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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

my male best friend just told me that he thinks my DP is abusing me

319 replies

helpisitme · 09/10/2019 18:22

I met up with my best friend of 15 years last night and was telling him how things were going with my DP. I have been with DP just under a year. I said that we had been arguing lately. What I told him I thought was "normal" arguing... I gave a few examples and he was taken aback at what I told him. He said that he was emotionally abusing me and that I needed to leave him. I have no reason to think my friend would encourage me to end our relationship for his own benefit (he's gay and married) or that he dislikes DP? I know DP isn't an angel, but I am not sure I am being abused?

I basically gave an example of the only "big" argument we've had (incidentally the first time he's ever been nasty). DP was meant to pick me up from work because my car broke down. He was 45 minutes late. I was noticeably annoyed getting in the car, dripping wet and full of cold. He was late because he was chatting to his friends after he had done his hobby with them. He asked what was up - I said that I was cold and tired. He shouted at me, saying that I shouldn't "make him feel guilty" and that I was manipulative. He said he ALWAYS put me first and considered me, but I never considered him, and that I was selfish and self-centred. I told him that I did things for him and always consider how he feels, it wasn't him I was annoyed with, but the situation (e.g. having a cold/being cold). He ignored me for the rest of the drive, dropped me at my house (he was meant to come in) and drove home, saying he was "done". I was crying and apologising for upsetting him, asking him to please come back, but he ignored me, and then told me the relationship was over. I accepted this. A week later after the silent treatment, he called to say he overreacted and for us to get back together. I said yes, because this was the first time this had happened.

Another occasion, I told him over a very busy weekend "you're always so busy, rushing around looking after everyone else!" gave him a hug and jokingly said "now I know why you fall asleep replying to my messages! you're so sweet, but you need to sleep!". I said this because in the past, I had commented that he shouldn't feel compelled to reply to my messages late at night instead of sleeping (he had told me work was busy). He started saying that I was manipulative again - saying that I was "not trusting of how he spent his time", and how "everything is an issue to you". He again didn't speak to me for 3 days.

I brought up to him last week that I was feeling overwhelmed at work, my mum isn't well and my MH was getting bad and I was feeling generally rubbish. Insecurities stemming from my body image (previous anorexia) makes me feel shit about myself when I am stressed. I rang him basically asking why his ex had commented on his social media, because I didn't think they were in contact. This is the ex who cheated on him, and who openly calls me a "slag" to anyone who will listen. It was totally out of order of me to do this, I know. I apologized immediately. He told me it wasn't an issue and he would remove her. He ignored me for a week again, despite me asking him to talk to me, saying I was sorry etc.

He always tells me whenever I am unhappy or bring up an issue that I am "destroying the relationship" and that "you've ruined who we are". He will NEVER respond in an argument to me, I am always just met with "okay" and the silent treatment. He always threatens to break up over the smallest of disagreements. Nothing is ever a small discussion, any small criticism or concern is dragged out for weeks. I am scared to bring up anything to him in all honesty and feel myself being pushed away as a way to make me suffer, if I do. He always says "you're always accusing me" Confused

The common theme seems to be that I make him feel bad. If I mention anything, even if I think it is wrong, it will always be twisted into how I am "making him feel guilty". He said he shouldn't have to change anything he does for me.

My friend told me he was stonewalling me, gaslighting me (you're the problem with this relationship, not the issues), and projecting onto me (e.g. in the car pick up example, my friend said he SHOULD have felt guilty as he had left you waiting knowing you were ill, and that HE was being manipulative trying to make me feel unreasonable for being annoyed).

Is this abuse? I think abuse is too strong? I do feel uneasy with any conflict with him, but I am not scared of him. He's sensitive, and maybe I am too critical?

OP posts:
codesandbargains · 10/10/2019 11:15

But yes, I will be thinking how best to end this relationship; discussions seem too much effort at the minute OP I don't understand this - are you thinking of discussing this with him to get him to see he is wrong and to get him to change?

I texted him yesterday basically telling him I won't be speaking to him until the weekend, so no active contact from me anyway Wouldn't he see this as stonewalling though? Do you both do this to each other?

He was 45 minutes late. I was noticeably annoyed getting in the car, dripping wet and full of cold Do you mean he knew you were waiting in the cold and rain for 45 minutes and he spent that time chatting?

raspberryk · 10/10/2019 12:07

Just end it, what needs discussing?

"I am not happy in this relationship and I am ending it." Block and delete number. The end.

Don't let him know what it is that he does wrong, it will make him more clever at abuse and the red flags for other women will be harder to spot.

helpisitme · 10/10/2019 13:03

@codesandbargains

I didn't think it was stonewalling because I have told him I am too stressed to deal with his silent treatment but I can arrange to see him at the weekend... Is that stonewalling ? I haven't done it before I only did it because I can't stand the ambiguity of the situation

OP posts:
Missteebeee · 10/10/2019 13:08

His behaviour is the stonewalling

Him ignoring you as a punishment until you learn how to behave (him being manipulative and training you to never complain)

codesandbargains · 10/10/2019 13:25

So, he just completely ignores you, you mean, and doesn't explain why?

Can I just ask, did he knowingly leave you for 45 minutes in the cold and wet? And when he picked you up he said he had been chatting with his friends after his hobby, knowing you were waiting outside in the cold and wet?

