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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

So sad and trapped

55 replies

getthisoffmychest · 10/07/2018 23:50

I feel like I'm trapped

I'll treat this as a kind of rant/diary entry. Not expecting any responses but some advice would be a bonus.

I'm with a joyless man living a miserable existence and I don't know how the hell to get myself out of it or how I'd carry on even if I did.
I'm in a permanent state of confusion. Go to bed (alone) every night and have palpitations and tears going over what he's done and thinking how pathetic I am to put up with it. Then I wake up in the morning and tell myself I'm being silly and it's all in my head, I'm being dramatic.

He is obsessed with the idea that I'm a 'slag' because before I ever met him, I dated a friend of his. He will never, ever let go of this or forgive me for it.
Recently, I've become more enlightened about things like Feminism. He takes great pleasure in mocking this and calling me and every woman he sees on TV slags, then says 'oh I'm being such a MISOGYNIST again aren't I'. He comments regularly on women, for eg, 'who the fuck would want to go with that?'.
We've never had a good sex life. He seems indifferent, disgusted by the idea of it. I've tried seducing him and he physically recoiled and said 'please no, eww!' (without being big-headed, I know the problem isn't me, I like how I look and so do others apparently).
He resents family time and engineers arguments or problems to avoid days out, especially if it's something I've been looking forward to, like my birthday. If we do manage it, he huffs and puffs until I agree to go home. When I ask him why he doesn't want to spend time with us, his face darkens and he says 'because that's not how I want to spend my time off'. He mainly sleeps, smokes or goes to the pub. If I question his plans, he says I'm a controlling partner and that hobbies are healthy and I shouldn't question him.
He previously asked me to marry him then denied it the next day. Then a few months ago, he asked me again. Told me to choose the ring of my dreams and he made a spreadsheet with ideas and costings for every little detail to do with a wedding. He knows the one thing I crave in life is stability and a conventional life (had a shit childhood and made some bad choices as a result of it). He suggested doing an official proposal in front of the children on a holiday we had planned. I was so looking forward to it....it didn't materialise. I asked him about it when we returned home and he casually said that he'd changed his mind and that was that.
He doesn't contribute to parenting at all (youngest is his). At all. If I ever asked him to do a nappy or help with feeding, he would say, 'no. I don't want to'. The same response if I ask him to lift a finger around the house, 'no, I don't want to. I don't want to'.
A few days ago watching the sports news, a woman was upset over the football results. I light-heartedly said, 'that's a bit much over kicking a ball around isn't it?' He laid into me, 'if you had anything going for you, any passion or anything worth living for in your life maybe you would understand but you've got nothing, you are nothing!'. It went on and on.
He knows I'm trapped. Lately he's been saying things are going to be his way from now on, with a smirk on his face. I take it that means more nights out. He knows I'm powerless.
I tried to tell him I can't carry on like this anymore. Poured my heart out. He said I was selfish and chose the moment to tell me he's suicidal and has always felt that way but has no desire to ever be happy.
My head is fucked.

OP posts:
WowLookAtYou · 10/07/2018 23:56

Oh Lordie, he sounds thoroughly vile!
How are you trapped? Not married, presumably? What about housing? Do you own or rent? Whose name is it in? Do you work, or are you dependent on him for cash?
What is stopping you from leaving him?

Pollaidh · 11/07/2018 00:01

Erm, this is not normal. What a horrible man. You do not deserve this treatment, it's emotional cruelty. I'm concerned by how it seems to be escalating and he seems to be enjoying it and the control he has over you.

For your own and you children's mental health (and possibly physical if this escalates to physical violence), you need to be making plans to escape this relationship.

If your DD was in a relationship like this, what would you want her to do?

BunsOfAnarchy · 11/07/2018 00:02

Im so sorry you're in this horrible space. I think you know that you need to leave this toxic situation.
What exactly is keeping you trapped? Finances? Shared property etc?
How old is he if u dont mind me asking? He sounds like he's incredibly immature.

getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:05

He is 36.
The pathetic part of it is, I can't even explain why I feel trapped, I don't even know. It's my house. I just can't get him to leave. He seems so deeply unhappy with me, why won't he leave? I've pleaded with him before for the children's sake, to just leave. In his more reasonable moments, he agrees and says he knows this isn't right, he will get his own place etc...but it just doesn't happen :/

OP posts:
curlywurlyjo · 11/07/2018 00:08

Put his belongings in bin liners, change the locks and take his stuff to his mothers...chuck that selfish vile man to the kerb, goto housing department at your local council and ask for housing benefit to help with rent/mortgage.
Claim what benefits you can & get an emergency grant from your council (it's a one off payment & you don't need to pay it back) that will hopefully see you right till benefits get sorted.
YOU ARE NOT TRAPPED, he just wants you to feel that you are, so he can control you & bully you.
Don't listen to his suicidal talk, it's just a way to control you to not leave, so he can continue.

If your worried contact a woman's shelter to get away.

Please don't stay there any longer, it's never going to get any better.

getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:10

That's when he comes out with his 'things are going to be my way from now on' lines. He just does what he likes.
No one would guess he's like this, ever. Everyone thinks he's the most straight down the line, honest, normal easy going guy ever. The very reason I started seeing him in the first place. I just wanted a nice, normal family man.
I've even wondered if he might have some form of post natal depression. He won't go to the doctor for anything though. Not about his libido, stopping smoking, and now about being suicidal supposedly. He has no get up and go for himself.

OP posts:
getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:11

Thank you, I really really appreciate these responses. Obviously I'm not going mad then.

