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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

Separation - is this my fault?

5 replies

Mum2Girls90 · 08/08/2019 09:39

I’m struggling with self doubt massively here.
My DP and I decided to separate last week. However, I said i wanted him to move out temporarily and get himself together. We’ve both been struggling with MH after a catastrophic year and I found it really hard to live with him over the last few months, so did our DC.

DP came over yesterday and wanted to talk finances etc (that never goes down well). Anyway, he’s looking in to new places for himself where our DD’s can go and stay with him, said he’s not going to Counselling (after I’d made the referral for him) and that he feels so much relaxed not being in our family home. His exact words were “when you asked me to leave I felt relieved but when I see you it hurts me too”.
I was angry in the conversation, expressed that I was hurt he’s making all these future decisions when this was only meant to be temporary but if he wants it final then that’s fine too.
But he said he got sick of coming home and I was miserable all the time, I stopped making any effort, I refused to let him out socially and he couldn’t take anymore of me telling him he didn’t do nothing around the house. I’m bad for his MH.

It was like a nail in the chest.
I work PT, studying a degree, look after DC, sort all finances etc. He goes to work, came home and sat on his phone the majority of the evening. Occasionally might wash up and on weekends do some washing.
I feel like our relationship break down has been solely blamed on me.

I’m not the easiest person to be with, I do have issues with control but his “not letting me out” was that I had a problem with his cocaine binges. Our sex life became poor after I was triggered by a childhood sexual trauma and all sexual feelings disappeared.

Resentment grew hard for me. I was horrible in some things I said but also pointed out that I’m his partner and not his mother.

When I’m around him I hurt so bad, I desperately want to try and fix our relationship but when he’s not here I feel so much calmer and enjoy doing my own thing without having to worry about yet another person. However, if this is my fault then surely I need to be doing something to try and fix things.

A little perspective would be great.

OP posts:
Mum2Girls90 · 08/08/2019 19:25

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OP posts:
category12 · 08/08/2019 19:48

You sound like you would really benefit from the separation becoming permanent. Of course he's going to rewrite the narrative of your relationship according to his own perspective - we all want to be the good guy in our own lives. Doesn't mean it's true.

Stop giving him the power, take charge and end it properly yourself. It's never going to be happy and healthy between you.

Mum2Girls90 · 08/08/2019 20:15

@category12
I hear you.
It’s such a hard decision and one I’m not sure if I’m completely ok with but I don’t have any fight left in me to continue to try anymore.

OP posts:
rvby · 08/08/2019 20:47

It really doesn't matter what he thinks.

I've really been where you are op, I get it. My ex did actually take himself off to individual counselling, what do you know, he came back at me with accusations of me being abusive to him, etc. This was a man who went so far as to prevent me from giving confession in church because I would be alone in a room with a man.... that is, the priest...!

It is awful when they turn it around like this. It's called DARVO if you want to google the tactic.

You can't stop him from having all sorts of crazy excuses in his own mind as to why the breakdown of the relationship wasn't his fault... leave him to it, don't fight it. His thoughts are his, he can think what he wants.

Turn your energy towards yourself and DC. Honestly. It's a better investment for all of you, including him tbh. Smile and nod while you get your trainers on and run as far away as you can go x

Mum2Girls90 · 08/08/2019 21:08

His inability to take responsibility has weighed me down for some time now.
I end up feeling the guilty person as I explode after constantly trying to communicate.
This last year has massively weighed me down and I’m not a person to give up easily but I really feel like I was the only one to make an effort and was met with bare minimum.

OP posts:
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