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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

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:
Eckhart · 25/05/2020 23:06

I saw a counsellor too, but not until I'd had another relationship with somebody (not a psychopath/narcissist by any means) so invalidating that I just HAD to find out what was going wrong.

Realising that thinking I needed counselling was the problem, and that I didn't actually need it, because there's nothing wrong with me, was a lightening bolt. Took me a while to get there though. All that counselling just to get me to accept that I didn't need counselling :)

All well worth it. All strongly recommended.

Eckhart · 25/05/2020 23:13

Thanks Twerk I thought I was just waffling :)

HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 23:29

Gosh Eckhart I don’t know whether you work in a caring role but I hope you do! You have a really nice way of explaining it all while validating the person.

I’m sorry to hear you have been through this too, it is weird how all these men follow the same text book. I had a normal childhood despite the feeling of being invalidated at times. I think that’s why it’s so hard to believe the man I met and fell in love with has this other side which may actually be his real self.

I find all this totally draining and then watch him playing with our son and can’t believe he is potentially an abusive person.

Sorry to read of your experience Twerk, it really sounds very similar. It must be something to do with brain wiring maybe. I remember my husband taking offence at something I’d said and ranting at me all the way home on a train. Then bringing it up every so often for a couple of days.

I think deferring responsibility is a good description Eckhart. If I ever criticise my husband he will instantly say but it’s YOU!

I feel a bit more empowered this evening, thank you all again Flowers

OP posts:
HittyPitty · 25/05/2020 23:32

Just saw the other replies, you are most definitely not waffling! I think there are many people out there in this situation, and being able to read something online to show someone has solidarity with them is amazing. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

OP posts:
Wondersense · 26/05/2020 06:33

Just think of it this way - things are not working out. If you don't agree with each other about what's really going on here, this is not going to ever be resolved. You don't even have to agonise if it's abuse or not abuse - it's simply not working.

Also, the most charming & charismatic of men can be extremely manipulative and nasty, do don't let that blind you. A Jekyl & Hyde character.

Laundrywoman · 26/05/2020 07:11

I just wanted to comment on this part, op I can be over sensitive and my mum will often say the same

Being sensitive is a valuable and intrinsic part of your character, it's who you are.
The world needs sensitive people like you. Don't let anyone make you feel ashamed or embarrassed about your sensitivity or who you are.

Gutterton · 26/05/2020 09:34

Also, the most charming & charismatic of men can be extremely manipulative and nasty with an abusive narc - the charm and charisma is disingenuous and fake just to cover up nasty - it is an active manipulation technique to reel you back and a mask for others.

No one is too sensitive.

Your feelings are real, valid and a biological interpretation of your current environment - an alarm system to any threat. Listen to your gut - it is a critical sensory tool. Your feelings need to be attended to, processed and acted on if needed. Otherwise you repress and suppress them - they don’t go anywhere so they will burden and overwhelm you, exhaust you, make you ill, make you over react, confuse you.

People who tell you that you are too sensitive are just abusive people who need to dismiss and invalidate YOUR feelings so that the very least they don’t have to engage or feel any of their own personal discomfort around emotions or at worst so that they have power and control over you by keeping you numb and compliant. They only want you to respond to their feelings.

Eckhart · 26/05/2020 09:36

No one is too sensitive

A simple and, for some reason, barely ever stated, fact.

Brilliant post @Gutterton

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 19:30

Bravo @Gutterton. I needed to hear that. I'm about to see my ex he is coming to have contact and talk finance. My gut is trembling and I feel scared. But I know I will be very matter of fact and keep my emotions in check. I hate that i still feel fear.

Gutterton · 26/05/2020 19:43

Allinadayswerk - listen to your fear - it’s a very accurate barometer of your external environment and experience of him - because he remains a threat. Processing it is the important part - you are not paralysed with it - you have chosen to be hyper alert and behave calmly. Good luck.

HittyPitty · 26/05/2020 19:50

I was just re reading the thread and it really is amazing that so many people are in almost identical situations. I wonder how the abusive people all end up following the same set of behaviours and how they learn them.

I really found everyone’s comments so helpful and am now just thinking about validation, sensitivity and listening to your gut which Gutterton and Eckhart explained so well.

