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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

Help! Unbelievable reaction from DH?

103 replies

WishfulWanderer · 08/03/2018 10:40

Been with DH 15 yrs. Eight years ago after a close family member died I felt very let down by him, he decided to take a month long trip with his pals, I was grief stricken, he didn't think there was anything wrong in leaving me alone. I had a friendly neighbour who was a listening ear, and Simone DH was familiar with. For a very brief period of a week I thought I'd developed feelings for this man, and became flirtatious towards him, then realised how wrong it was and stopped communicating with him. About 9 months later DH for unknown reason opened my old phone bills to discover I'd messaged the neighbour a lot in that week, but never again. He confronted me and I told the truth, he said he did not believe me and has ever since said he knows I slept with this man, which I did not. I was pregnant when he confronted me and he spent the rest of the pregnancy calling me a slag. He's brought it up many times over the years, and again now and it's 8 years on and has told me he will never believe me, claims he heard sex noises and laughter, which was mine, and also thinks I made an amateur porno with this guy and it's on the internet, though he's never produced it, but says he's seen it. I don't think I can stay married to someone who is not going to believe something so fundamental. I find his reaction unbelievable and don't think it helps us have a good relationship. He does not want a divorce just wants to carry on and try to forget about it.
I feel so tortured by it, it affects how I can be with him, I constantly find myself thinking this is a man who thinks I had sex with someone else and made a porno.
I have a job working with the public not even that helps him see I would never want to be in a porno.
It's weird I know.
What do you think?
Could you stay with someone who didn't believe you?
If he started believing you, would you stay? I think he might pretend he believes me in desperation but he wouldn't really, and I feel like the damage has been done by him accusing me and not believing me for 8 yrs.

OP posts:
TatianaLarina · 08/03/2018 11:53

He’s awful and he’s mad. You deserve so much better.

CaffeineAndCrochet · 08/03/2018 11:54

DH for unknown reason opened my old phone bills

Sounds like he's always been keeping tabs on you. Don't fool yourself that your behaviour 8 years ago has had anything to do with his actions since.

rocketgirl22 · 08/03/2018 11:57

You need to leave.

He left you for a month? That alone would be game over for me.

Clandestino · 08/03/2018 11:58

You went on to have two more children with a guy who behaves like a super wanker. It's still not too late though.

YearOfYouRemember · 08/03/2018 11:59

How did he hear sex noises if you were meant to have shagged the neighbour when your h was away ?

I'd give him once last chance to listen. Tell him nothing happened with the man. There is no video. If he mentions it again you WILL file for divorce and while you're at it, give me your phone as you're clearly projecting and he's the one shagging around. You'll be able to fry an egg on his back pedalling back tracking shit.

TatianaLarina · 08/03/2018 12:01

Stop trying to tell him nothing happened, which is just pandering to his paranoia and manipulations, and focus your attention on getting out.

expatmigrant · 08/03/2018 12:01

I've not been on MN that long and I just can't believe how many weirdo men are out there and women who are willing to live and have children with them. [schock]

easypeasylife · 08/03/2018 12:12

I think he's cheated OP and he's using this to put you off ever accusing him.

This was my first thought. My dsis' husband was cheating on her (unbeknownst to her at the time) and he started accusing her of cheating on him. He bought spyware from the internet and claimed he had the conversations/emails that her and the alledged 'affair' had as proof. She was beside herself and thought maybe he had a brain tumour as it was so out of character for him. She later found out that he was sleeping with most of his office Hmm

SandyY2K · 08/03/2018 12:12

The word gaslighting is used in the wrong context too often on here. He's not gaslighting the OP. Gaslighting is a tactic to make the other person doubt their sanity...and make them doubt something they know to be true.

The OP knows she didn't sleep with the neighbour.

He's clearly suspicious and convinced himself something happened...suggesting a non existent porn film really is so far fetched thst I would certainly question his sanity.

I also wouldn't be putting up with this nonsense 8 years later.

Missingstreetlife · 08/03/2018 12:14

Just tell him you don't want to hear it, leave the room. Attention is making it worse. Enjoy your break

AgathaF · 08/03/2018 12:14

I really don't know how you can live with this man. He sounds awful. Do you want to stay with him? Given that his opinion isn't going to change, and given that he will continue to bring this us periodically for however long you are together, do you really want to grow old with him?

