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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:
Fortheloveofscience · 11/04/2017 07:39

I was going to say this:
I would also question your assessment of being like this 30% of the time. If the other 70% of the time you are editing your behaviour so as to decrease the chances of an episode and its repercussions (which I would wager you are) then he is actually 100% like this, you are just 'lucky' enough to avoid incident the rest of the time.

I hope you feel better for having a plan OP, good luck Flowers.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 11/04/2017 07:48

Sounds like he's taking out his issues stemming from his unhappy childhood on you. I would give him the chance to work them through with a psychotherapist

He doesn't believe he has any issues Grin He thinks his behaviour is perfectly normal and reasonable, and that I over react. I suggested counselling to him for his issues and he said he doesn't need it. He very often says to me, when I bring anything up, "I just want to get on with life", i.e. he wants me to shut up and put up.

OP posts:
Nellooo · 11/04/2017 08:02

It seems to me that you might both be in a bit of a rut. Can you get away on your own for a few days? Go to stay with a friend or treat yourself to a couple of nights somewhere? Specifically taking time for yourself might improve your own outlook and allow you to see things more clearly when you return. Getting out of the house for a bit will give him space too.

imablackstarnotapopstar · 11/04/2017 08:09

Oh OP! Life sounds so bloody hard for no good reason in his company!

I know how it feels to constantly irritate someone just by being alive! My ex once criticised the way I walked in a supermarket - like "a belligerent chav"

There is no prospect of it changing, merely getting worse. He's a bully! I would be tempted every time he criticises/blames/rants/sighs just to laugh and say "don't be silly!" & walk away.

Meanwhile get your ducks in order, separate your finances so you have your own accounts and your income is protected, get your paperwork ready & get an idea of the eventual split of the assets so you can plan your escape!

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 11/04/2017 08:32

A lot of what you've described reminds me of my relationship with my ds who has ASD particularly everything being your fault. Whatever label you give it you still have to live with it. I think you should warn him that you are considering leaving and suggest that if he doesn't want that joining you at the counselling might help. He probably won't but at least if you do decide to split he will have had some warning.

CocoaLeaves · 11/04/2017 09:00

Yes, I think he likes having you around as his battering ram. I am sure in 20 years you have tried everything you can but he is abusive, so it does not matter what you do.

Get well prepared before you leave; controlling people do not like letting go.

peaceout · 11/04/2017 09:05

He always said that he hates game playing in relationships
I'm getting the impression that everything he says is bullshit, he's never being real or straight with you

Is there even any point in talking to him?

bluebelltippytoes · 11/04/2017 09:06

Does he have any awareness of how you feel? Does he even care?

My XP also used to say he 'just wanted to get on with things'. It was so utterly and totally confusing because although he said this he acted in ways that didn't denote a future together.

I think I would start by having a week away from him and see how you feel. I would imagine you will feel immediate relief without the nitpicking and tutting and sighing.

Don't underestimate the impact of other people. Better to be single and happy than married and miserable I always say.

squishee · 11/04/2017 09:12

I agree that 70% of the time he's probably "great" to you only because you're walking on eggshells so as to avoid confrontation.
That's no way to live.
Are you scared of him OP?

nackle · 11/04/2017 09:27

Reading this thread makes me wonder why do we put up with it?

Goodday & Augustusglupe Grin You could be describing my stbx

LoveDeathPrizes · 11/04/2017 09:32

Yeah, he doesn't sound great but to be honest, if you've clocked that much stuff up then I think you've probably already got one eye on the door.

nackle · 11/04/2017 09:34

Living with a PA is such a sad waste of life, OP.
If you're like me you'll look back on old photographs
one day and see just how deeply sad you are - it shows
it the face.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 11/04/2017 10:49

Are you scared of him OP?

I'm nervous of his potential reactions to things. When we've argued and he's huffy/silent treatment, I feel very tense, then I'm very relieved when he's back to normal with me again. Maybe scared is a bit of a strong word, but he does make me nervous and tense.

OP posts:
peaceout · 11/04/2017 11:05

Constant control, you can never relax
Imagine the bliss of living alone, not having to worry about him

hellsbellsmelons · 11/04/2017 12:10

I think you've had enough OP.
Have you had a look at what life would be like without him.?
Not just for your mental health but living arrangements etc...
Although your own mental health should come first.

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 11/04/2017 12:14

Since this is only about 30% of the time, I'm sure there are loads of things you can do to improve things
But ~30% of the time I'd take as 30% of waking hours, which is the equivalent of 5 hours every day. Sod that! And the "good" 70% is probably when OP is modifyling her behaviour in some way so she doesn't "antagonise" him. It's an utterly crazy way to live.