Good luck Allinadaystwerk, that must be very daunting. I hope you are ok and have something nice planned afterwards.

Things have gone back to the ‘normal’ him here so it’s a bit of peace for now at least! I guess that’s the point you start to wonder if you’ve got it all wrong.

I had a lot of therapy when younger which focused on validation and at the time I couldn’t even accept I was entitled to that, so it’s intetesting that 20 years later it’s still a theme and for so many people!

Wishing you all a peaceful evening.

OP posts:
TwistyHair · 26/05/2020 20:06

I noticed today my main worry was that he would leave me, which seems crazy, as most people would be thinking the opposite.

This is not as crazy as it seems. I’ve done a lot of work in domestic abuse organisations, including training about they psychology of it all. What the abuser does is simultaneously abuse you but make you think that they are also your protector. So the idea of leaving seems impossible. You have already given some examples of how he has undermined you (your son’s food for example) so it’s no wonder it can feel difficult to leave. Another point is that women who are abused aren’t abused all the time. So there are nice moments, this can feel shameful to admit to people who have left and can also seek bizarre to anyone who doesn’t understand abuse. When I worked in a women’s refuge, women would often admit that part of them missed their ex. Or that they still loved them in some ways. So the reason it is so hard to see abuse and then to leave is that is so emotionally complex. However, he is abusive. He is making you doubt your reality but I can see absolutely no reason from any of your posts to doubt what is happening. Anyway, while you’re gathering more info, really try not to let him twig. He will ramp it all up if he thinks he’s losing control. All the best.

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 20:15

Oh dear. Ex is here. He is playing ball with ds on the drive. I dont want to talk to him. I want to tell him let's do it by email. I just don't want to

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 20:16

Converse face to face with him

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 20:18

My gut is whirring and I feel sick. I'm not going to speak face to face... struggling to calm down

Gutterton · 26/05/2020 20:18

“You can’t have courage without fear”

Eckhart · 26/05/2020 20:36

For clarity, @HittyPitty (you may already be clear on this but it's worth stating it to be sure) validation is something you give yourself. Even if (in fact, especially if) nobody else in the world is validating you.

It was the world 'entitled' that made me point this out. You are entitled to validation just like you are entitled to self esteem. It all comes from inside. It's lovely to have validation from others, but the vital validation is self-validation.

Hope I'm not stating the bleedin' obvious. Have a peaceful evening.

Eckhart · 26/05/2020 20:38

Twerk When's he leaving?

HittyPitty · 26/05/2020 20:47

Hi Eckhart, thank you, it’s actually just dawning on me about self validation and how it’s linked to self esteem. In my case I had never felt my opinion worthy so looked to others to understand what I should be thinking and feeling.

I think the things you have written have given me so much to think about and read in to.

I think I will start off with reading and hopefully have some more counselling in the future.

Thank you gi

OP posts:
HittyPitty · 26/05/2020 20:49

Oops I pressed post too soon, I was going to say that’s for all you have posted.

Twerk I do hope you’re ok, what a very difficult situation, how are you how?

OP posts:
Eckhart · 26/05/2020 21:01

The key to it all is that there is no 'should' with feelings.

I used to constantly wonder if I was right to be upset about something, or if I was just being oversensitive. But there are no rules.

So if someone tells me I'm being too sensitive, what they actually mean is that I'm being too sensitive for their liking. Which means they place their preferences above respecting my feelings.

I decided a long time ago that I'll have 'Where do you get your 'shoulds' from?' written on my headstone. I think it's one of life's major questions!

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 21:11

He's gone. Left without even attempting to speak to me. Still feel unsettled but much better. I'll email him tomorrow. Going to watch a bit of Netflix with ds seeing as its half term.

Allinadaystwerk · 26/05/2020 21:12

Thanks for asking... didn't mean to hijack thread Blush

HittyPitty · 26/05/2020 21:17

Oh I’m glad he’s gone and hope you can enjoy a bit of Netflix. Let us know how you get on tomorrow, it’s everybody’s thread so it’s not hijacking!!!

I love the way you analyse things and think them through Eckhart. It sounds like you have been on quite a journey and come out the other side.

OP posts:
Eckhart · 26/05/2020 22:36

Glad you're ok Twerk

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