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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

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:
Hermonie2016 · 10/04/2017 14:37

Stonewalling is a high predictor of divorce as it makes the relationship so frustrating.Add in ocd then you have toxicity.

I'm surprised you feel the relationship is positive 70% of the tim

isitjustme2017 · 10/04/2017 15:03

Sorry but this is not normal 'man' behaviour.

How long has he been like this? Has he always been like this and, after 20 years you've had enough? or is he getting worse with age?

I'm surprised he is so OCD with things, yet is very untidy, doesn't really sound consistent.

Read my recent post, my partner has some very bizarre behaviours but its the irritability and angry attitude that is the killer.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 15:12

I've read up on obsessive compulsive personality disorders, passive aggressive behaviour, aspergers, etc. I've expended huge amounts of energy trying to understand him.

I once tried to have an honest conversation with him where I very gently and kindly suggested that some of his characteristics might be bordering on overly perfectionist behaviour. He denied it completely. He said his behaviour was completely reasonable and that he just likes to keep things nice. He countered every example I gave him with this stance.

OP posts:
RogueBiscuit · 10/04/2017 15:23

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

This is typical nasty abusive behaviour. I'm also baffled at the suggestions of him having ocd. He leaves shit all over the place ffs.

Rattata · 10/04/2017 15:23

i think that is a really great idea to get counselling. He seems to have a double standard - you are expected to follow his rules and make allowances for his foibles but he doesn't give you the same consideration - in fact he may mailiciously be mucking things up (e.g. your shoes). It shows a lack of concern for your wishes and is a bit goady

Birdandsparrow · 10/04/2017 15:30

He's not got OCD, he leaves stuff all over the place. He's just a miserable cunt.

plainjanine · 10/04/2017 15:33

This actually sounds abusive to me. The sighing is to a way of expressing his displeasure, but aiming to be not bad enough for you to call him on it. All the little things start to add up after a while. I think they are intended to. They are small spiteful ways for him to express his displeasure, without actaully discussing things like an adult.

Yoiu have asked him not to do ceratin things (like leaving the pots out rather than putting them in the dishwasher) and he continues to do it. That's disrespectful. If it was me, I would assume it was being done deliberately. Same with the back door. I would get up and slam it shut hard every single time he did that, until he stopped or it fell off it's hinges. (but I'm a bit of a goady twat like that).

All these little niggles that make life harder. They are meant to. He wants to punish you for things, and this is his way of doing it. For me, life is too short. If you can't learn to ignore it, I would have to either discuss it properly or leave.

RogueBiscuit · 10/04/2017 15:35

He said his behaviour was completely reasonable and that he just likes to keep things nice

Yet he leaves clothes and shoes all over the floor and dirty pots on the side. How is this the behaviour of a perfectionist?

He's a controlling abuser. Control doesn't always come in the stereo typical way of controlling where you go or access to finances. Control started to happen when you started to found yourself walking on eggshells and worrying about his reaction. He's also gaslighting you which is very serious.

Does he ever accidentally hurt you op?

expatinscotland · 10/04/2017 15:43

Another person married to a controlling, abusive wanker. Because that's what he is, OP.

Seeingadistance · 10/04/2017 15:53

I could not live like this. I thought this at the start of this thread, and the more information the OP has provided the more convinced I am that you need to get away from him, OP. This is no way to live.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 15:55

I also assume he leaves the pots out deliberately because I've asked him not to. So I've asked him, is this deliberate? He acted all puzzled and said No of course not and that I should just leave them. I pointed out I can't leave them because they're in the way of prepping the meal, and he then got ratty: "Fine. I'll do it then." Cue lots of dramatic flinging dishwasher door open and slamming of pots.

A couple of days later he left the pots out again and he continues to do so. When I see him doing it, I say, Please will you put those in the dishwasher? And he'll pretty much always snap, "I'll do it later".

OP posts:
MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 15:56

No, he's never hurt me physically.

OP posts:
SpookyPotato · 10/04/2017 15:59

This is not normal 'man stuff', think some people on this thread have low standards... he sounds exhausting OP. A relationship shouldn't annoy you this much.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 16:02

The thing where he leaves his stuff all over the place. It's 'things' that he obsesses over 'keeping nice': our furniture, the TV, any decorating we've done, the car, his watch, etc. He doesn't mind untidiness and dirtiness. He doesn't show any signs of OCD, but for example say he's doing a job on the house, it will become the be-all and end-all. It will have to be done absolutely perfectly and it can't have any flaws at all. It's fine if this takes months and months to the exclusion of leisure time, so long as the task is done perfectly.

