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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

He's unhappy

8 replies

howtomakehimhappy · 10/08/2017 19:20

I don't know where to even start, and maybe even just writing this down will help, I'm not expecting replies but I don't know what to do anymore.

Dh and I have been having a lot of difficulties.
I have mental health issues, as well as a physical disability so things have been very hard. Dh never speaks to anyone, professional or friend, so he ends up saying many hurtful things to me, he will back track and say that he didn't mean them a certain way, or I'm misconstruing what he's saying or that it's my mental health picking up everything wrong.

He is depressed, he gets crabby really easily, everything gets him down, he just seems so sad.
He has said before that it's me that has caused his depression, we haven't been happy in 7 years, he's not sure he's 'in' love with me etc, but says it's all heat of the moment, it's not what he means, I'm reading in to things too much.
After we make up he'll tell me how much he loves me, he'd never leave me and I'm so confused. He says he doesn't make me happy either, but all I want is for him to be ok. I love him, and I feel so sad and guilty he's like this.
I found out at the start of the year he was looking at properties to move into but he said that he was just feeling down. I can't help but rethink all of these things he's done and said, but he always seems to twist things and say it's me taking it all the wrong way in my head. He even said last week that 'this isn't working anymore' and now he is saying I took it the wrong way and he was talking about the organisation of the house, not 'us'.

Due to my health I find it very difficult to keep up with household chores, and he gets really annoyed at this, but he only really helps when he gets so annoyed that he thrashes about doing it himself (making things worse). He's never done any washing, or cooked dinner. I ask him to mop the floors as that's a job I physically can't do and I honestly can't remember when they were last done. Yet he gets so pee'd off at me due to the mess.

If we ever try and talk about things it ends up in an arguement, which is a lot recently. He won't let me speak, and decides when he's had enough of a conversation after he's said his piece and made me feel crap. He won't go to couples counselling as he feels it will be all about me, I've begged him to go to the GP or speak to the carers centre and he won't.

He's fed up of hearing there's something wrong with me every day (as I said I have a long term disability) so I feel like I can't say if I am in extra pain or anything, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells all the time.

He has mentioned before that I sleep too much (I lie down after my counselling sessions as I find them hard) and has said before I wouldn't be allowed the dc if we split because of this and my mental health issues. I know this is ridiculous as I do everything with the dc myself, but he has me doubting myself so much I'm not even sure which way is up at the moment.

He has hidden money issues which have come to light recently, and its hurtful. I feel like I'm not allowed to bring these up anymore, he was very sorry and apologised at the time but it feels like it's all under the carpet now even though it's still going on. He has a very expensive hobby and will spend and borrow to fund that and hide savings from me when I'm worrying how I will buy the dc certain things. He's said now that he's not going to be dealing with the money anymore I've to open an account and so it all myself as it causes too many arguement (I can't access banking) but when I said that it wasn't a mature way of dealing with it he started saying that I was calling him immature (which I wasn't meaning)

I am also finding something in our sexual relationship difficult, I can't mention it here but I have started speaking about it during counselling.

I know this seems like a complete moan about dh. It's not, he has his wonderful points and I know I am so hard and difficult to live with. We just seem so lost now, I don't know how to make him happy anymore. I'm going to every therapy session, the hardest thing I've ever had to do. When he said I was letting myself go I started making more of an effort, got my hair and nails done for him, I've lost a lot of weight. I don't know what he wants, when I ask if he wants to stay with us he accuses me of constantly questioning him.

He just doesn't feel close to me anymore, I feel like he doesn't even like me never mind fancy me.
Neither of us want to hurt the dc, he's a fantastic dad and they love him very much.

It's just a big mess isn't it.

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 10/08/2017 19:29

You have described being emotionally abused. Have you heard of Lundy Bancroft's book "Why does he do that?"

jeaux90 · 10/08/2017 20:43

Honestly OP it sounds like it's run its course. You both sound miserable. Have you had the conversation about whether its better to split and co-parent?

Iwanttobe8stoneagain · 10/08/2017 20:59

You both sound miserable. The relationship has ended. You both need to move on for the sake of your DC. They won't have not noticed the animosity

WhatWouldGenghisDo · 10/08/2017 21:54

OP. I'm going to summarise what you've written.

He's miserable and grumpy and he blames you for his moods.

He expects you to do all childcare and housework, despite your ill health, and is angry with you when you don't do it to his satisfaction.

He is totally unsupportive regarding your chronic pain, and criticises you for resting (if threatening you with losing your children can be called 'criticism')

He makes you walk on eggshells all the time and doubt yourself til you don't know which way is up.

He is financially abusive.

He sounds like he might be sexually abusive?

Although you are deeply concerned with trying to make him happy, it sounds as though he is not prepared to engage with any of your attempts to make things better, or to listen to anything you say about how you are feeling.

OP, none of this is your fault: it's him. What pp said: read Lundy Bancroft, keep posting here, tell your counsellor what's going on, talk to any supportive friends or family you have in RL. I'm so sorry you're having such a horrible time Flowers

spiritguides · 10/08/2017 22:06

Narcissistic abusive controlling retard x that's the only words to use ! Trouble with people like that they pass insecurities on which clearly he has done well x and now you are making excuses for him classic control x been there x not easy to deal with only you can decide in your heart you will know the answer x take care x

Howtomakehimhappy · 10/08/2017 22:15

Thank you all for your input, I really do appreciate it and I haven't considered so much of what's been said. I'm so confused by it all.

It's so hard to get my head round any of this, and I know it sounds bad written down. He could probably write some horrible things about me too. It's through my therapy I have started to realise it might not be all my fault.

He is currently hoovering the kitchen and emptying cupboards, he's annoyed I didn't offer to help with the dishes, I could hear him huffing and puffing, but why didn't he ask? He hasn't helped me with anything I've done today, but I'm now sitting in bed really sore but feeling guilty.

I've told him he needs to speak to someone. Whether he does or not I don't know. He says he hates the person he's become, hates himself for how he's being.

The dc have noticed, my 10 year old asked if we were splitting up. It breaks my heart. If he left it would destroy them, my youngest is autistic and she wouldn't understand. I had a few weeks away in hospital and they became so clingy on my return and not wanting me to leave. They were devastated and we couldn't put them through that. But I know this is awful for them too.

Is there any way to rectify this? Could it ever be ok?

OP posts:
spiritguides · 10/08/2017 22:22

Only you can answer that children are not daft x despite what anyone says the choice is always yours x thinking of you x

WhatWouldGenghisDo · 10/08/2017 22:31

What would things be like if it was just you and the dc?

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