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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

Is he emotionally abusive

118 replies

lelrx · 10/02/2019 13:47

I'm with my partner of 2 and a half years, we recently married, I have known him for 10 years but not on the level I do as in a relationship.

My ex used to be emotionally abusive but a completely different kind, he would fall out with me and end our relationship ignore me, lie, sleep with other girls behind my back, he's the main reason for my anxiety. We split up and I realised he was very abusive and understood this only after I left

Fast forward to my now husband who I think is emotionally abusive but in a very different way so I'm struggling to understand how I go about my situation
As a child his step dad used to shout at him for the silliest of things, hit him if he didn't do something in time and so on, abit of a bully and my husband was always very fearful of him, he also used to be physically abusive towards dh's mom
Now that he is an adult I feel this has developed into an anxiety and he can be very angry and destructive
He will get so wound up by the most minor incident for eg, someone swearing at him whilst driving he will forget about road safety to tell the other driver to f off, or speed up etc when I am in the car I'm a very nervous passenger and he isn't the most experienced driver, I usually have ago at him because I feel unsafe and then he will start on me.
I feel I cannot tell him how I feel alot of the time because he shouts and gets angry at me
He often calls me a slag, bitch, vindictive, lazy etc during his outbursts, he usually punches my car if we argue in there, he has punched holes in doors, kicks things, shouts at the dog, punches himself in the head. He has never physically hurt me and he is the nicest person in the world when he isn't having an outburst.
I know he loves me, he would do anything for me, he is actually my best friend, I trust him with my life and he takes me everywhere with him and shows me off to his friends (unlike my ex), I just don't know whether he needs help with his anger or whether he is emotionally abusive and I'm getting confused between the two
Is this what emotional abuse is?

Thank you

OP posts:
Solstice888 · 11/02/2019 01:01

You might not want another relationship anyway! Plenty of ppl are happy single. I agree with the person who mentioned codependency could be a factor. Also, the whole threatening to harm himself (apologies if this wasn't this post but I think u said...) Smacks of borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. It is a control tactic.

HelenUrth · 11/02/2019 01:14

Oh you poor thing, what a sad situation, and unfortunately I think this guy has your thinking all screwed up.
Look at just some of what you said:

he shouts and gets angry at me
He often calls me a slag, bitch, vindictive, lazy etc
he usually punches my car if we argue in there, he has punched holes in doors, kicks things, shouts at the dog,
I just don't know how to go about it because If I do as he will probably have an outburst
even addressing it concerns me that he will have an outburst because nothing has happened I feel he won't understand why I have brought it up
he is very persistent and expresses how frightened he is of losing me
threats to drive into a tree
He still gets angry over message and then threatens to leave work and lose his job over me addressing what has upset me,
Im getting bad again, not seeing friends, bottling up and crying behind closed doors
I also am in a place where I don't really have anyone to turn to, especially when everyone else sees all the lovely things he does and not the real bad name calling and aggression I deal with
He's quite lazy around the house
how much I get stressed over his driving when he is angry
it's difficult for me because he causes my anxiety and then he will see that I am anxious and Google things that help someone to feel less anxious
I'm scared that he will do something to himself
I have been pushed and pushed and I just want to get out of this situation, it's breaking me down but the whole time I thought he was making me better
Looking from the outside everyone thinks our relationship is perfect
I don't want people to think bad of him when he's yelling at me and calling me names but I guess I'm just protecting him and allowing the behaviour because the less people know the better he's gonna look
My husband would be perfect if it wasn't for his anger

A few of my thoughts, sorry turned out longer than ideal -

Nothing is going to change until one of you changes something. If he took responsibility for his behaviour and sought help, something might change. But he hasn't done that, he thinks it's acceptable to continue abusing you. So you are the one who is going to need to change something, especially with a baby on the way.

He's not taking any responsibility for his behaviour, he will continue behaving like this until the consequences for his behaviour are worse than if he behaves properly. At the moment he's getting away with it, so why would he change.

Given things that happened in his childhood, he probably has deep rooted issues that need professional assistance to work through. You cannot fix him. If he doesn't attempt to work on himself you definitely shouldn't stay with him.

He is responsible for himself. You are responsible for you and your baby. Like on a plane, they tell you if the oxygen masks come down, put your own on before trying to help anyone else, you need to put yourself and the baby first. As others have said, if he suggests that he's suicidal, call the professionals. Far too often, abusers like your husband use threats like this to control. He is not your responsibility.

