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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

Why do I feel so awful

197 replies

Melandre · 14/01/2019 08:40

I’ll try and keep this short.

For Xmas I bought dp tickets to an exhibition and talk about his hobby. He also shares this hobby with his db and while I thought the exhibition etc sounded quite interesting, I offered the extra ticket to dp’s db as they haven’t spent the day together without partners in ages and I knew they’d both really enjoy it. This was on Saturday. Waved them off at noon knowing they’d go for a drink after it finished (around 5). Dp and I had plans to chat about our wedding planning that evening.

Dp is not home til 11pm, absolutely rolling drunk. Around 9pm I tentatively asked for his eta which had not been forthcoming. From then on it was nasty texts “why are you being difficult about me spending time with my brother”/“you’re controlling”/“you don’t let me spend time with my family and friends”. He also had a drunken rant at me on the phone. The next morning he was a little apologetic but I told him straight that’s I’d been disappointed he hadn’t kept in touch and a vague eta would have just been courteous (it wasn’t my ideal to end up spending my Saturday evening in front of Netflix) He then was angrily telling me that he and his brother had bee having gone very important conversation about the brothers “mental health issues” (which I didn’t know about). Ergo I am a bitch.

Cue nasty rant and sulking from dp all Sunday. Yet again I am controlling, I have issues with him going out. His displays of contempt ranged from: ignoring me and scrolling through his phone when I was standing right in front of him, shutting the door in my face when I was talking, refusing to have breakfast with me, refusing to come out on our planned walk (then relenting when I begged him not to ruin the day, and coming out but shouting at me in the street, sneering at my tears, threatening to go home.)

Context: dp has after work drinks at least once a week, he spent Xmas at his family’s house, he had 5 trips away last year without me, he works away for 4 day stints every other month, we meet up with his family at least monthly, he’s going to a family event next Friday/Saturday, he goes on a big night out (which writes off the whole next day with hangover) probably monthly. He actually has a very independent life and I am very used to being on my own. I do all our housework except washing up. I do all our admin. I have planned our wedding.

I feel terrible that he thinks I’m controlljng. I don’t know what to do differently. As in the case of this weekend with the present for him and his brother, I never would have expected to be accused of being controlling. I can’t get it out of my head and I feel so rubbish. Keep thinking about dps contemptuous face and the door slamming in my face. I feel like I could be the perfect cool girlfriend and it would never be enough for dp. He never tells me when he will be home, he always gets smashed when he drinks (and nasty when he’s drunk, or otherwise way ott affectionate- sometimes from one minute to the next).

He says he loves me but why does it feel so fucking awful right now.

OP posts:
Devilishpyjamas · 14/01/2019 08:43

Do you have kids? If not don’t. So many red flags. I think that would be the final straw for me.

Costacoffeeplease · 14/01/2019 08:44

Why are your marrying him? He sounds awful

snowqu33n · 14/01/2019 08:46

He doesn’t seem to be being very nice to you. I advise a rethink of your relationship, and not a wedding. Google “gaslighting” and emotional abuse. Good luck. You don’t deserve this kind of treatment after doing something so lovely and thoughtful for him. Best to get out now and make a clean break.

Changedname3456 · 14/01/2019 08:48

Echo PP with “why are you marrying him?”

You’d be setting your bar awfully low if you accepted this kind of behaviour in a casual boyfriend, let alone the person you (presumably) want kids / a life long partnership with.

Babdoc · 14/01/2019 08:50

It’s a bit of a Mumsnet cliche, but: “when someone shows you who they are- believe them.”
This man is signalling, loudly and clearly, that he is a selfish, contemptuous, unloving shit.
It’s completely beyond me why you would want to plan a wedding (by yourself, apparently) to an unappreciative dick like this.
Please ask yourself what is in this relationship for you. What joy or love does he bring to your life? And then bin those wedding plans forthwith!

Namechangedforthis79 · 14/01/2019 08:52

Why did you want to marry him? Nothing about his behaviour suggests he loves you. He's punishing you for asking reasonably when he would be home.

Iloveacurry · 14/01/2019 08:52

I’m sorry but he sounds awful. Don’t marry him. Just run as fast as you can.

ChariotsofFish · 14/01/2019 08:53

You really can’t marry him, you know that. Being the perfect cool wife would never be enough because the problem is him, not you.

ChariotsofFish · 14/01/2019 08:55

Oh, he’s also the one who goes to weddings and stag dos abroad multiple times a year without consulting you. He’s really an arse.

Ozziewozzie · 14/01/2019 08:56

Don’t let that pathetic arse spoil who you are and cause you to question whether or not you’re a decent person. Yet another narsassist, entitled twat in this world.
I’m baffled why there isn’t a thread purely devoted to people living in a relationship governed by a narsassist.
He tolerates you because you let him be the way he wants to.
When you leave him, he’ll be just as nasty. Thank god, you don’t have kids with him.
Are you able to leave him?

