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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

Some Friendly Words - Support Group

951 replies

ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies · 02/02/2020 19:34

Hello, I thought I'd get us started in our new place.

Kind of imagining it full of comfy chairs and sofas, with hot cups of tea an hand along with a well-stocked bar.

Welcome all xx

OP posts:
ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies · 02/03/2020 23:05

@Bigpooh13, gah, the dad thing! No, no, no! Certainly helps with the closure though. Yours is such a plonker, isn’t he? I love the idea of him sweating at what to do with the little reminders etc. She sounds unhinged – burning stuff? I can see why she’s so attractive to him – not!

@SuperbMonkey I think a slump is always to be expected after an adrenaline rush, especially as it’s mixed in with anxiety. I am glad you feel better after some food and a natter.

I definitely agree with you that pampering is good for the soul. As is buying more bedding a new set of tea/coffee/sugar containers, which I did today. New kitchenware not quite as luxurious as a facial, but they are very shiny!

Three interviews! You are an absolute goddess, you really are. I am so pleased for you. I bet some of the grey jowliness is not just an act for you, but a very real reflection of how off kilter he must feel. Even if he doesn’t know the details, he must see your strength and awesomeness, and it unmans him.

The thing about that part of me that 'knows' he’ll be back, well I don’t even know if I would want him back. It’s just this odd little bit of my stupid brain. I can’t lie, I am very much missing my ‘person’ again at the moment, there have been a few little anniversaries of sorts over the past weeks which have been tough. But he isn’t that person any more. I don’t like the new person. This version speaks quite spectacular nonsense that even he doesn’t seem to believe. He’s a bit embarrassing really. Maybe it’s like Bigpooh mentions, it’s just a sense that there’s more to come in this little adventure. Hmmm.

I’m actually finding the pity makes things a little easier. Maybe because I don’t respect him it’s easier to challenge his shit - even though having to speak with him nearly brings on a panic attack – go figure!!??

@Sadsammy, sorry you’re slumping too. Definitely sounds like trading down. Ugly and younger sounds like insecurity on his part. I think so many of these wankbadgers have some crisis in terms of having a sense of their own mortality, lots of navel gazing, self-pity and general wankerdom, and because they are simple beings, they can’t cope with it. It’s not something we do in the same way I think. And rather than do the grown up thing and talk things through, they panic. We are too grounded and brilliant for them, so they flap around on some nostalgia quest for lost youth, often paired with the desire for someone who will be blinded by their apparent fabulousness. We won’t do because we know them too well – we just reflect their weakness back at them. So please nurture your self-esteem – he is the one, they are the ones, with self-esteem in the toilet, and deservedly so because they are giant man-babies.

Reading your later post, yes definitely trading down. It is pathetic. Mine’s the same. He’s with someone he was never unkind about, but definitely felt superior to, in fact that sums up most of his situation now. It’s all stuff and people he pretty much looked down on. The person I knew would have hated all this, so god knows what mental contortions he is having to pull off.

I love the idea of the notes, but I think keeping it as a lovely idea is probably best. Unless you know how to say filthily rude things in an obscure language…?

@Feckthisshit2020, yep been there. Wear the badge with pride. You’ve done nothing wrong. Yes it smarts (or worse – bloody stump pretty much sums it up, @Filly2011) but you are entitled to get weepy and angry because he’s treating you appallingly. I wish when I’d done it mine had stopped talking to me, rather than incessantly and oh so reasonably try and justify his actions. I look back and wish I’d fed him to hyenas. Not that I had any handy, but you get the sentiment.

Big hugs and wishes for good sleep, fab Warriors.

xx

OP posts:
thegrassisgreenernow · 02/03/2020 23:17

Slump time here too. Where's my suede suit when I need it? Sobbing at therapist today and intermittently before and since. Just so many people to care for and no-one anymore to care for me. Even typing that makes me feel pathetic, I've never felt anything like that in my life, have always just coped with whatever arose.

But I agree @ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies, like you and others, I can see I'm in a better place than him, am here, with the kids and tons of friends and support. Not as good as he is financially, but I spent a long time this w/e trying to work out the figures, have a decent job and am pretty sure I'll be OK if he keeps his end of our early discussions on that.

