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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 partner is a blame shifter

13 replies

catnaps1995 · 03/02/2020 10:49

Me and my partner have been having our issues lately. Granted on both sides we haven't been our best. I blame lack of sleep and the added stress of having a baby.
Recently my partner doesn't make me feel loved. I feel more like a burden.

He gets in random moods with me and doesn't explain what is wrong. I am left to guess what is up because he won't tell me and I feel like I'm walking on egg shells all the time. When he is in one of those moods he doesn't take an interest in me at all. Sometimes I feel like he does it on purpose, because he likes making me guess what is up rather than telling me and watching me worry.

When I tell him how the behaviour makes me feel, he shifts the blame onto me. He blames the house, and the fact that I didn't move somewhere he wanted to (I didn't because somebody lives round the corner who would of really effected my anxiety and mental health). He blames the fact that I spend too much money (I only ever spend money on house stuff, like borax or stuff for our daughter like cups, bowls etc for weaning). But he didn't tell me any of this before hand. I don't even think the money thing was an issue until I mentioned how his behaviour made me feel. I could see his brain working for something to blame me for.

He doesn't like admitting when he is wrong. He also has a bad case of the whole black and white thinking thing. When I asked him to go to therapy, his reply was that we'd be skint and have no food because he'd be taking time out if his day to go to therapy (he is self employed) but taking an hour out of his day for therapy isn't going to make us go hungry. He manages taking an hour out of his day when he wants a lie in... I know all about black and white thinking because I have (and occasionally still do) thought like that. I went through 2 years of intensive therapy to change my way of thinking and how I deal with low moods.

I've managed to persuade him to go to therapy, but I don't think he really knows how or what is so damaging to me about his behaviour sometimes. I don't imagine him really working on himself, I can imagine him more just complaining about me, and other things that are "terrible" in his life....our life isn't terrible, he just focuses on all the bad stuff but i know they can be a symptom of mental illness. He is very stressed. He says he doesn't want to break up, and that he loves me and doesn't want to lose me, but the way he acts makes me feel like he does and I feel like he really hates his life but he says he doesn't.

Do you think therapy will help? My sister thinks he is emotionally abusive but everyone has negative points about their personality. I'm just asking for a different viewpoint. Thanks .

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/02/2020 10:59

Your sister is right, this man is emotionally abusive. This is not just about him having a negative personality, this is him blaming you for all his inherent ills and how his life has turned out. Such men too do not want to leave, he has a nice life with you running around ragged after him and he is not going to let go of you that easily.

What is your own definition of abuse if not what you describe?. Abuse is not only physical in nature.

I also doubt very much that he will ever go into therapy and if he did you should not have any joint sessions . Ultimately you need to leave this individual before he further drags you and his daughter further down with him.

Women’s aid are worth contacting here too

catnaps1995 · 03/02/2020 11:05

Thanks for the reply.
If I'm honest if it was anyone else...say my sister who was being treated like this I would say it wasn't right.
I know I have difficulty noticing abuse in my own life. I was abused as a child. I have mental health problems and I'm autistic. I have a long history of choosing people who are "abusive" but my partner is different to the other people who have been abusive in my life. I just didn't want to believe my sister because I like the life I've got now and he whole "family" aspect of things but I don't want my daughter growing up thinking this is how you should be treated.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/02/2020 11:10

He is merely a different type of abuser to the men before. He is abusive towards you and in turn your child. You are a vulnerable adult here and remain so. your boundaries, already messed up, are being
further messed up by this individual. The life you have with him is not good for you or for your daughter. None of this is your fault, the abuse is the fault solely of the people who abused you and your trust in them.

You may well want to seek extra support

Please contact women’s aid , they can and will help you leave your abuser.

Interestedwoman · 03/02/2020 11:33

Therapy usually just gives these types more permission and 'justifications' to do what they already do- put themselves first in everything.

I think you should go get your freedom.

Techway · 03/02/2020 11:34

How old is your daughter and how long have you been together?

A baby can be a trigger for abuse to start. I would recommend "the emotionally abusive relationship" Patricia Evans and look ar the abuser types in Lundys book, Water Torturter & Mr Right.

catnaps1995 · 03/02/2020 11:48

Our daughter is 6 months old

OP posts:
catnaps1995 · 03/02/2020 11:49

And we've not been together long. A year and a half...it was an unexpected (but lovely) pregnancy

OP posts:
Techway · 03/02/2020 12:18

You are supposed to be in the honeymoon period at 18months so this will only get worse.

Are you able to get back to work?

UYScuti · 03/02/2020 12:23

He doesn't sound good OPee☹️

catnaps1995 · 03/02/2020 12:40

Yeah I'm due back in May but I will only be working 12 hours.

OP posts:
wobblywinelover · 03/02/2020 12:57

He sounds like hard work and you sound completely fed up OP, if I were you i'd make plans to protect yourself financially, look into your options at work, and childcare options for your daughter. He'll never get better, blokes like this don't. He'll use therapy just as a way at getting back at you as he will lie to the therapist. Going through that will just make you feel worse and be a total waste of time. So sorry OP

Rebelwithverysharpclaws · 03/02/2020 16:01

He is an abuser, they don't change. Save yourself years of misery and get rid of him as soon as you can. Sorry OP.

everythingbackbutyou · 03/02/2020 22:04

OP, you've provided a very good description of my stbxh (most certainly emotionally abusive). A couple of things from your post stand out to me as massive red flags -

  • The walking on eggshells description is incredibly common to those who are being emotionally abused
  • Blame shifting and the fact that you are not allowed to express your feelings without them being immediately being countered with reasons as to why his treatment of you is your fault (spoiler alert - IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT)

I lasted 25 years in my relationship and things were never perfect, but definitely escalated with the birth of each of my 3 children. I spent years puzzling as to why someone who apparently hated his life so much didn't just leave. Clearly it was working for him.

I second what @Techway mentioned for useful resources. Patricia Evans and her books is who I credit for starting me on my journey out of my controlling relationship.

Wishing you so much strength. As I found for myself, if it feels too hard to leave for yourself, leave for your child's chance at a future healthy relationship.

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