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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

OH Begging me not to leave

200 replies

Satnam11 · 29/03/2018 09:32

Okay I'm going to lay this out so I can get an honest opinion off you guys. I'm ready for leaving but he's begging me not to go (he has no where to go, no family/friends).

We got together 2 years ago, he left his job and moved across the country to be with me. To start a fresh as he called it. He moved in on the 4th month of knowing each other (yep, I know, bad OP). Back then I was in a terrible confused place. Just finished with my fiance of 5 years, he was living a double life with another women (ex). I was single for about 2 months (this seems to be a recurring pattern in my life) before meeting current DP.

okay so he moves in all goes well for the first 3 month until the EA starts, then the physical violence began. 3 occasions he attacked me until on the last one I suffered a concussion and I said "get the fuck out of my house". He begged and pleaded and cried and said he would change. He did. The EA and violence stopped over night. Just like that 😐.

Over the time of the EA stopping he got a secure job and settled into it. During our time of living together I've noticed when he becomes angry/hurt he shuts down and becomes very defensive, even with the smallest argument's. He belittles, manipulates and mocks. So I've come to realise the EA didn't stop altogether. This has pushed me away. I've recently become quite involved with a new interest and he's taken it as a threat in some way.

Over the past month it's come into my awareness that I haven't been happy at all, I've just suppressed feelings for an easy life. I can forgive him for what he's done to me in the past but I don't FULLY trust him if I'm honest (with regards to the violence).

We both know he has a lot of inner work to be done, he suffers with childhood PTSD which has completely and utterly effected who he is and he's only come to realise this whilst being with me.

I'm the type of person who loves very much, I can argue, like everybody but I never ever get personal or abusive. I'm a very kind and gentle being and I feel we are quite the opposite. He likes to attack as a way of defensiveness and I do not. Even when we have my niece I feel I'm walking in eggshells because when she becomes loud he can't handle the noise level and I see him go into some kind of irritable sulk.

Okay so you have the jist of what's happened. I'll take you to present.

I currently feel emotionally unavailable to this man at the moment, any type of affection is making me feel uncomfortable. I'm not feeling the loving feelings within. I do to a degree but they could possibly just be pitty because I see I'm breaking his heart.

He knows how I feel and for his own sake he's given me until this Friday to make my mind up. I do feel very withdrawn but on the other hand I have conflicting feelings that I'm going to be possibly making a mistake 😖.

He has PROMISED and swore he will work on himself, he said "Do you think I like the person I am?". This morning he has said he's having suicidal thoughts because of what is going on, if that's true and he is I'm sorry but because of the person he currently is I can't help feel that, that again is another form of manipulation. He also said "I dumped my whole life for us!" True but the way he is is not my problem, his behaviours are his to keep, not mine.
He said "I'm being cruel" again, I'm sorry if I am but this I feel is the result of me being pushed. He does love me very much that's also plain to see.

So right now I'm confused, two conflicting feelings in my heart, on one hand I want to finish this and start the new beginning of life (late but oh well (27)) and on the other hand I'm dreading making the biggest mistake of my life. I've literally sat and prayed for an answer (to who/what I don't know).

Apologies for this long post. I've been crying for 2 weeks straight because I can see this is hurting him and me also.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 29/03/2018 17:30

'He is thoroughly discusted with himself, I'm not even allowed to mention it to him '

Yet more abuse here. You're not allowed to mention it? Yeah, that restriction is another form of abuse.

StormTreader · 29/03/2018 17:30

"He is thoroughly disgusted with himself, I'm not even allowed to mention it to him"

Hahahahaha, yes hes so disgusted that no-one is allowed to talk about it, so lets all forget it all happened and go back to talking about what YOU do wrong, yes? My opinion on that is "nice try mate".

Mix56 · 29/03/2018 17:37

He does not get to choose what makes you upset, or, why he is going to have to leave. More manipulation.

Gloryificus · 29/03/2018 17:40

So disgusted in himself that he has to silence his victim? That's not how remorse works that's minimizing normalising and further abuse! "Don't talk about how I attacked you"
You own everything that happened to you and he has no rights to silence you

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 29/03/2018 17:41

You are not allowed to mention it. And you think this is a sign he is no longer abusive?! Dear lord he has messed with your head.

If you mention the fact that he hurt you does it make him so sad you are worried he will hurt you again?

Listen to yourself!

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 29/03/2018 17:45

10th rule of misogyny: the worst thing about male violence is that it makes men look bad.

See how many of the rules have you seen him follow:
www.reddit.com/r/Gender_Critical/comments/6kkeni/the_rules_of_misogyny

Mxyzptlk · 29/03/2018 17:48

So I've come to realise the EA didn't stop altogether. This has pushed me away.

I agree with PPs about being told what you can mention, and as well as the violence, you can talk about what's been happening since then.
This guy isn't trying to make the relationship work.

HarryLovesDraco · 29/03/2018 17:54

You know you don't want to be with him. Yes, ending it will be painful and you will feel wretched and guilty and miserable but that not a reason not to do it.
You're probably codependent and have taken responsibility for his feelings as well as your own. You need to break away from him immediately and in time his hold on you will diminish.

Gloryificus · 29/03/2018 17:58

This man wants you to put up with his abuse of you whether it be physical or emotional not mention it and remain in relationship with him, never ask him to leave or else he'll manipulate and dish out further emotional abuse in form of sucide threats.
Sounds like a catch doesn't he (not!) Only the one concussion so far, how many is too many?

Why does what he wants more important than your mental health and safety?