Absolutely minimum contact is definitely critical. @Filly2011 I so hope you manage to do that, it will help you so much.

@SuperbMonkey I also have physical distaste, truly can't even see anything attractive in him any more, whereas only 6 months ago I was begging him to 'pick me'. All that's gone for me completely.

@Sadsammy, my guess would be that leaving notes with his "tools" (appropriate) could just let him into your emotional mind a bit, which you might not want. Maybe just break a couple of them secretly?!

Filly2011 · 03/03/2020 05:59

@sadsammy just leaving the tools with no note is better because the note says you care what he’s up to. Remember the opposite of love is not hate - it’s indifference.

caketimeisover · 03/03/2020 08:25

Anyone got any tips on how to stop obsessing? We finished mediation, everything agreed, so practical matters are done. Once that's been through the solicitors etc (a few weeks, maybe a couple of months I guess) I can hit the big button and our marriage will be legally (as opposed to just practically) over.

But I go to sleep thinking about everything. I wake up thinking about it. Even on days where I don't have to see or interact with him, I just can stop thinking about all of it. Sometimes it's just the situation in general, sometimes it's specific events, moments where I can see how cruel he was (telling me I worked to hard, telling me I wasn't strict enough with the kids, telling me maybe there had never been a spark there, maybe he only asked me to marry him because he thought he should rather than he really wanted to - all while he was leaving me at home with 2 kids and a baby to go and shag her). All signs of a shit, weak character on his part, but it's still hurts so much. Just want to switch it all off for a bit. Boooo.

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 08:45

@Bigpooh13, mine too. They’re not particularly special, are they. Lots of them around. As @ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies says, it must be quite funny to watch him struggling to say ‘no’ to you and being terrified of what will happen to him when he gets back to base.

Bunnies, good to read your latest update. New kitchenware sounds shiny and lovely. I’m not sure where I’ll be living, so the thought of packing more stuff isn’t very enticing. I doubt I’ll get much help from STBXH. Thanks too for the kind words about the interviews. Just need to reel in a couple more jobs! It is all quite overwhelming at times. Running in treacle. I know if I can persevere things will come right. Some of the grey jowliness and misery is part of his actual person. He’s always been a grump. I had a batch of ‘memorable events’ all squashed in the first few months. It was very hard, and I don’t know how I got through them mentally. A lot of the time I was functioning but only just. It has got easier now I have faced the future. Slumps still happen but they are different. Masses of sobbing and then it passes.

I don’t think they do believe their own nonsense. They haven’t got anything to say, as they desperately seek to justify their decisions to themselves and try to rationalise what they have done. They are also still lying, and have already told lots of lies. They can’t remember what they said at different times, they panic, look startled, scan their brains for recall, and rubbish comes out of the mean little mouths.

I completely understand the panic when having to speak to your H. I feel the same, even though I don’t love, trust, or respect him. This person has caused immense pain and hurt to you. He is not the person you thought he was. When you hear him speak or see what he writes you do not know whether he will be pleasant, or whether the horrendous creature will appear, and if it does appear, when that will happen. No normal person wants to willingly expose themselves to pain, so anxiety and panic set in. I’m scared of being hurt more than I am already. Like you I have been subject to a drip feed of information, each piece more unpleasant than the last. Dealing with a reasonable person is fine. Dealing with an unpredictable fool is much harder. Just my thoughts and won’t apply to all 🤗

@thegrassisgreenernow

Your suede suit is in the wardrobe. You need to get it out and put it on. Done that? Good! I sob at the therapist and afterwards. My therapist says that that’s what therapy is for. You’re processing the feelings. People do care about you. It’s just that we are dealing with a lot of responsibility on our own, for the first time ever, or for a long time. That’s tiring and we don’t look after ourselves properly because we don’t love ourselves enough. That’s the crucial point. And it’s good news on the finances. Stay strong Warrior Woman 🏋️‍♀️

@Filly2011, morning. We all seem to agree that @Sadsammy should resist the naughty notes (tempting though it is). No contact Filly. It will improve your life, I promise. You just need some space to think about what you want, not what he wants. ❤️

And to everyone else, have a lovely day, with lots of sunshine and, perhaps, the occasional depression and shower. This too will pass.