Mary1935 · 08/03/2018 12:17

What a pig he is. 🌺
Does he still want to be intimate with you or as he has for a divorce - I bet it's yes to intimacy and no to separating. He is being very cruel. Don't put up with his shit. Tell him to go if he's not happy or drop it.
If he continues to bring it up I would ask him to leave and or seek legal advice.

MrsElvis · 08/03/2018 12:18

He's really REALLY AWFUL

WishfulWanderer · 08/03/2018 12:21

I have started the divorce process
He's trying to talk me out of it and because I think he's gaslights me for so many years he makes me doubt my decision to divorce. Sorry I keep posting here, but it helps hear a voice other than his.

OP posts:
NoKnownFather · 08/03/2018 12:22

If he 'knows' you made a porn video then that proves he watches porn...otherwise how would he have 'seen' you?

You deserve better OP, don't know how you've put up with him for so long.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 08/03/2018 12:23

Don't be worry, thanks for coming back and it's great that you are starting the divorce process. He just sounds unbelievable to live with and I'm amazed you've put up with it for so long. But that is just a classic trait of an abuser that they convince you it's all in your head. Stay strong and get rid off the horrible man!

Jux · 08/03/2018 12:23

He's massaging his guilty conscience at your expense.

This will never stop.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 08/03/2018 12:36

Sweetheart, you are doing the right thing divorcing this abusive bully, who hides behind crocodile tears.
Go on your girly holiday and have a fabulous time.
Don't be encouraged to listen to his poisonous slaver.
The relief you will feel when he has gone, will be akin to losing a gangrenous leg, don't allow him to mentally torture you anymore.🌺🌸

HairyBallTheorem · 08/03/2018 12:39

He's paranoid and delusional and hates you.

Stick with the divorce proceedings.

Go on your holiday and have a fabulous time.

VivaKondo · 08/03/2018 12:39

That’s great.
Please OP don’t listen to him. Don’t listen to his excuses and whatever else he has been telling you. He is a bully and abusive.
Remembervthat you can NOT trust whatever he is say8ng because it will all be about him and what he can get out of it (in this case, youbstaying out, providing sex, food and a clean house as well as someone he can control easily to massage his own ego).

Just get in with your divorce proceeding. Ask him to leave if you want/can. But don’t share with him where you are in the process or what you are expecting from xxx.
Do it for YOURSELF and your dcs wo a care of the effect on him. Because this is bout you, your well-being and being able to finally get out of an emotionally abusive relationship.

BerkInBag · 08/03/2018 12:42

He's a head worker. I would be out of there like a greased weasel. Do you still see your counsellor? If not I would think about going alone for some support as you extricate yourself from this idiot.

Thistlebelle · 08/03/2018 12:42

He knows you didn’t do it. He’s using it as a stick to beat you with.

If there was a porn video, he’d have taken it straight to his solicitors.

This is all about control.

KateAdiesEarrings · 08/03/2018 12:43

He doesn't believe you had an affair. He doesn't believe you made a porn video. He's using it to control and gaslight you. Thank God you've decided to leave. Stop telling him what you're doing with regards to divorcing. You don't need his permission.

hellsbellsmelons · 08/03/2018 12:52

Well done on taking steps to end this nightmare.
The weight you will feel lift from your shoulders will be immense.
Get some RL support around you.
Stay strong and stay focused on ending this.

NolongerAnxiousCarer · 08/03/2018 12:52

Are there any other situations where your husband hears things that you do not? Does he get overly sensitive/paranoid in other scenarios?

I'm asking because my husband suffers with paranoid delusions and voice hearing and we have occasionally had this kind of thing come up when he is psychotic. E.g. he's been convinced he's heard me with other men, convinced I'm pregnant to them (never been pregnant), convinced I have STIs. Convinced I am trying to poison him, He's also been convinced he can hear neighbours talking about him through the walls, convinced neighbours are plotting against him, convinced his mates are plotting against him. It wasn't until it got really bizarre and he was convinced everyone could hear his thoughts and he could hear theirs, plus a lot more bizarre stuff that a)things started to click into place and b)Drs started listening to my concerns. Now he's on medication we don't get any on this stuff any more.