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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:
totallyoutnumbered · 09/10/2019 19:15

What everyone else has said. Your friend is absolutely correct. No grey areas here I'm afraid. He's abusive. Please get yourself away from him and never look back x

peardrops1 · 09/10/2019 19:16

I also agree with your friend.

Carrie7899 · 09/10/2019 19:17

It's hard to say as we only have one side of the story.

He sounds very childish though by sulking and not talking to you.

AnneKipanki · 09/10/2019 19:17

Your friend us right .

Windygate · 09/10/2019 19:19

Your friend is indeed a friend and spot on If everything was okay you wouldn't have told your friend all this stuff

AgentCooper · 09/10/2019 19:21

I think you know your friend is right OP Flowers You don’t deserve this.

HavelockVetinari · 09/10/2019 19:22

Your mate is right. If your DP is like this so early in the relationship he'll only get worse, I guarantee it. Dump him and read Lundy Bancroft.

MadeleineMaxwell · 09/10/2019 19:23

DARVO.

Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.

Once you spot it, you'll always see it when it happens. It's manipulative, it's gaslighting, it's abusive.

Queenoftheashes · 09/10/2019 19:23

He’s completely abusive and manipulative. Your friend obviously cares about you a lot and is worried for you.

Perunatop · 09/10/2019 19:23

LTB now.

testingtesting111 · 09/10/2019 19:24

Your partner is trying to train you to step into line.

testingtesting111 · 09/10/2019 19:24

Like others have said you have a good friend.

Groovinpeanut · 09/10/2019 19:24

You've got a wonderful friend there. Please listen to them. He's spot on!

AgathaF · 09/10/2019 19:25

Your friend is right. I hope you listen to him and get rid of your partner.

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 - this is just not on. Your relationship should feel like a partnership, you should feel safe and able to bring up issues. You should feel cherished. And this early in your relationship you should still be in the honeymoon period, not feeling as you do.

Haggismcbaggis · 09/10/2019 19:26

Your friend is right. Please note the unanimity of the responses here. Get out now. It will get worse.

(Id also have a strong suspicion he's up to something / cheating on you). But that's by the by. He's treating you like shit.

Your friend is great & you're worth more than this loser.

Luficer · 09/10/2019 19:26

Wait til the silent treatment starts lasting weeks or months rather than days and you’re a complete basket case... or don’t. Leave now.

Thegullfromhull · 09/10/2019 19:26

I agree with your friend

Pandaintheporridge · 09/10/2019 19:27

Team friend.

Breathlessness · 09/10/2019 19:28

Your friend is right.

theoriginalmadambee · 09/10/2019 19:29

You have a very good and courageous friend, keep him close.

Dump your partner.

WhereYouLeftIt · 09/10/2019 19:31

Your friend is right, listen to him. And tell him I think he's fantastic, because he has raised your abuse with you in a way that you have taken on board, rather than swept under the carpet of denial.

I would like to ask you about this part of your post, @helpisitme -

"What I told him I thought was "normal" arguing... "
Normal arguing. To me 'normal' arguing is being a bit snippy, not getting my partner in tears. For you to consider what you have described as 'normal' suggests to me that your past has not been an easy one (you also mention anorexia) and that your ?childhood/previous relationships? may have trained you to accept being treated like shit. Am I way off beam, or could this fit?

spongedog · 09/10/2019 19:31

I agree with your friend. You are lucky to have a male friend who cares and will speak up. Sadly I am realising that my (mostly gay) male friends, although lovely and social, are very selfish and would never support anything that doesnt suit a very narrow agenda.

Wacawaca19 · 09/10/2019 19:31

He’s right.listen to him.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/10/2019 19:32

Your friends right.

Neome · 09/10/2019 19:32

YFINBU
Go friend, LTB