OP posts:
Pollaidh · 11/07/2018 00:12

I think you're feeling trapped because he has worn down your confidence over a long period, and is controlling you emotionally.

midnightmisssuki · 11/07/2018 00:12

Why are you still with him?

DarklyDreamingDexter · 11/07/2018 00:12

He sounds appalling. You owe it to yourself and your children to try to get away from this revolting man. There will be a way out, whatever your circumstances. It may be hard, but there WILL be a way. Maybe contact Women's Aid for practical advice?

Want2beme · 11/07/2018 00:14

Before you met him, you didn't imagine that this is how relationships should be, I'm sure? He is not a good person. He is treating you despicably. Don't live like this, with him for the rest of your life.

Pollaidh · 11/07/2018 00:15

When you do leave, be prepared for him to threaten he's about to commit suicide. It's most likely a ploy to reel you back in, but whether it's real or not, it's not your problem. Your responsibility for yourself and your children is to get away.

steppingonIego · 11/07/2018 00:15

Reading responses will make you feel better for a few moments,
But what will make you feel better for a LONG time is to take action.

You have this one life - if you're unhappy then change it.

Pack his bags - take them to his mothers - change the locks and get a restraining order if he gets violent.
Pre warn the police if you feel he might.

You can sort child access through the courts.

He sounds miserable too - your actions will free you both from a life that's making you both feel exhausted etc.

Be the example your children will be proud to look back on.

getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:16

I think that's why too. I just need to try and build myself up in order to get myself out of this, I don't think it will work the other way round as I have no family support around me. I have to be my own support, and my children's of course.
Why am I with him? I think I felt that because my older children have different fathers, and I'm in my early 30s now, this was my last chance at making a go of it with someone. I know now how stupid that sounds. Obviously after this, I will focus solely on the children and be alone for life.

OP posts:
curlywurlyjo · 11/07/2018 00:19

He sounds like a sociopath, don't wait for him to leave coz he won't... he enjoys making you miserable.
If you want him to go of his own accord, try telling him, he has a week to find other accommodation as you have had enough of his vile behaviour and he's killed any love that you once had for him.

I fear this will make him worse though, I think your best bet is chucking him out & calling the police if he try's getting in or causes trouble.

I'm so sorry your going through this, but you need to be brave & strong.
Your kids shouldn't have to live with this vile creature, what is he teaching them?
You don't want them thinking this is how normal relationships are or how men treat women do you Hun?

Oh huni, you need to get out of this situation, you'll be so happy once you've done it, I know it's difficult but it's the right thing todo for your kids and yourself xx

getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:19

You're all right. I can't believe I've let it go this far. I'm disgusted with myself. I'm supposed to be an intelligent woman, I'd feel sick if my daughter was living like this. I don't want to be a bad mother so I know what I've got to do.

OP posts:
getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 00:21

Thank you Thanks

OP posts:
catlovingdoctor · 11/07/2018 00:24

I’m so sorry for you reading your post. You are worth so much more than enduring this rubbish from him. You deserve so much better.

Pollaidh · 11/07/2018 00:24

If he'd been this much of an idiot when you met him, you wouldn't have got together! He's slowly turning up the temp on you in the hope you won't notice until you feel utterly trapped and don't know what normal is anymore. It's not your fault and now you've seen the light you're starting to plan.

He sounds like he's enjoying this, which is worrying.

And you're in your early 30s, I know quite a few women who have re-built their lives at this age - plenty of time left for you to find someone who makes you happy, though if there's a childhood/family background to this, maybe you should seek counselling so you don't end up in the same situation again.

curlywurlyjo · 11/07/2018 00:29

Your not a bad mum, it's happened to the best of us!

Your going to do good by your kids, that's what matters.
I wish I could be by your side to help you. But I'll be right here, to help with advice if you need it .... we all will x

I have been in a similar situation before, and the weight off your shoulders is unbelievable & happiness is just round the corner xx

Let us know how you get on

springydaff · 11/07/2018 00:33

Do the Freedom Programme . Find a course near you, email them today and get on the course as soon as you can. It will open your eyes and give you strength and peace and knowledge all at once. Yes, it's that good!

Soon you won't be in a classic abusive relationship with a man who loathes women. In time you'll post on internet forums encouraging women caught in the same trap to get out and you'll show them how.

It can be done. I did it, so can you Flowers

arranfan · 11/07/2018 00:35

Seconding the Freedom Programme suggestion - it's very helpful for understanding relationships and what is possible.

Redcliff · 11/07/2018 01:09

You can do this - imagine your life a year from now without him and focus on how good that feels. He's clearly got major issues that are nothing to do with you and the sooner you split up for him the better.

Doingreat · 11/07/2018 03:43

I'm apalled at his man's behaviour. It sounds so sinister. His response to everything you ask him to do is "I don't want to". He sounds utterly vile. I don't know how you've put up with this for so long. I feel for you. He's an absolute shit and you don't need his toxic presence in your life sucking the joy out of you.

Please kick him out. Don't warn him as things could turn violent. Don't take him back even if he threatens suicide. It's not your problem.

Please get rid of him op. Please please please. We're all rooting for you and we will celebrate with you when he's gone. Cos it will be a huge achievement which deserves to be celebrated. Getting rid of this dead weight will free you immensely.

Sending you strength for getting rid of him OP.

getthisoffmychest · 11/07/2018 08:34

Thank you all so much, I really thought my incoherent ramble would be ignored if anything. You're all so kind.
I'm in a bit of a mad rush this morning with the school run and work but didn't want to not post quickly to say I've read everything and am taking it on board.

OP posts:
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