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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

Living with a man with anxiety

15 replies

Whattodo33 · 05/06/2019 00:14

Sorry to post this on here but I feel like I need to vent as I feel so alone, and wonder if anyone else is going through the same thing.

Tonight I came home from work to my OH tired and in a bad mood, he barked at me as soon as I came home because I asked 'oh how comes you didn't do the washing up? Is it cos you're tired?' (this is something he said he was doing today). I made sure to say it in a nice way but straight away he got on the defensive, got aggy with me then didn't speak to me for the rest of the night and fell asleep on the sofa (which is where he always sleeps, but it's always been like this).

Now this is just an example and a pretty easy night for me even though I feel really down after, but this is something that happens very regularly and is normally worse. He has angry outbursts over the smallest things that you wouldn't normally get angry about but he says it's to do with his anxiety. He went mad at me the other day because I didn't fancy having my food cooked on the bbq with him and my step daughter, he had another outburst at me cos I didn't fancy going on some rides at the seaside, he's even shouted at me once when he was hungry and I couldn't pull over at a take away because there was nowhere to park.

I feel I am completely at breaking point, I have tried everything I can to no avail. I've tried ignoring it then bringing it up later when he's calmed down, joining in with him and defending myself and tried to leave on multiple occasions but he stops me and breaks down and says he will try harder and he will work on it but nothing changes.

He also has very little motivation, I feel I have to do a lot around our flat. I'll clean it, ask him to tidy after himself to keep it tidy but he won't, yet he'll go mad at me if I move a phone charger etc. He sometimes just erupts at me without even having a conversation first. There's lots of important things he needs to do that I constantly remind him to do and he doesn't, when we had a row about a month ago and I told him I'd had enough and that he doesn't do anything he says he will he said if I made a list and stuck it on the fridge for him he'd do them. Well a month later I think he's done 2 things on said list.

I know what you are all thinking because I think it myself, girl you are mad, why are you sticking around. Well it's not that simple, we've been together 2 and a half years and he has a LG from a previous relationship who I love to bits, I have spent all this time with her and the thought of breaking our family kills me. Don't get me wrong we do have really good days but the bad sometimes outweighs the good. I love him with all my heart too, and I support them both like crazy, but I feel like a lot of the time he uses his anxiety as an excuse because the things he goes mad over don't make sense. I'm also ashamed to admit it's affecting my mental health too. On a couple of occasions where we are mid row, I feel so backed into a corner it all gets too much and I have started to lash out and hit myself. I know this is a massive issue and is not something I have ever done before as I'm always the happy bubbly fun loving girl but that has all faded away due to this.

I am contacting a Councillor tomorrow for myself and my partner as I know it is fight or flight but I'm really praying for a miracle right now.

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 05/06/2019 00:25

Depression often manifests as anger. Has he been evaluated for it?

StVincent · 05/06/2019 00:28

Oh you poor, poor thing. It sounds awful and depressing and quite scary, and I’m not a bit surprised it’s having a bad effect on your own mental health.

When it comes to him - anxiety shmanxiety: this is just your bog standard angry and controlling man. I’ve dated men with anxiety and other MH issues, perhaps I can think of one or two angry outbursts ever (and apologies afterwards) across years -not a frequent thing at all. He’s clearly using his supposed issues as an excuse to bully and control you. Giving you the silent treatment etc isn’t the action of someone out of control and turning in on themselves - it’s someone deeply in control and turning their anger fullbeam onto you.

The thing is, you know this. Have you spoke to Women’s Aid or other potential sources of support?

As for his little girl - you’d be a much better source of support for her outside this relationship. I know of several examples where twat men’s exes are still in touch with their children and provide a positive and loving extra adult in their lives - something that’s much needed.

Strawberryshortcake28 · 05/06/2019 00:42

This is my life! My Husband suffers extreme anxiety lashes out over the smallest things especially cleaning ie The pots were put back in the incorrect shelf Or would Go quiet the mood swings can be so draining ! It is a horrible illness

It had effected my mental health too Ive went from being so laid back to worrying about everything!

Tbh if he's anything like my husband he won't change mine said he would get help and did group therapy which did help a bit refuses to take tablets I find that when he's in a mood the best thing to do is give him time to cool off before it escalates bite Your tounge say nothing and make him think about his reaction

In the end I just had to ask myself could I accept him with his illness and accept that this is my relationship or get out

Whattodo33 · 05/06/2019 01:30

Just wrote a whole essay and my bloody phones deleted it! Let's start again....

Thank you so much for the replies, it is so needed atm as I can't sleep (something I struggle with and is also related to this). I'm sitting here in bed after being in tears and feel angry that I have a long drive and an all day meeting tomorrow on no sleep when he will of had his full night's kip!