Filly2011 · 03/03/2020 08:56

@caketimeisover
I think you should tell yourself that all the things they say, the “did we ever love each other, should I have married you, you weren’t loving enough, you drove me to have an affair, you work too hard etc.” are none of them true. And he knows they are not true.

They are simply a justification for running away to selfishly shag someone else and making himself feel better about whatever was going on with him by making his family feel a lot worse.

What he should say is I chose to leave my perfectly lovely wife and children to accept attention, sex, etc. from someone as horrible and faithless as myself. I am not a nice man.

That said, I totally get the obsessive thinking. I too think about this stuff every day all day. It’s so tiring. I just want maybe a day of happiness. No tips really but just wanted to say you are not alone in this.
Hug.

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 08:57

@caketimeisover, lots of warm hugs. You are still my heroine! Mighty through and through.

In CBT I learnt that one way to deal with obsessive thoughts is to write them down (paper, phone, whatever’s handy). What I’ve found is that the inconvenience of collecting the thoughts puts me off having them! They still come but if I say ‘stop’ they diminish. They are worse if I’m tired or hungry. There are triggers. I try to avoid some but part of the therapy is gradual exposure to as many as possible over a period of time so that they lose their magic. It is possible that your brain is making you have the thoughts, particularly the negative thoughts, to help healing. I find that if I feel sad and miss him as he used to be, the negative thoughts about him remind me of why I am better off now.

How did you feel after your post? Did typing the words help?

Another technique is to keep saying the word ‘the’ over and over especially when trying to sleep or when waking in the middle of the night. It sounds crazy but it does work for me. It pushes out the intrusive thoughts.

Hope this helps xx

Filly2011 · 03/03/2020 09:07

@SuperbMonkey “he’s always been a grump” are we married to the same man?!
Mine is a permanent black cloud (with me anyway)! He told me the other day that he wakes up every morning really depressed that he’s had to wake up and start another day. It’s a real downer to live with isn’t it?
Really galling to hear that what he loves so much about OW is her happy, sunny, smiley thing, so kind to others, blah blah. Made him feel amazing apparently.
Just makes me feel stabby and cross!

Sadsammy · 03/03/2020 09:16

@caketimeisover
I'm with you on that one. Whenever I wake up, the thoughts of him or her are there but it's not as intense as it was a few months ago. For you getting a divorce, I think once that's finalised(sounds like it's well on the way)you can look more ahead? Can you think about how you might change things with him gone? Your house(even just moving stuff around, spring clean, lick of paint), your social life, habits? I've not watched the end of the Vicky Falcone videos yet about getting over breakup(found it on FB, which pops up OLD too!)but she mentions the obsessive thoughts and that time isn't the healer. It's change of mindset or taking contrary action(let you know what this is) but also that self-blame= misery. We have limiting beliefs e.g mine is unattractive, unimportant and unloveable that hold us back. We have to give ourselves advice about those and others, as if we were out best friends. Our thoughts affect our feelings etc. Sorry I'm really babbling on here. I guess focusing more on yourself will eventually push those invasive thoughts aside. I have to keep telling myself that he's simply none of my business anymore and neither am I to him, which is one reason I don't want to see him. He doesn't deserve my civility, smile or even friendship. I'll hold back on the rude notes! I hope everyone has a better day. 😀

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 09:38

@Filly2011, 😀. That’s where he was staying when he wasn’t at home or work! On current form it’s entirely possible that he has several wives scattered over the world. On reflection, he isn’t quite as gloomy as yours. Although one memorable morning near the end, I said ‘good morning’, and he completely ignored me. I challenged him and he gaslighted me by saying he hadn’t heard me. The smirk on his face told another story. 🤢

I’m angry on your behalf. He’s talking absolute b*ll£c&s. You should tell him that, if you were miserable with him, that was due to his crappy, gloom-laden, joyless attitude to life. That’s what I did. He looked quite shocked when I said I had got my joy back. I was criticised for kindness. You can’t win, that’s the truth.

