you are not even second best.

I doubt he really loves you as he makes your life such a misery. The cards and flowers mean nothing, just something to keep you onside so he can use you as a punchbag/cleaner.

I'd LTB, no doubt about it. His severe [not mild] OCD is a huge problem and I fear will never improve enough to be able to live happily with. I had flowers, cards, told by my ex that he loved me every day. And that meant he could undermine the family, moan and sulk, bully the children, keep us poor, make me unhappy so I relied on him....as he was an inadequate, weak man. I finished the marriage, suggest you do too for the sake of your mental health.

Naicehamshop · 10/04/2017 14:14

Control. Control control control.

HE needs to be in charge at all times and YOU need to know your place.

I would think seriously about leaving him, because this is only going to get worse, not better. Sad

augustusglupe · 10/04/2017 14:23

Goodday The 'standing to attention' thing!! That was like DH, like you say, humour is the key!! DH had an extremely overbearing, controlling mother and went to Boarding school. Don't know if it's that....but years ago we were shopping for a jacket for him and it was like shopping with a child. He even did the arms straight out in front of him like he was about 7. I was just ShockI remember saying 'I'm not your bloody mother'.
We laugh about it now, he's older, grown up a bit and gets it!! But really, at the time, I wondered who the hell id married!! Confused Grin

ElspethFlashman · 10/04/2017 14:23

I honestly would have gone postal years ago.

It's clearly HIS house, HIS car, HIS life and you're just hanging around fucking it all up.

I wonder who he'd blame if you weren't there?