He went to the doctor and as there was a long wait they gave him an emailing therapy service, I don't know how he got on with that as he said what he was discussing with them is private (I was shocked by this), but I'm almost certain he doesn't contact them anymore. I've bought him anxiety self help books and calms which he hasn't touched. It makes me feel so gutted and it's a massive kick in the teeth because it's not just supposed to be helping him it's supposed to be helping me! This is why I'm going to a Councillor through work as it's the last resort. The only reason I found out about this service is because I had a breakdown at work, they could see I wasn't myself and kept asking if I was OK. Where I have felt like I haven't been able to confide in anyone because I think they will turn against him I have kept it all bottled up to myself.

I just want the old me back and the old him back. He was never like this at the beginning but he's obviously been masking it. Not only that but there is a possibility I could be pregnant. I just don't know how I'm supposed to help someone that clearly doesn't want to be helped or is so depressed and lacking in motivation they won't even try.

OP posts:
StVincent · 05/06/2019 08:46

There’s so much I could say but I really just need to ask you - what do viable solutions to this look like to you? Make a list?

Do you want to bring a baby into this household?

Hp737 · 05/06/2019 08:54

I really don’t think this is anxiety. I have quite severe anxiety including panic attacks and OCD symptoms. However if anything I turn this in on myself not others. The behaviour you describe sounds like a nasty man being abusive, sorry. He didn’t used to do it but now he has his feet more under the table. Why is this acceptable?

StVincent · 05/06/2019 08:57

Exactly Hp707. Even if he does - incidentally - suffer with anxiety, that’s not what’s fuelling this behaviour. He’d be the same controlling abuser if he were well. And you can’t mend a bad character with counselling.

Hp737 · 05/06/2019 09:03

He hasn’t touched the self help books etc because the anxiety claim is just a peg to hang it on. Been there done that. I almost left my dp finally after a ruined holiday due to his “anxiety” aka sulks and rants; he made noises about getting counselling;this has not happened, months later. Im now leaving him because I realise that he doesn’t have anxiety, he’s just treating me badly because he thinks he can, and he doesn’t respect me. You are making this a problem for YOU to solve (making counselling appointments, buying him books, trying to moderate your approach). What is he doing?

Hp737 · 05/06/2019 09:04

Oh and he also doesn’t help round the house for the same reason. He doesn’t think he has to, and he doesn’t respect you.

Fonduefrolics · 05/06/2019 09:19

I have anxiety and can be a bad tempered cow at times but this sounds like something else. The fact is he’s not seeking help for his mental health issues, not opening up as to what his issues are and seems quite happy for you to bear the brunt of his anger. You’re also mothering him by doing all the housework, writing lists for him, worrying about him. You mentioned he sleeps on the sofa - is there any intimacy? I’m not surprised this is effecting your own mental health. I was in a relationship with someone who had severe mental health issues and it almost destroyed me. You are not here to fix him just as I couldn’t fix my ex. I walked away in the end.

Someone mentioned Women’s Aid. I second that suggestion. The first thing they will tell you is there are no excuses for domestic abuse - mental health included. Being shouted at, getting the silent treatment, promising to do better when you try to leave...all part of the cycle of abuse. He probably knows how much his daughter means to you and you to her - it’s his top trump to keep you there.

StVincent · 05/06/2019 09:22

My ex used to have silent spells due to his anxiety. He’d kind of blank out for a few minutes and wouldn’t/couldn’t speak. It looked v rude if you didn’t know him. But he was annoyed at himself for this and worked hard to change it. And he was certainly no angel in many ways but shows the difference between someone with a condition they want to shift (like you OP!) and someone who just wants special treatment because you’ll put up with it if he’s “ill”, but not if he’s just a twat. Frankly.

CarolDanvers · 05/06/2019 09:22

Depression often manifests as anger. Has he been evaluated for it?

Who cares?! Leave him OP. That's it.

EmeraldRubyShark · 05/06/2019 09:40

Depression often manifests as anger. Has he been evaluated for it?

Oh lord, don’t fanny around giving him another excuse to hang his shitty behaviour on.

This is who he is. He isn’t making any steps to change. He won’t change, so you have to decide whether you would prefer to remain with him knowing that this is what you get, or whether you’d prefer to be single or free to meet someone who can be a partner to you. It’s actually pretty black and white. Right now you’re choosing to be with him and that’s completely your decision, you also have other options open to you and can decide to walk away if you feel that’s best. The ball is in your court.

NotStayingIn · 05/06/2019 09:43

I think it would be a huge mistake to have a baby with him. Anxiety or not, the fundamental problem is that he doesn’t want to change. And you are now stuck in a position where by the sounds of it neither of you particularly like the other. I’m sorry but I don’t think he would continue like this with someone who he truly loved and respected. I think this relationship has run its course and you will be better off out of it.

StVincent · 06/06/2019 14:12

That’s a pretty unhelpful thing to say - in my experience people who are a shit to one partner are often a shit to all their partners!

How you doing OP?

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