He may have felt amazing but she clearly didn’t agree as she went back to her H. Don’t have her dregs back. You are so much better than that xx

Filly2011 · 03/03/2020 10:30

@superbmonkey @Sadsammy I think the blow to ones self esteem is one of the most damaging parts of this vile ‘journey’.
I try and think I’m worth more than this and then I wobble horribly between “no wonder he preferred OW I’m such a bitch” and “please don’t leave me DH I can’t be alone to face a lonely old age being eaten by own dog in crumbling house”.
It’s all ridiculous.
Do I want to look after an old old DH with his grumpy little face? Well No and especially not if he’s pining for Sunny OW.
How to get the I’m worth it mojo back? That’s the thing. For all of us.
Hug. Xx

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 10:52

@Sadsammy, I loved your post, especially about limiting thoughts. We did this in CBT. It’s a very important point. I have these on occasions too. You sound determined today (and good call on the notes).

@Filly2011, I agree. My self-esteem has taken such a battering. I’m slowly building it up and my friends are brilliant at helping me. Lots of compliments and supportive words. Your are not a bitch, unless you are going to tell us that you have been having affairs too. He’s playing on your sympathy. He feels sorry for himself but it’s not up to you to sort out his misery. He’s an adult, make him act like one. I’m heartily sick of these men-children who want ‘wife-mummy’ to make everything better by squashing down her own needs and best interests. Even when they have caused complete wreckage in the wife’s life with selfish, entitled behaviour. They are bullies, and bullies are often cowards so they shrink when you stand up to them. If you are weak before them they feel powerful and it feeds their crummy egos.

You get the ‘I’m worth it’ mojo back, you focus on you, your life, your work, small tweaks to make the space your own. Tiny forward moves are followed by backward moves, but your resilience is building every time you pick yourself up and carry on.

Strength 💪 xx

Sadsammy · 03/03/2020 13:24

Just been out. Make up on and straightened hair. Managed not to bump into the fucker but actually, I really shouldn't feel the need to look ahead to try to avoid him. Chin up to all of us! I think mojo-resurrection has to be a target for us all. It instantly boosts us and reinstates us as the attractive individuals we surely must be.

Bigpooh13 · 03/03/2020 13:36

Well done to you sadsammy. Built your self esteem.

Just had a letter from his solicitor which confirms to me what an utter arsehole, twat he is being. Hes registered home rights on my house. All along he has said he has no interest in this house as I bought it.
Just ugh. I now know he has been lying all the time. How can he do that.

Aargh. I'll have to do it to the 3 houses he rents out now. He knows I have no money. Dick head. Arsewipe.

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 15:10

@Sadsammy, well done you. The small things make all the difference. If you do see him you’ll cope. 💫

@Bigpooh13

That’s disappointing news for you. Best to assume that they are lying even when they are being nice. Remember they are looking after their own best interests always. Make sure you protect yourself. Take care 🤗

caketimeisover · 03/03/2020 18:21

Hello again! So after a rubbish start to the day just generally feeling low, I got an email from him throwing what we decided in mediation up in the air again. Gaaahhhh. Hopefully it's resolvable but honestly, every time you think you're moving forwards... and why the hell does he leave everything so late? Infuriating when I've done everything to be organised and get this done as quickly as possible.

Your post made me cry @Filly2011. That's so what I would be telling a friend, but it's all messed up in my head. And thank you @Sadsammy and @SuperbMonkey too. I had a horrible thought about myself earlier and mentally shouted stop, which kind of worked. I think visualisations work quite well for me so might try some more of them to stop going round on things. Sometimes these thoughts feel like self sabotage though, like picking at a scab. Writing things down does help, having this lovely kind supportive thread helps and I do have some wonderful friends to lean on. I've tried changing things up at home, feel like I want to do more but not sure where it start. Bleughhhhhhh. Just want to be free of all this shit that he's dumped on me, to have days where I don't see or interact with him be completely free of him and start being happy again. Feel like I'm ruining them by still feeling miserable and thinking about him. Bleughhhhhhh.