And yes, I am walking on egg shells. I feel tense and anxious a lot of the time
OP, I can't begin to tell you how unhealthy this is. Long term it can lead to heart disease or diabetes, and can literally knock years off your life. He, in essence, could cause you to die younger, and in the meantime is making your life miserable a lot of the time. You've stuck it out for 20 years; I wouldn't have managed 20 months of his shit!

tellywelly · 11/04/2017 12:50

Maxwell - the drawer incident! Oh.My.Goodness! What a child!

Anyone can have a bad day, but the fact is he CHOOSES to keep you permanently tied to his childish moods by engaging in this passive aggressive bullshit.

Being single would be a breath of fresh air!

mathanxiety · 11/04/2017 12:56

I really don't understand why he stays with me if he supposedly dislikes me so much. He always said that he hates game playing in relationships and that he would never stick out a relationship that he couldn't see lasting long term. Does this mean he quite likes having me around as his battering ram?

Yes, that is what he wants from you. That is what he sees as your purpose.

You are two dimensional to him. Your feelings only serve to annoy him because they are a nagging hint to him that you are a real, three dimensional human being.

Don't go to therapy with him. It would only give him ammunition.

When you go to a counsellor, ask them straight up if they have experience dealing with people who are being abused by someone with narcissistic traits. If they say no or seem hesitant, take your business elsewhere - it will only frustrate you and could set you back if you go ahead with someone who thinks it takes two to ruin a relationship.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/04/2017 13:05

I know you're perplexed about his behaviour, but I think you should be more perplexed as to why you've stayed with this miserable person for 20 years.

tellywelly · 11/04/2017 13:25

My sister is married to a man like this. I'm praying that she sees the light, very soon.

How do you get someone to SEE they're being abused and controlled in this way?

mrss1983 · 11/04/2017 13:25

Some of this sounds like bad manners, some sounds like him being a nob but the first bits sound like ocd and anxiety. I suffer with both and cannot stand to lose things. I would rip the house apart and get irrationally upset over the smallest lost things. My husband complains that he asks me not to do something and i still do it. Sometimes it's because I have so much in my head that I can't remember to do everything and especially find it hard to be tidy. He also says I am sometimes snappy and speak aggressively. This is usually down to heightened anxiety and a flight or fight response (sometimes seemingly to nothing).
My husband is very good and is beginning to be more accepting of my flaws but he won't let me just get away with it. It's a tricky balance but it makes life so much nicer. It just requires compromise from both sides.

GreenRut · 11/04/2017 13:27

I second not asking him to go to counselling with you. It's a well known fact that psychological abusers are adept at using that situation to exert their control even more.

Also if you do plan on leaving him, please have a water tight for plan before you do. If he is of the character type I am imagining, it can be a really vulnerable time for you, at worst quite dangerous. People who get their kicks from being in control don't like it when it wains and will quite literally do anything to 'win' in that situation. So just be ready for that.

Finally, please don't beat yourself up over why is he like this? Why does he do this to me? Yeah, it's important for you to understand the dynamic he has created, so you can identify the pattern you need to break from but it is not your responsibility to understand his madness. By even attempting to understand it you give it power, and that just pulls you back into the same holding pattern.

Sorry if someone's already mentioned it but have you thought about women's aid? They are excellent and could really help guide you with the aforementioned water tight plan. Plus they serve as a handy 'no you're not mad' service which you'll soon start to believe and he will certainly tell you once you make the break.

Finally (!) keep mumsnetting! You'll have seen too many threads like this I'm sure but I know first hand what a life line these can be to women going through this.

GreenRut · 11/04/2017 13:30

telly I would guess your sister knows but she can't admit it because the repercussions of that are too overwhelming for her.

My advice would be to stay close, don't be forceful, listen and make sure your door is open so that on the day she realises enough is enough - she'll feel a bit more able to make that break knowing she can lean on you to help.

MaxwellAndPeterson · 11/04/2017 13:41

Well I've stayed for this long because he's always denied anything I leveled at him. So I'd end up believing I overreacted or that I was in the wrong.

For example, years ago I researched having a water meter installed, read articles on them, and did an online calculation that showed we could likely halve our bill. I told him all this, and he refused to believe me. It was a flat-out 'No. Water meters cost a fortune'. He wouldn't even consider it - I was wrong. Fast forward several months and he came home from work telling me about x from work who has had a water meter and it's halved his bills, so we should get one. When I reminded him of what he'd said when I suggested it, he told me I had never said it. He insisted we'd never had that conversation until I ended up thinking that maybe I never did bring it up with him.

And as well, everyone's always saying what a great person he is: kind, patient, thoughtful, polite. So I always thought well it must be me, mustn't it?

OP posts:
MaxwellAndPeterson · 11/04/2017 13:45

Thanks for the suggestion of women's aid; I'll look into that. I'm very practical and am a planner, so I'd want everything well planned and organised before I said anything to him anyway.

OP posts: