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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

Confronting DH about his sulking...part2

977 replies

jamaisjedors · 04/02/2019 12:12

New thread :
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3448545-Confronting-DH-about-his-sulking?msgid=84022238

First one is running out of space due to all the amazing support I have had from all you mners!

To summarize, H is a serious sulker, gives me the silent treatment to get his own way or to "punish" me.

I was ready to leave, almost out the door over Christmas/New year.

Things have calmed down now as he has agreed to see a psychotherapist and suggested marriage counselling. I have my own psychotherapist.

Now trying to work through why on earth this has happened and make a calm, rational decision about my future and our family's future.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 12/03/2019 17:02

He isn't going to change because he truly doesn't think/believe recognise that he needs to. The support he wants is you putting up with his awful behaviour and still have sex with him...

Happynow001 · 12/03/2019 17:02

I would not want to be intimate in any way with someone who behaves like this - in fact I'd quietly and determinedly continue looking for a way out to live away from such a negative influence on my life.

Re the house search: you may need to settle for something "OK for now" and be prepared to move to somewhere more suitable after a while.

jamaisjedors · 12/03/2019 17:11

Yes I think I'm ready to settle for something "Ok for now" at this point, I am checking every day and will ring straight away when I see something.

The house I saw previously (which could have been "Ok for now", turned out not to be available after all).

OP posts:
TowelNumber42 · 12/03/2019 17:53

He's losing patience with you! Says it all really. You were supposed to be back in your box by now.

You seem less panicked and stressed than before. Calmer. Stronger. Less buffeted. More stable in yourself. Is that how it actually feels for you?

bobisbored · 12/03/2019 18:09

OP I have just found this thread and read through. You could be describing my marriage. I asked my H to leave last weekend. I feel so relieved and calm. No one is walking on egg shells. No one is in a mood with me for no reason. And no one will ever ruin another birthday, Mother's Day, holiday or family celebration for me ever again! Please put yourself first. You deserve better.

Applescoop · 12/03/2019 19:11

Don't just rely on the property websites. Please register with local agents and explain how keen you are to move. They'll be motivated to show you properties before all the official photos/particulars are completed. It should help speed things up for you.

jamaisjedors · 12/03/2019 21:33

That's good advice, thanks Applescoop.

Sorry bobisbored that you had to go through this too but am hope you are ok now.

Today's session went badly to start with, in my opinion, because H just kept hashing over all the reasons that this is all my fault.

I pointed this out.

We talked about sex, surprisingly.

H brought up (obtusely) that fact that "certain things" can't stay the way they are, and then was forced to be more precise.

I talked about how I had ask him to respect my boundaries before the holiday and that he hadn't.

He wanted to put the onus on why I HAD accepted, but the counsellor pushed him to clarify that he had heard me, that I had been clear, and that he had decided to push it anyway.

She pointed out that this may have been a way of "resolving" conflict in the past, which is probably why H is pushing so much for it now, but that it patently has not worked.

She also pointed out to H that if what he was seeking was to get closer to me and to enjoy something mutual, his approach was not working. In fact he agreed because he said he hadn't even remembered that we'd had sex twice on the holiday.

She feels that the way forward from here is :

  1. to find a new way of resolving conflict
  2. to agree on what our vision of our relationship is, what it looks like, and how much work that would actually take, to be able to decide whether we are ready to do that work or if it's too much.

She used the analogy of renovating a house, is there just a bit of redecorating to do, or do we need to knock down party walls to get to something we are both happy with, and if so, is the work involved feasible or not.

I like the analogy, we can move on from the blaming and the incriminations about whose fault it is, and take an objective look at our relationship goals to be able to come to a conclusion together.

I am 99% on my opinion on the amount of work needing to be done (too much, too late), particularly in the current context whereby I don't feel H is taking any responsibility for anything and is showing 0 interest in change.

OP posts:
TowelNumber42 · 13/03/2019 00:07

If nothing else it will be interesting to hear what he thinks is necessary. Presumably it will be a list of ways for you to change.

FinallyHere · 13/03/2019 06:53

Good to hear your update jamais , the clarity of your vision is a great advert for that process. All the best.

FrozenMargarita17 · 13/03/2019 07:02

Ooh he's a stubborn one isn't he. I'm glad the counsellor sees through him

Porridgeprincess · 13/03/2019 09:57

Sounds like a very good session, although he probably still believes he did nothing wrong. I can sense these sessions are not taking as much from you as they used to ? Is this correct ? You are getting very strong.

jamaisjedors · 13/03/2019 10:17

Yes I guess you are right (you and Towel!).

On the drive home I started being on a loop in my brain and I used a trick I read about somewhere, to start naming things I can see (in my head of course!) - for example tree, white line, lamp-post, pavement...) and just keep naming them until I calm down.

I definitely feel less panicked because I know I have lots of support.

And as I said upthread, it is SO amazing to have someone point out things that H has been denying for so long.

Even the sex thing, at first I thought she was going to let it go, but she put the focus back on him asking if he had definitely heard me, and asking him to think about why HE had insisted when I had been clear (even if he was entitled to not like what I was saying).

It's such a relief! It's (almost?) worth going to counselling to get that validation and it's definitely making me stronger.

I expected the counsellor to be very neutral, and she is mostly but she doesn't hesitate to point out contradictions or put her finger on what's going on.

OP posts:
Dickensnovel · 13/03/2019 14:08

Sounds you got a great counsellor. Not all are this good!! I hope you can keep seeing things more clearly with the help you're getting, and keep getting stronger.

It is amazing to watch you progress, and I say that as someone who's been there, had some poor counselling, and then got a good one!1

Bravo

Wauden · 13/03/2019 21:12

I'm going to use the technique of naming things as that's just the sort of thing I need.

jamaisjedors · 15/03/2019 08:22

Things are still pretty frosty at home.

On the way back from counseling h seemed to be saying that the point about resolving conflict in other ways than through sex was worth thinking about... But he is making no effort to talk to me or try anything else at all.

One good thing is that now this is out in the open I feel more relaxed in the house and in bed, although I'm still sleeping badly. I fall asleep quickly but then wake up an hour later and struggle.

Will probably manage a nap and some yoga over he weekend which will help, plus H is out for the day in Saturday.

Our next appointment isn't til early April. H has said he doesn't want to discuss things at all outside the "framework" of counseling so I guess this is how things will be until then.

I'm still a bit flabbergasted that he thinks I'm the one "throwing" our marriage away over minor issues but that he doesn't seem to want to make any effort at all.

He was back (in counseling) to announcing I need to "put up or shut up" and saying that my behaviour over my birthday weekend in Paris was princessy and that this kind of thing will have to stop in the future because I have unrealistic expectations and always want more than is on offer.

OP posts:
WelshDad78 · 15/03/2019 09:10

First time post for me, but I've been following this thread for some time so didnt want to lurk forever and wanted to give my thoughts from a mans perspective. I hope that's okay.

My overriding feeling through all of this is one of exhaustion, so I cant imagine how it must feel for you having to live it.

In short, it shouldnt be this hard. By that I mean, it shouldnt be such a huge struggle for this relationship to work - especially if both parties want it to work so badly.

I think the sad thing is that all the work, all the effort all the desire for a resolution is coming from you and you alone. Sure, you're in councelling together, but on your DHs side hes only paying lip service to it and I dont see any real desire to make meaningful change.

I dont like to say it, but if I'm honest I can see elements of myself in your DH. I am prone to sulking on occasion. It drives my wife mad, I know it does, and there are times when, yes, in my own little bubble, I'm doing it to punish her in some way.

Other times it's because I genuinely feel aggrieved by something that's upset me and (perhaps!) dont have the emotional maturity to vocalise it properly.

But this is the thing, on the occasions when I feel justified, I do communicate it (eventually!) and its resolved. BUT! In those times I'm being unreasonable. Deep down, if I'm 100% honest with myself, I know, I absolutely KNOW I am in the wrong.

In those instances it's the hardest to 'break the sulk' as it were - because I have to ultimately admit I'm in the wrong and it's my behaviour which is the underlying cause of stress.

Rewind 5 years or so, and my wife would have just waited out the sulk until things were back to 'normal' - but the underlying stress of it never goes away. Not really. Its insidious, builds resentment and causes further problems down the line.

The only way we broke that cycle is, not to put it too bluntly, was for me to just grow up a bit. To voice when I'm upset at the time and, crucially, for me to show humility and apologise when I'm in the wrong. And as I said, I ALWAYS know when I'm in the wrong. Any decently functioning adult does.

I feel like we've turned a corner in our marriage but that's only because my wife was as brutally frank about the state of play - exactly as you're doing.

Secondly, I had to admit to her and to myself that the behaviour needed to change. I needed to change the way I conducted myself when these flashpoints arose.

Looking back now, the ability to apologise when I'm in the wrong, communicate and resolve is actually quite liberating. Its removed an underbelly of stress that was always there. The relief in our relationship is palpable.

I guess the question for you now is, do you feel he has the maturity to admit responsibility for his own sulks and make the necessary changes for the good of your relationship.

Reading your posts over the months, it doesnt seem that way. We never went to councelling, we managed to work through it ourselves. The fact that it's gone so far and hes still firmly entrenched and deflecting blame suggests you're going to have a harder time of it than my wife did.

I hope you can get through this with a resolution which gives you both happiness and some much needed relief - because a happy, loving relationship shouldnt be such hard work.

TowelNumber42 · 15/03/2019 09:50

He's right about one thing

this kind of thing will have to stop in the future because I have unrealistic expectations and always want more than is on offer.

There is zero chance he can be what you need in a husband. You are no longer willing to be what he wants in a wife. It has to stop.

RandomMess · 15/03/2019 09:50

Well Jaim your "H" can just f*ck off can't he, he is even now blaming his bad behaviour on you, he takes zero responsibility for his behaviour and choices do there is no way forward is there?

Fairenuff · 15/03/2019 11:05

I agree Towel. OP says that he doesn't communicate his needs but he does. He says it loud and clear. She just doesn't want to hear it so is ignoring him much the same way he ignores her.

Jeezoh · 15/03/2019 11:21

Why do you have to wait until April to move things on? What are you not hearing him say to you? He’s not going to change, he doesn’t see the need and I’m really not sure what sign you’re waiting for to call it a day?

TowelNumber42 · 15/03/2019 11:38

The next counselling is in April. I doubt jamais is sitting on her hands until then. It sounds like she's actively searching for a place to move out to in parallel. The current market makes it hard to find somewhere, especially when you can afford to be fussy because the current situation is unpleasant but not dangerous.

Fairenuff · 15/03/2019 12:01

I think OP is going to try and put off moving out until the schools break up for summer. She said earlier that it would be better for the children to move in the summer and start their new school year once they are settled in the new house. So a good few months to go yet.

jamaisjedors · 15/03/2019 12:21

I am not waiting for a sign, I think the signs are clear. I am actively looking for a house but as Towel says, things are horrible and unpleasant but I'm not in any immediate danger.

I have friends who would put me up if necessary but I would like to make things as smooth as possible for the DC.

OP posts:
jamaisjedors · 15/03/2019 12:23

I am keeping going with the counselling as it is helping me to be sure about my decision and not spend my life afterwards wondering "what if I'd tried harder?" Because from the outside H is a very active parent and a reliable husband with many good points.

It seems to be the only place we can talk civilly too so it will be useful to use the counselor to agree on certain things later I think.

OP posts:
Jeezoh · 15/03/2019 12:25

My apologies, I didn’t mean to sound snappy in my post. I just read your posts like you’ve still got hope that things can improve and it doesn’t sound to me like you’ve mentally checked out of the relationship - this is what worries me. But I think you’re doing an amazing job of keeping your family life calm while you work out what you’re doing.