KatharinaRosalie · 10/10/2019 14:37

Are you sure you want to meet up with him to explain anything? He will just twist it around to make you look unreasonable and him the poor misunderstood sensitive soul.

Honeyroar · 10/10/2019 15:23

I don't see the point of waiting until the weekend. If he's been giving you the silent treatment anyway I'd just send him a message saying you're tired of his sulking and are ending things. Then put it behind you (obviously it's going to hurt a bit for a while) and enjoy time with your friend that actually does care for you. And beware that he may suddenly turn into Mr Perfect/Apologetic to win you back (and then later punish you with even more sulks and nagging). You don't need him!

helpisitme · 10/10/2019 15:40

@codesandbargains he doesn't explain to me he isn't going to speak to me he just stops communicating and will do so until he wants to talk. I didn't feel bad doing what I havr done because I basically said I needed time to think away from him and gave him a timeframe.

He did know I was waiting yes, that's why I kept waiting in the cold otherwise I would have walked home

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 10/10/2019 15:43

"I am honestly feeling a bit relieved that I am not just a horrible person! Another (not so nice) friend said to me about our arguments "well looking at your relationships, and they're all apparently horrible - the common denominator is you - maybe you are the problem?" "
This person is not a friend, @helpisitme.

Trouble is, once you've been in one abusive relationship, it damages you. It can desensitise you to the warning signs. It can damage your self-esteem so that you start to believe you are not worthy of anything better. In short - it makes you more vulnerable to the sort of arsehole who abuses their partner. Because these arseholes go looking for victims.

roundturnandtwohalfhitches · 10/10/2019 15:55

I wouldn't be bothered with this drama anymore. He is being controlling and horrible. Just get it over with, dump him, cut contact and start again. I know what it is to live with the- 'everything's always my fault so don't complain narrative'. It doesn't get any better than this and this is obviously shit.
You need to be prepared for him to start calling you a slag however because nothing will be his fault. Calling an ex a slag is a massive red flag in a relationship I think.
You friend that told you it was your fault is not your friend. You can dump her too.

timshelthechoice · 10/10/2019 16:02

You know what a lot of the problem is with these relationships, too? It's the quickness of labelling someone a 'partner' when you hardly know them, it loads pressure onto the relationship and makes people guilty for saying, 'You know, I don't know this person well, only been with them for under a year and I'm finding out he's a shit boyfriend so I'm off'. He's a shit boyfriend. He's not a partner. Text him it's over, block him and please, stop dating until you do the Freedom Programme at the least.

KatharinaRosalie · 10/10/2019 16:07

They really get to you. It's so easy to judge from the outside - he left you standing in the cold for 45 fucking minutes while he was chatting with friends, and instead of apologising, he made it all your fault!?!? But people like that are clever and can make black seem white. That's why I'm thinking that any meet ups and discussions might not be a good idea.

helpisitme · 10/10/2019 16:11

@roundturnandtwohalfhitches

His ex calls me a slag, not him

OP posts:
LifeSpectator · 10/10/2019 16:28

your friend is still 100% right, this is adding nothing of benefit to your life or health, just because he will decided to talk to you again, dont engage, get rid and walk away with your head held high,

Gre8scott · 10/10/2019 16:34

I think you know hes not in the right but all your replies suggest you arent wanting to leave him. Be careful itll get worst eap if you have kids

caringcarer · 10/10/2019 16:39

You are lucky to have a good friend like this. Your partner is a dick. He is the manipulative one. Dump him for good. You deserve so much better.

Paddy1234 · 10/10/2019 16:41

Your friend is right

Fallingirl · 10/10/2019 17:14

Don’t go into a conversation with him about the relationship and what is wrong with it, in the hope of making him see that his behaviour is abusive. He won’t.

You can never get an abuser to admit they are abusive.

And you don’t need his permission to break it off.

codesandbargains · 10/10/2019 17:37

Is the behaviour you describe recent and that is why you are still a bit thrown by it?

JavaQ · 10/10/2019 18:01

Your friend is right.

Get rid of this awful "bf" and move on. Your insecurities will lead you to think you are the problem- YOU ARE NOT.

Thank goodness you have a lovely friend who cares!

helpisitme · 10/10/2019 18:55

@codesandbargains
These events all took place in the last month. It's like he completely changed as a person. It wasn't gradual at all, just straight up nastiness relentlessly.

OP posts:
Parsimon · 10/10/2019 18:57

Doesn’t look like a great match

MarianaMoatedGrange · 10/10/2019 18:59

I'm worried that if you meet up he'll either turn very nasty indeed or be very charming and contrite so you're sucked in again so he can start the sulking punishment further down the line.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 10/10/2019 19:03

Your friend is right. A very wise, and very brave man; he really cares about you to risk being the 'shot messenger'. You should see in that fact all that you are truly worth. Send your appalling 'boyfriend' packing and live the life you deserve. Buy yourself a red toothbrush to celebrate!!

mankyfourthtoe · 10/10/2019 19:18

You said you're worried about viewing things from your own view not dispassionately.
Look at the facts.
He'd arranged to give you a lift.
The weather is bad.
You're ill.
So he decided that chatting to his friends was better than getting you on time?
And then managed to make you feel bad about it!
Hard no from me.