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 10/04/2017 16:02

I'm trying to balance the Good against the Bad and unless he's sending 100 "I Love You" texts a day plus 10 bunches of flowers, it's still coming down heavily on the bad side.

As confronting him about the sighing doesn't work, next time he's having a sighing session over a scuff on the parquet, don't ignore it, but treat it as nothing to do with you or his perceived slight
"Eric darling, could you sigh a little quieter please? I'm trying to watch Coronation Street and I can't hear what Gail is whining about"

Hillfarmer · 10/04/2017 16:05

I had this. I also spent hours, months, years trying to 'understand' what was behind his truly nasty behaviour. I forgot what was normal, acceptable behaviour because the person who professed to love me treated me as if he hated me. Tip: if your DH treats you as if he holds you in complete contempt that's your clue - he absolutely does. That's what took me so long to work out, I just couldn't believe he actually hated me even though he treated me exactly as if he did hate me! I was so caught up in the 'How could he?', I couldn't see clearly.

In the end the how and why doesn't matter. You have to face it OP, and I am really sorry, he is a controlling abusive arsehole and you would be well rid of him. Your old self will come backs and you will welcome her back. And you'd be surprised how much of his 'reasonable' behaviour is classic, divorce-worthy Unreasonable Behaviour. Good Luck. There is no shame in getting this domestic torturer out of your life. Quite the opposite.

Hillfarmer · 10/04/2017 16:08

Also, the huffing and puffing when readjusting the driver's seat when he knew I'd been driving. It used to amuse me coz we were the same height and I didn't change the settings when I got in after he'd driven it!

What an idiot. A controlling, abusive idiot. Don't miss him one bit.

hellsbellsmelons · 10/04/2017 16:15

OCD doesn't mean clean freak at all anymore.
OCD manifests itself in many different ways.
He's obsessive and compulsive. I'd say he needs some help.
But not from you.
You need to get away from the nasty shit.

peaceout · 10/04/2017 16:59

Cue lots of dramatic flinging dishwasher door open and slamming of pots
how can you take him seriously, are you not tempted to just laugh and take this piss out of him?

RogueBiscuit · 10/04/2017 17:00

I asked about him "accidentally" hurting you because he sounds like a covert abuser. Men like this often *accidentally" bump into you or "accidentally" lie on your hair or tread on your toes.

Where one type of abuse is happening, other types are usually happening also. I'd seriously examine his attitude to sex, finances , leisure time ect.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 10/04/2017 17:05

"you know Eric, when you make such a song and dance about moving pots out of my way, and into the dishwasher, it doesn't half make you look silly"
He's a manipulative adult acting like a child.
Treat him like a child.

happypoobum · 10/04/2017 17:12

The more you post about him the more I think "Run for the hills" Sad

EdenX · 10/04/2017 17:22

He sounds like a dickhead. He's rude, dismissive and controlling.

You could treat him like a child and call him on his behaviour every time. Ask him to load the dishwasher every time. Ignore the huffing and sighing. If he starts on with the broken and damaged stuff tell him you aren't listening to it and walk away.

But that seems like a lot of effort and he will probably still be a dickhead.

Deux · 10/04/2017 17:35

He clearly has some massive deep seated issues but it's down to him to seek help through therapy and or medication. But he is lacking any insight.

It's not your job to fix him. You probably don't realise the effect it's truly having on you, on your self esteem.

I think you need to leave him so that you can have a full and fulfilling life without walking on egg shells.

Have you spoken to anyone about this? Friends or relatives? I think some therapy for you would be useful. Also have a google of 'playing the blame game/why does someone blame someone else' and you can read around.

These behaviours are very destructive.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 10/04/2017 18:06

Where one type of abuse is happening, other types are usually happening also. I'd seriously examine his attitude to sex, finances , leisure time

Sex: pretty much nonexistent. Maybe once or twice a year, if that. He will hold my hand and give me hugs, but we don't kiss or anything.
Finances: he likes to have nice things, status items. I manage all our finances as otherwise we'd be in debt and we wouldn't have pensions or savings.
Leisure time: this varies - he will do tasks on the house to the exclusion of leisure time. And these tasks can take up full weekends. Any leisure activity is usually my suggestion - holidays etc., but he does sometimes suggest walks, the cinema, etc.

OP posts:
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