If you are struggling to accept that you are in an abusive situation, try talking to Womens' Aid.

Read Why Does He Do That by Lundy Bancroft, get it on Amazon Kindle store for a few quid and download the Kindle app to your phone to read it on. You'll start to understand that even if it wasn't for his anger, your husband is not perfect.

I'd also recommend you start telling other people what's happening. This is not your fault. Unfortunately, abuse thrives on secrecy, but if you remove that, you start opening the door to your own freedom. Good luck.

Tinekittie2 · 11/02/2019 02:38

You seem to have made up your mind already, but for what it's worth I don't think your relationship is doomed. I think he needs to get help asap and be away from you while he gets it.

It sounds like 90% of the time he is a nice and normal person? If you love him and he loves you, you can fight for your relationship.

Stick with your plan to ask him to leave, but don't break up? You can go on dates and if he has an outburst then contact gets cancelled. He needs to know his actions have consequences and he needs to understand that this is really hurting you. Sounds to me like he has no idea how bad it is.

I hope his mental health gets the attention it needs and that he gets better. Best of luck, OP Flowers

mkmo · 11/02/2019 11:26

his behaviour is unacceptable but i understand you may want to work your way through it. I recommend couples counselling because you can tell him there in front of someone else how he makes you feel and you can feel the safety of being in the presence of a professional. You can also try writing him a letter and give it to him when he is in a good mood explaining how you feel. He probably doesn't realise he's hurting you and that it's got out of hand. You have to set boundaries in your relationship and if he crosses the line you need a way to communicate this without feeling scared.

lelrx · 11/02/2019 11:48

As soon as I get upset he comforts me because he knows he has hurt me, he is very similar when the dog has been naughty he will tell her off but then feel really guilty after and gives her a kiss and cuddle.
I think this behaviour was normal for him as a child due to his parents
He still fears his mom and step dad and wouldnt dare call his mom a name or disagree with them
They always borrow money and take advantage of him
He used to wet the bed until an older age through fear
I think hes okay with taking it out on me because he is comfortable with me but he is being a bully and I don't think he realises just how bad it is because he thinks it's normal, it was only when I pointed it out we was able to work out why he behaves like this
His brother however hates confrontation and if someone upsets him he avoids it completely which would make sense if he was fearful too as a child because he would rather put up and shut up than get a beating
As far as I can gather my husband doesn't really understand abuse, I think because it's not physical he doesn't think it is, he doesn't really know how it can affect people. I don't want to just throw it all away but I'm not sticking around for him to just continue to behave like this, me and our daughter don't deserve it and if he really cares then he will go and get It sorted only then I think we stand a chance

OP posts:
Haffiana · 11/02/2019 14:21

OP, something that will really help is to start to tell people that he is violent and that you are scared of him. Tell them that he screams at you. You have told us who don't know him, and now you can tell people who do know him.

It is important to tell people, because by keeping quiet you are aiding him to create a reality where you persuade yourself that what he does is normal and that there is a 'good' reason for what he does (whether it is his childhood or your behaviour or he doesn't understand or whatever). Keeping quiet helps both him and you normalise his behaviour.

And OP - if he honestly, truly didn't understand that he is abusive he would be telling his managers and workmates that they are c*nts and hitting the wall at work, wouldn't he?

Please try to understand that he knows exactly what he is doing, that he is constantly gauging your reaction so that he knows exactly what you will allow, and also that each time he ramps it up a notch because he knows that if he then fusses over you that you will put up with it and be there for next time he needs to feel your distress and fear in order to feel better about himself. What you are living with is a dangerous, damaged man who has never made any attempt to manage his own anger, and who will eventually hurt you badly because his need to lash out takes precedence over your life. You are just the punch bag, your feelings are of no account. He wants you there, definitely yes, and for some failing of your own childhood you imagine that this is because he loves you. He doesn't love you because you, the real you doesn't exist to him, only your place, your role in his fucked up life. He loves that, for sure. He will do anything to keep you in your place - he will threaten suicide (such an act of mature love, eh?) promise to change (he won't because he can't) even promise to get help (beware this promise. It will take years of hard work in analysis for him, and if at the end of that he wants to contact you again then fine. But only afterwards, not during. If he loves you he would agree to this because he cares about your happiness and the safety of his child, but he doesn't love you so he won't. He will promise sparkles and unicorns and the danger here is your need to believe him.)

