Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
catyrosetom2 · 09/10/2019 19:49

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"

Yes this is emotional abuse.

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).

Your friend is spot on!

Cherrysoup · 09/10/2019 19:50

Your mate is right, your DP is a wanker.

Fairylea · 09/10/2019 19:50

It’s unanimous I think. Your friend is right.

Transpeaked · 09/10/2019 19:52

Ben here. Done this. Got the entire gift shop. And none of it was worth buying.

Your friend is right.

Run - before there’s nothing left of you

PerkyPomPoms · 09/10/2019 19:52

Listen to your friend and LTB

AnneKipanki · 09/10/2019 19:53

Your friend is great btw !

ControversialFerret · 09/10/2019 19:55

Your friend is right - and good on him that he cares for you enough to speak up.

The tactic of refusing to talk and ignoring you is designed to make you run after him and grovel. It's a form of training, whereby you'll gradually learn to stop certain things (such as challenging him on anything).

Dump him.

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 09/10/2019 19:56

It's completely unanimous OP and that's rare on here, if that isn't enough to tell you that you're in an abusive relationship then nothing will.

Bunnylady53 · 09/10/2019 19:58

This makes for very uncomfortable reading OP. Your friend is absolutely right, you are being abused. Leave this sorry excuse for a man. You deserve so much better!

bookwormsforever · 09/10/2019 19:59

You’ve only been with this gaslighting, stonewalling twat for a year. It’s meant to be your honeymoon period. He’s supposed to be on his best behaviour.

It sounds like he hates you. Things will only get worse.

I’d leave.

byefeliciabye · 09/10/2019 20:01

Your friend is right. I'd leave him without a second thought. Sorry OP. Thanks

Cherrypicker01 · 09/10/2019 20:03

Oh OP I’m really sorry. Abuse is a loaded word but it can mean lots of things. I refused to use the word until I left my exP... and it was hard to believe at first. You’ve got a good friend on your hands there!

This should not happen in a relationship. Your DP is PUNISHING you by being silent, making you feel guilty and playing on your emotions. It’s punishment. Do you think that that’s normal behaviour?

Keep writing down stuff that he’s done - it helped me make sense of it loads. And next time something like this confuses you, write down what’s happened and you’ll see why it’s confused you. You will recognise you are being punished.

You deserve the world OP, you really do. Not this t**t

Flowers
Twisique · 09/10/2019 20:03

Your friend was brave to tell you, often the messenger gets shot. You have a good friend.

user1471449295 · 09/10/2019 20:04

You friend is spot on

Cherrypicker01 · 09/10/2019 20:05

Just to add as well - people don’t change. Your partner will not change.

The closer your relationship becomes and the more comfortable with each other you are, the worse he will be

Janus · 09/10/2019 20:05

Your friend is right. He’s basically ‘training’ you to never question him at all as he punishes you with either the silent treatment for days or threatening to leave the relationship. No one should ever brandish this around, either the relationship is over, sorry, goodbye or it’s not, you don’t just keep splitting up with someone each time something is raised they don’t like. Find a decent person.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/10/2019 20:06

I think this is abusive, yes - but actually what you call it doesn't matter. It's shitty behaviour in anyone's book and it CAN'T be making you happy!

Life is too short. Far, far too short for this kind of aggro. Bin him off - why do you think this is the kind of behaviour you deserve?

SleepingStandingUp · 09/10/2019 20:06

Dump homm the get your friend to find your next BF as he has better judgement

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 09/10/2019 20:08

There are many types of abuse not all of them mean being scared of the abuser -
Discriminatory
Psychological
Financial or material
Organisational
Neglect
Self neglect
Sexual
Physical
Domestic abuse
Modern slavery
And each of these have many different factors
I agree with your mate he turns it all back around on you that your the one at fault not him and punishes you with no contact it's all psychological abuse

HeyNotInMyName · 09/10/2019 20:08

You have a great friend. Cherish him because there are ut many people who are ready to put their heads above the parapet and tell you things like they are.

And yes, your fiend is right.

Drabarni · 09/10/2019 20:09

Your friend is right.
Just don't speak to him for a week and see what he has to say.
It will all be your fault but it seems ok for him to do it.

KatharinaRosalie · 09/10/2019 20:09

Your friend is right. Even if your boyfriend was sensitive (he isn't), would you really want to spend the rest of your life walking on eggshells so you wouldn't upset him? Your partner (of just one year!) should not make you cry at regular intervals.

Blanca87 · 09/10/2019 20:13

My heart goes heavy when an OP poses a post that screams they are subjected to abusive behaviour. Mumsnet responce is unanimouse, 'it's abuse' and there is radio silence from the OP 6 pages in. You just get the sense she are not ready to hear this and will continue the relationship until every shred of her is gone. Please listen to your friend and fellow Mumsnetters. X

Jellybeansincognito · 09/10/2019 20:13

Team friend here too- it’s like your partner is moulding you into someone who will just do what he wants.

It would get 10 x worse once you move in together.

Please don’t continue your relationship with him, you deserve so much more!

barberbabble · 09/10/2019 20:14

Your lovely friend is a friend indeed.

Your "D"P however...is not your friend at all.

Dump him or you will have a life of misery.

Keep the friend (and run any choices of future DP's past him ! )

Swipe left for the next trending thread