Melandre · 14/01/2019 08:56

He can be really supportive, affectionate, fun. The first year or so was really great. We went through some very rough patches but when he got on meds for anxiety it seemed like things improved sometimes. We had a nice holiday over Xmas. But then it’s back down to earth with a bump when the second I challenge him it goes to shit. He told me that “you decided how this day was going to go” on Sunday when I said I’d been upset about the previous day. Like he decided to punish me all Sunday because I didn’t let it go. I’m scared that I am controlling, what’s a normal girlfriend/fiancé like? Since I moved jobs I don’t have any close female friends to ask and even if I did, I feel like I don’t know which way is up.

Whenever I try and defend myself he says he can’t talk to me because “you don’t talk, you debate”. I thought I was just arguing normally.

I feel so mixed up and ANGRY that this is happening AGAIN

OP posts:
ShatnersWig · 14/01/2019 08:56

Oh come on, OP. Give your head a fucking wobble and let the scales fall from your eyes. He's a total dick and you must have had low self-esteem to start with in allowing this behaviour to continue and for you to somehow accept this is normal behaviour. It's not. Do not marry this man or you are going to have this for the next 5, 10, 15 years, and no doubt bring kids into this sorry mix. Stop being a doormat, end this sham of a relationship now.

SanJelliChino · 14/01/2019 08:59

What would you advise a friend who had told you everything you mention in your op?

Op, separate yourself from this man before you marry and have DC. This will get worse.

Imaginee yourself 5 or so years from now not wanting him to go out and drink because you've been up many nights with a small baby and are on your knees. Can you rely on him for that? Do you really want a contemptuous man to father your DC?

You deserve much better. Why don't you think so?

ShatnersWig · 14/01/2019 09:01

From your other thread, OP...

Things are fine except where weddings (others and ours!) have been concerned

As this thread shows, no, things are not fine except where all these weddings he goes to without you are concerned.

He just doesn’t like doing anything that wasn’t his idea. His mother is the same (and he knows it)

Red flag.

We haven’t decided on honeymoon etc because I know he feels like I have taken over decision making etc - but he just isn’t proactive so it does get left to me

Another red flag.

I do think he can be a bit immature

You think?

But I do love him

No, you don't, you have become conditioned to him and used to him. You can't love someone who treats you like shit.

and want to marry him

You'd be a total fucking moron to do this. Seriously.

ADarkandStormyKnight · 14/01/2019 09:02

This man does not want to marry you.

SanJelliChino · 14/01/2019 09:03

"The second I challenge him it goes to shit.."

That tells you all you need to know I'm afraid.

DarkStorm · 14/01/2019 09:04

He is already messing with your head and making you question reality. It will only get worse after marriage.

fadehead · 14/01/2019 09:06

Fuck’s sake woman - don’t marry this tosser!!!

Kukumbr · 14/01/2019 09:08

Please don’t marry this man. The redeeming qualities you mention are just basic human decency. If this is how he treats you now, it’s only going to get worse once you’re married and have children.

Melandre · 14/01/2019 09:09

I sometimes think he wants the independent life he’s had since his student days, not sure why he proposed. He’s never lived with a gf before so I just put it down to him not realising about saying when he would be back, being a bit accountable etc.
Even if I was the most controlling gf in the world (don’t think I am)- the contempt he shows towards me is so immature, upsetting and frustrating. On Sunday I ended up screaming in frustration and he was all “you need to calm down”/“I don’t deserve to be screamed at”. I was just so frustrated at the prospect of a WHOLE WEEKEND WRECKED! (It wouldn’t be the first time)
I hang on so hard to his good moments and how he can be but sometimes think that they’re just a manipulation.
I have held off on joining finances and getting too deep into wedding planning, on the back of a difficult few months with him. I know that’s not a good sign. I do have low self esteem, I am taking ADs now which is slowly helping me get some clarity but I am not happy with this situation anymore.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 14/01/2019 09:09

All of this is caused by him, not you.

He's gaslighting you, making you think it's all your fault, when he's the one losing his temper, getting drunk, doing nothing around the house, shouting in your face, holding a grudge....

Please don't marry him. Do you really think people treat people that they love the way he treats you?

Tolleshunt · 14/01/2019 09:10

All the things other posters have pointed out, but also: why do you do all the housework?

Can you imagine living like this for the next 20, 30, 40 years? While you both get older, more problems arise, and he gets more set in his ways? Do you want to see that contemptuous face every time you ask him for something?

Life could be so much better.

PatriciaHolm · 14/01/2019 09:11

I do have low self esteem, I am taking ADs now

Hmm. Since you've been with him, right? Pretty sure these will improve the moment you're not walking on eggshells around this abuser any more.

Topseyt · 14/01/2019 09:12

There absolutely IS something that you can do differently here. Cancel the wedding and refuse to marry this selfish fuckwit who holds you in such contempt.

If you marry him then this is exactly how your life will pan out. Regularly.

ShatnersWig · 14/01/2019 09:17

So, OP, in answer to your original question, which was "Why do I feel so awful?", it's because your fiance is a really really unpleasant fucking wanker. The ONLY - and I do mean, ONLY - solution to your problem is getting shot of him, and getting shot of him now.

Yes, that means writing off the money you've already put down for the wedding, but that's a price worth paying for your mental well being and to get shot of this arsehole.

I take it that you will be doing this, and doing it as soon as you sensibly can?