Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

Am I being over sensitive?

113 replies

HittyPitty · 24/05/2020 22:45

Hello, I’ve namechanged so as not to link to other things I’ve posted. I’ve been feeling more and more upset by my husband and think the lockdown has intensified things. I’m unsure if I’m being over sensitive or whether he’s using that label to give me no way to assert myself.

He’s a very charismatic person, he does public speaking and is very opinionated. Since we had our son to me he’s become obsessive about certain things. I’m a SAHM and it was bad when he was working but with him being in the house all the time I feel like a member of staff.

He questions me about what our son has eaten, he’s 3 and very picky but I find not making a bit deal of it is the best approach. As an example yesterday he got mad because I gave him a comic at breakfast time rather than saving it for later in the day to use as a bribe or distraction. He questioned the way I’d cut some meat up saying I should have left it in a big piece. I’d cut it up as the day before my son had asked me to cut it up. He also tried to grab the plate to remove the ketchup I’d put on it, despite it being him who introduced it. He said it was too much and it wasn’t good enough. His tone is very blunt and like an employer.

He ignores me when I speak if he’s watching TV or if our son is with us. It is true I talk too much and I’ve tried to talk less in the evening, but don’t understand why he can’t converse with me when we’re all together. I hate it as he showers our son with affection but doesn’t answer me so I feel excluded.

He won’t back me up and tells our son yes when I’ve said no, or else laughs and says he won’t get involved. He has started carrying him around so now he won’t walk anywhere, whereas he was enjoying walks before.

He keeps on about how he’s the sole bread winner, which is true, but it seems like it’s being used to imply I’m not up to scratch and to justify anything.

If I ever assert myself for example get cross about his tone of voice or the way he talks to me he just say it’s me who is at fault and I have to accept him for who he is. If I say the same he just finds fault with me and says he’s not putting up with it.

Tonight he has said I’m an angry person with a chip on my shoulder and I’m to change other wise he will leave me. He says everything is in my head, I’m paranoid and there is nothing wrong with his tone. He often barks out a list of what has to change about me and says I need therapy. I did see a counsellor who thought he sounded emotionally abusive from what I’ve said.

I’m beginning to feel very frozen over emotionally and can’t feel any happy emotions very often.

My reasoning is clouded and I get confused when he has these rants so just wanted to share really as if I told anyone I know they would never believe me as he’s so friendly.

OP posts:
HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 00:54

Is it usual to feel numb and unable to feel happy emotions in this situation?

OP posts:
OhioOhioOhio · 25/05/2020 00:57

My xh is like that. It was absolutely exhausting. I used to plan what I'd say so as to be the exact amount of interesting that he could cope with. Please, please read Living with the Dominator by Pat Craven. It will save your soul and give your son the Mummy he deserves.

HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 00:57

I am really trying to do things like talk less, I think I’ll go back to the counsellor once lockdown ends, but I don’t think I will put up with it much longer. My fear is that it really is in my head and that it’s actually me who’s not right. So I’m afraid to break the family up if I’m imagining it, I just don’t trust my own feelings about it all.

OP posts:
OhioOhioOhio · 25/05/2020 00:58

Also Google, Hoovering. It's what your h will do when he knows you've found him out. It might keep you there in agreement to work on things whilst he hides all of your money.

HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 00:58

Poor you, Ohio, that’s awful, it seems there are a lot of men out there like this!

OP posts:
CuppaZa · 25/05/2020 00:59

Leave. Or your son will be treating you the same in 10 years

Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 00:59

Absolutley. It's a coping strategy. It's better than facing the awful reality of being worn down by the person who is meant to love you. I am just now discovering emotions and aspects if my personality that I have not had or recalled for over a decade. I'd forgotten how much I like mid century art and decor. How quirky my taste is sometimes. How I can laugh at my own jokes and sing loudly when washing dishes

Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 01:01

That was in answer your question about feeling numb

Eckhart · 25/05/2020 01:02

It's not you.

But you need to leave. You can't stay with him.

You are currently taking him seriously. He says you're too sensitive, so you worry that you are. He says you're getting too angry, so you worry that you are.

IT'S NOT YOU. I wish there were bigger capitals and I could put it in red.

Leave. And while you're planning to leave, tell yourself over and over that there's nothing wrong with you. When he says he's going to leave, calmly say 'I see'. When he tells you you've got a chip on your shoulder, calmly say 'I see'. If he tells you you're incapable (of anything), calmly say 'I see'. Allow him his opinion. It's not important. You don't have to agree with him. Your only job in these conversations is to make sure you don't believe what he's telling you about yourself.

Make plans to get away from him, and to get your son away from him. Otherwise your son will grow up believing that this is what family life looks like, and that will damage his own relationships in the future.

He is a textbook emotional abuser. Google emotional abuse if you haven't already.

Eckhart · 25/05/2020 01:04

Just seen your update. Trust your feelings, always. They are the authentic you. They are who you are.

OhioOhioOhio · 25/05/2020 01:05

It's wonderful now he's gone. My kids and I laugh. We are relaxed. We change our minds. We speak when we want. Imagine in years to come your son having a wife who behaves like your husband? Or imagine your son treating his wife the way your husband treats you? You know it's wrong.

Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 01:06

All that @eckhart says it true. You really have to arm yourself. Be resolute and start reading

Gutterton · 25/05/2020 01:06

Wow he is v v emotionally abuse and controlling. Sounds v narcissistic with all the criticism - if you look closely the words are projection of what he really thinks about himself.

This person will erode your MH, your self worth and energy so that you become a shell of your former self. That shell will not be a good mother and your DS will suffer. That shell will be anxious, scared, guilty, confused and preoccupied. You will be so drained, distracted and distressed that it will be impossible to be fully attuned or emotionally available to your child's needs.

Your DC will sense the stress in the RS - they will absorb and internalise it and they themselves become confused, fretful and anxious.

You need to leave this man to preserve your own MH and the healthy emotional development of your DC.

Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 01:08

@OhioOhioOhio. The freedom to change our mind because we just can is so liberating. That alone will keep me motivated that I am better off away from him

Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 01:10

Again @Gutterton hits the nail on the head.

DamnYankee · 25/05/2020 01:18

Is his family nearby and very involved with each other?

OhioOhioOhio · 25/05/2020 01:18

Yes. And when you are older, in 20 years from now, your ds will be angry with you for accepting this regime and allowing him to grow up in it. Please get ready to leave op.

Gutterton · 25/05/2020 01:19

It’s really important that you emotionally protect yourself here. Do not let him know you are on to him because he will ramp up the abuse.

He is a nasty manipulative mind fuck.

In your own head you need to disconnect from him - see him for the cliched narc that he his (read up on this). Get back to your counsellor (online is needs be).

Only engage with him in a “grey rock” way (look this up). Do not provoke or confront him. Get planning to leave. Is this a possibility?

Gutterton · 25/05/2020 01:22

Lots of important information, resources and support on this thread. You have taken an important first step.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3859717-For-those-on-lockdown-with-an-abuser

OhioOhioOhio · 25/05/2020 01:24

I wouldn't grey rock him yet. I wouldn't let him know I'd worked him out either. I did that with my h. A whole year I obeyed him and almost never argued back. He became more and more brave and more and more demanding. Women's Aid taught me that they weigh you up, if they think they've pushed you too far they be a little bit nice until you drop your guard again. Slowly, slowly until they have you fully under control.

Bubblebu · 25/05/2020 01:33

He sounds like my ex husband - a perfect mix of control freakery followed by emotional neglect / not talking or spending time with me.

Sorry (I have not read the whole thread so apologies if this is not relevant / is insensitive but do you think he might be emotionally engaged elsewhere / infidelity etc especially if he was not always like this?)

Take care, sending hugs.

HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 09:51

Thank you so much to everyone who replied last night, I was feeling so upset. I will look into all the links and books people have suggested. This morning he is full of the joys of spring, talking about holiday destinations and telling our son I’m the girl of his dreams. I told him I feel anxious and he says we both need to snap out of it and stop being negative.

I’ve noticed he’s like this, once he’s laid into me he seems happy the next day while I feel anxious and more numb. I will try telling myself it’s not me when he says these horrible things.

I think when someone who is so popular with other people says horrible things you end up believing them and then coming across like a miserable person.

He does seem to have some of the narcissistic traits but also seems to have empathy for some people so maybe it’s not that.

Well for now I’m going to go along with things and then gradually read up on everything. I made the mistake of saying he was abusive once and now if I answer him back he says I’m abusive or a bully.

Thank you again all of you and I wish all of you in similar situations all the best.

OP posts:
Allinadaystwerk · 25/05/2020 11:19

I hope things work out for you op. Itscoverwhelmingvwhen you first start to realise the reality of your situation. When the light is turned on that you are being abused its an awful feeling. It takes alot to change things but once you know, the change in you starts to happen. Find a friend who understands and will listen whether irl or online and talk to them when he switches from nice to abuse. It helps to keep you sane and focused. He sounds so like my ex in that he is respected and liked by so many outside of the home but was a bully at home. That's what they do. Step one know he is wrong and detach yourself from his comments. When he makes them know say in your head 'you are wrong' but just nod and half smile to his face and pass no comment. Just try it. It helps so much.
Good luck. Oh and MN is a great source of support. Dont be a stranger. Use this thread, you had some great advice from some fab ladies on here. Flowers

Gutterton · 25/05/2020 11:38

but also seems to have empathy for some people so maybe it’s not that.

That’s not empathy - it’s manipulative charm - to make himself look good or to get something from someone.

He does it with you in a different way - the push pull / the nice - nasty cycle to keep you subjugated and confused - trapped within a specific emotional zone where he has max control. If he was nasty all the time or indifferent in the non nasty times - you would be clear what he is and you would leave him. He knows this so the bubbly extra “nice” person pops up to hoover you back in.

I am v concerned about how he uses and manipulates your child in these encounters.

billy1966 · 25/05/2020 13:14

You poor woman.

What a nasty vicious bully you are living with, relentlessly bullying you every day.

Have you family and friends to reach out to?

Can you get copies of your financial documents and put them somewhere safe?

Email then to a friend?

Can you gather money togetherso you have a running away fund?

Make a plan.

Your life is miserable.
It will never improve with a nasty bully like him in it.

You poor womanFlowers