Satnam11 · 29/03/2018 18:05

I'll tell you in detail what's he's said about making the relationship work...

  • He's willing to do whatever it takes with regards to himself *He's willing to work on whatever needs to be worked on, he WANTS to sort himself out.
  • He said "it's funny how much you realise how much you need to change when your about to lose everything".

I've told him I'm not confident in his willing to change because I've heard it all before.
He said "well you know I'm going to sort myself out so it's up to you!".

The one thing that has really annoyed me because I've become emotionally and physically distant I'm being pulled up on it and made to feel like I'm being "cruel" as he said.

OP posts:
KarenW · 29/03/2018 18:09

use your annoyance at him to get rid of him. He is right, it is up to you TO GET RID OF HIM!!
You deserve far better than this person that has not once demonstrated that he cares about what is good for YOU!!!

peekyboo · 29/03/2018 18:11

He has to prove it, and he's got no incentive to do that if you let him stay.

Gloryificus · 29/03/2018 18:11

If he's willing to do whatever it takes then he needs to leave
Work on his abusive behaviour separately
Never silence you again
And never expect you to remain or return to a relationship with him a man who has assaulted her

And cruel is emotionally manipulating a partner whom you assaulted to the point of concussion: its beyond cruel.

His idea of cruel is you wounding his fragile ego with your words, those words are too harsh for his ego to comprehend because he can't sweep his abuse under a rug if you keep mentioning how much of a shit he is!

Satnam11 · 29/03/2018 18:13

Thank you KarenW

I'm reading them all thank you.

OP posts:
peekyboo · 29/03/2018 18:15

You do realise he has no intention of leaving? None at all?

OP he'll do whatever it takes to stay. If that means begging, threatening suicide, attempting it. Or threatening you, hitting you, coercing you.
Whatever it takes, OP.
If he really cared he'd have left and tried to win you back.
He plans on staying, no matter what. And that's why we're all scared for you.

seventh · 29/03/2018 18:16

How in gods name can getting rid of this tosser, be a mistake. Please help me understand

Grumpyoldblonde · 29/03/2018 18:16

He's attacked you three times. What will it take for you to bin him?

userabcname · 29/03/2018 18:17

He is manipulating you still. He has physically and emotionally abused you. He will continue to do so if you stay with him. You deserve to be more than someone's punchbag. You deserve to live your life free of guilt trips, manipulation and bullying. Get rid of him and look after yourself.

Gloryificus · 29/03/2018 18:39

Why does he get to set the terms of his 'changing' abusive behaviours that he subjected you to? Why does it involve giving his victim no say? He still has all the power here. He gets to decide when to hurt you when to stop and when he leaves which seems to be never.
Perpetrators of crimes don't get to decide their fate in a court setting. He has committed crimes against you

He'd need years of extensive therapy to move on from his past even before dipping into his abuse of others.
Changing your personality,beliefs, rights from wrongs, morals and views of others isn't that easy as an adult.
There is no magic abuser no more pill
It takes real work really digging deep inside to unravel the root. And that doesn't mean he'd be cured either.

And that's why if he was to attempt to dig that deep he'd but too ashamed of his treatment of you to want to stay.
He would see he wasn't worthy of you and you deserve better tan him
He'd let you go because how you were treated by him would conflict with who he would be trying to change into.

Hissy · 29/03/2018 18:43

any type of affection is making me feel uncomfortable

Relationship is dead. Dead and buried.

He’s saying whatever he thinks you need to hear

Someone committed to real change would just do it.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 29/03/2018 18:48

I've told him I'm not confident in his willing to change because I've heard it all before.
He said "well you know I'm going to sort myself out so it's up to you!"

For me, it wouldn't matter if he did change into the world's best man. I would be saying "I will never get over your attacks on me. No matter how different you are now, I have the memory of how badly you hurt me. It has ended my feelings for you. It is over for us."

I bet you'd get back lots of guff about what he wants, how he feels, how important it is to him that you do what he wants, how you are the world's meanest person if you don't do what he wants even if it hurts you."

Are you frightened of kicking him out?

Yambabe · 29/03/2018 18:53

Tell him you're so pleased he's going to work on his issues.

Tell him you're proud of him for facing his issues and behaviour.

Tell him that when he's fixed, maybe you can get back together.

Tell him to leave.

Satnam11 · 29/03/2018 19:14

peekyboo
I've come to realise this. Thanks for confirming.

seventh
I don't know. Honestly. Right now the reasons I can't throw him out is because A) he has literally nowhere to go B) it will break his heart C) I go into panic mode of the thought of being alone D) I also have a fear that I won't find anyone as faithful in the future

I understand reading all this is probably hard for some of you to swallow and I don't intend to frustrate anyone of you at all. Apologies if that's what it causes.

I am not frightened of kicking him out for my sake, I just have too much empathy with another fresh start he has to do.

Just to add!!! I did, numerous times ask for a break, I said if you love me like you say you do go and sort yourself out and then come back and prove to me you've changed, prove to me you love me by self sacrificing for once in your life!! He said "I don't do breaks, I'm 31 not 15, if I move out, I'm never coming back" 😖

OP posts:
Satnam11 · 29/03/2018 19:15

Can I just stop and thank you all for EVERYTHING, you have no idea how much you've brought things to light for me ♥️

OP posts:
Dozer · 29/03/2018 19:18

The ONLY reason not to chuck him out without having support, eg from a womens charity, is that he could be a potential danger to you and ending an abusive relationship is a dangerous time.

So what if he has nowhere to go? That’s not your problem.