Sadsammy · 03/03/2020 18:31

@caketimeisover
How long has it been since DDay?

caketimeisover · 03/03/2020 19:13

@Sadsammy 5 months

Sadsammy · 03/03/2020 19:19

Nearly three months for me. I'm sadly looking through my diary. Slumped a bit now as I've seen the diary note, XXX left. We have children but they're adults so I've managed to avoid contact apart from two very short encounters, the last was a few weeks ago and I wasn't expecting it and it made me cry in the street. I don't know if it's easier or harder to get over someone when you see them or not? I feel very lonely right now.

Bigpooh13 · 03/03/2020 19:28

@sadsammy. I feel lonely nearly all the time. This thread and the lovely ladies keep me going.

After today's letter I was alright was gonna text and tell him I've made the spare bed up for him and what does he want for his tea . But decided not to 🙀🤣

As this thing means he can occupy the house whenever he wants and I cant sell it.
I'm now gone into I must have been a bad horrible person for him to treat me the way he has.

Filly2011 · 03/03/2020 19:43

@Bigpooh13 Nooooo. You are not a horrible person who deserves this. But it is how it makes you think.
I think at times I must actually be a massive bitch to make someone dislike me so much that they could do this.
But we are not deserving of this. We really are not. Even if I was so horrible that my husband hated me and felt driven to have an affair I still don’t deserve this.
If he was so unhappy he could have left me years ago.
He didn’t because he didn’t think of leaving me and wasn’t unhappy until OW appeared on the scene.
It’s the same for you.
They rewrite history to make us feel bad. Don’t ever feel it’s your fault.

SuperbMonkey · 03/03/2020 20:47

Hi All, just back from yoga, so feeling relaxed. Yoga has been a positive new hobby to come out of the carnage. I’ve always wanted to do it, but never stuck to it properly. Now I am. Calming me down for the hard days ahead.

@caketimeisover, what can I say! You are the sane parent and he is the petulant man-child. All you can do is take a very deep breath, put down all the sharp objects, and plough forwards. You’ll get there. It’s funny how the universe seems to know that we are having a bad day, so throws a bit more rubbish at us. Building resilience several problems at a time. Some of the tips worked, which is good. I know what you mean about being free of the shit. It seems never ending. You want to scream ‘just go away, you complete cockwomble. Take your miserable face somewhere else’. And breathe again. But 5 months in, 1 month less than me, and you are so far ahead. Mighty cake 😘😘

@Sadsammy, 3 months is no time at all. I was a gibbering wreck in the first 3 months. I’ve hardly seen my STBXH. About 3 times in 6 months. That’s been enough. I’m better when I have no contact with him at all. I did see him recently and was pleased to see how rough he looked. Not my circus, not my monkeys. You’ll get there but there are bound to be triggers. Even if you are lonely you are not on your own. We are always here. ❤️

@Bigpooh13, how’s the FO face doing tonight? I hope you are refining it to new levels of FOffedness. He can’t occupy the house whenever he wants to. He has protected his interest, if any, in it, that’s all. What do you think OW exW will do if he moves back in? She’ll be setting fire to the shed! Keep yourself safe, that’s all you need to do. You are a funny, charming person, and you keep us smiling here, chin up sweetie 🤗

@Filly2011, good catch for Big. You are not a bitch, or horrible, or anything else. They are idiots who didn’t have the guts to end or work in a marriage before wandering off to the first available woman handed to them on a plate. There’s no elegance of finesse attached to their choices. Pathetic. You are a strong, lovely woman. Ignore him, he’s one of the lower elements.🤗

Enjoy the rest of the evening Warrior Women. Xx

Bigpooh13 · 03/03/2020 21:56

@Supberb I goggled what the order meant and then texted me mate saying yeah hes coming home god shrek will love it . Better hide the matches. So you got it so right.

Idiot he got the wrong order. The one he got says he has to return to occupy else it's not legal. Haha.

I'm glad yoga works for you I just fall over. Abit slow for me aswell i loved les mills body balance but cznt do now coz of injury but tempted to have ago.

So let's see girlies what shite can happen tomorrow.

SoTiredTonight · 03/03/2020 22:51

Hello ladies, just checking in as had a mentally busy couple of days and can barely keep my eyes open to even read all your posts properly. Will be back tomorrow, just wishing you all a good night! xxx

SoTiredTonight · 03/03/2020 22:51

PS I got the HRT!!! Grin

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