Telling people is the move that will allow the light of reason into the horrible twisted place that your relationship has become. Don't worry about whether people will believe you about his behaviour - if you tell them that you feel scared and on edge all the time then they will understand that.

Ditto him - you don't need to tell him why or what his behaviour is or isn't. You don't need to have a discussion or blame him and you don't have to fear that he will argue you over or make lying promises or confuse you with his version of your relationship. It is simple - "this relationship is not working for me". Keep repeating that.

Good luck OP. Tell your Mum in advance that she is totally not allowed to negotiate on your behalf because you probably learned to not respect yourself from her. She may try to make it all better by being placating or demanding that he change rather than properly defend your corner.

Haffiana · 11/02/2019 14:25

his behaviour is unacceptable but i understand you may want to work your way through it. I recommend couples counselling because you can tell him there in front of someone else how he makes you feel and you can feel the safety of being in the presence of a professional.

mkmo are you aware that couples counselling when there is abuse in the relationship is never recommended? None of your advice would be of any use in an abusive relationship, and it is actually worrying that you don't even seem to recognise abuse from a perfectly clear description.

cestlavielife · 11/02/2019 15:21

The only difference is whether he gets away with what he does due to mitigating circumstances....is sent to get help from psychiatrist or is locked away... but if he harms.you the reason doesn t matter. You or your dc are harmed either way. So the next punch misses the wall.and hits your baby.....potential brain damage . Should.you put up with it because he needs help ? No. Leave and let him get help.....or find another victim...

lelrx · 11/02/2019 15:33

I have spoken to my mom who is going to call his mom and explain everything and get him to go over and tell him everything and how I'm feeling then I will arrange for someone to drop his stuff off with a letter explaining
This is literally breaking my heart

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 11/02/2019 15:59

No no no....unless he is actively suicidal you cannot ask the mothers of an adult to.sort this out.... or speak for you.
Get him out or leave safely then explain.

His mother is going to listen to your mother and get him to leave quietly? You being very naive. Unless you are both 15....I assume you are both adults....

teainthemorning · 11/02/2019 16:00

I trust him with my life
You do, don't you ?
His temper spirals out of control and you trust him with your life; and soon you'll be trusting him with your child's life too.
Is staying with him worth more than your and your child's safety ?

cestlavielife · 11/02/2019 16:01

His mother is not going to agree her darling boy is as your mum says. Or you.
So tell your mum yes for support for you.
Get help.to physically get him out change locks etc
But you have to take charge.

lelrx · 11/02/2019 16:08

His mom's is the only place he can stay, so if I arrange for him to go there before anything is said he can get there without making threats and then his mom can explain what I'm feeling and in reality any arguments we have she always sticks up for me not him, she doesn't take him lightly
Then I will get his belongings dropped off along with a letter explaining my feelings and he can stay there whilst he has counselling

OP posts:
lelrx · 11/02/2019 16:11

If he thinks he's going to his mom's for something else he will be none the wiser and I can feel relaxed knowing he's there safely, she can then explain in brief that I would like him to stay there and I can arrange for his stuff to be dropped off

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 11/02/2019 16:12

But he has to arrange himself where he goes.
He is not your child
He is an adult.
Drop his things at his mum's yes.
But up to him where he wants to stay !

lelrx · 11/02/2019 16:16

I know i understand that but I just feel if I have a plan it helps me to feel better about the situation, where he goes from there is up to him, I just want him out of the house and with someone I know will keep an eye on him
He isn't my responsibility but I won't rest if I don't know where he is and if he's safe or not

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 11/02/2019 16:36

Then you wont rest your whole life.. he will always be texting you callling you asking you to save him. You cant.

change your mind set.
Ignore his texts once he gone.
Focus on you and your dc.

Zofloramummy · 11/02/2019 17:08

I can understand why you’ve arranged that plan. You feel safe because you know he is in a controlled environment with his mum and you don’t have to worry about where he is or what he is doing.

If it works to get him out then great. But it also shows how 3 adult women are trying to manage him and sort out his life for him. He is an adult and he needs to take responsibility for himself.
But for now just get him out and then work on a few things -

  1. keep him out and get some space from him
  2. organise some counselling for you and contact women’s aid for the freedom programme
  3. concentrate your emotional energy on the most important person in your life, your baby You’ve come so far in such a short time and you know no matter what you might want, you need to be apart. For you, for your baby. Good luck
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