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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:
Jsku · 26/05/2020 23:14

OP - so much of what you are saying about how your H is reminded me of how my almost exH was back in the day.
Mine - like yours - I think resented that I was with our children more as I was a SAHP while he worked long hours. So when he was around - he tried to make sure he also heard some control over what’s happening with the kids - food wise, or in other ways.
And it was silly and stupid - because it didn’t make him any less of a parent if he didn’t decide on how much ketchup (or in my case - salt) was on a plate.
These attempts to exercise control and also ‘improve’ me - as I also appeared to have a chips in my shoulders went on for years.
I was not making him happy for a long list of reasons too. But interestingly he has never asked if he was making me happy.

I don’t think it’s useful to think about this dynamic in terms of abuse. I find that word is overused a lot these days.
People can have flaws and personalities can clash and not work well together - without it being labelled as abuse.

Your H is the way he is. He will never change as he (like mine) thinks he is always right and always knows best.
Men like this are best suited with women who think of them as the heads of household and don’t mind being a follower - in exchange for economic and emotional stability.
I wasn’t that sort of a woman.
At the end if our relationship when I have had enough of it and checked out - exH made a feeble attempt to say he wants to go to counselling. But by then - I have had enough of hearing over years what a crappy wife I was - that I had no desire to fix anything anymore. And I also didn’t think it was possible - he is how he is.
I told him he needs someone who isn’t me - someone who would just follow his lead and do what he thinks is right.
Incidentally - I think it’s the model of a relationship he observed with his parents over the years - and it was just ingrained in him.

So - we are going our separate ways. Kids are older now and have seen years of this relationship not being that great.
Your son is young, so I am sure you are thinking it’s too hard to make changes.
It’s never easy, btw. But in younger age it’s actually easier.

In the long term - you only have a few choices. As he is really unlikely to change.

You can make peace with how he is and follow his lead. I have a few friends who are like that with their Hs and they seem to be happy enough.

You can learn to ignore the things he says that hurt you, and just do min to get him off your back and continue doing what you think is right when he isn’t around. I have lived that way for a long time. It works until it doesn’t.

Or you can start planning your exit now.

HittyPitty · 29/05/2020 23:45

Thank you for your message Jsku, that’s a good way to look at things and sorry to hear you’ve also had a bad time. Sending you peace.

Well I anticipated an outburst tonight as we have a couple of things going on tomorrow as we’re selling our house. Tonight my husband pressed all my buttons and I’ve just become enraged with him,

He is non white and I am white, he spends a lot of time talking to me about the British Empire and race. Now as a white person I’m aware of racism and white privilege and I know that I can’t fully understand things that a person of colour would. All the things he talks about I agree with, of course I abhor racism and the travesties of the Empire.

In my case I think my he is using this as another way to be abusive because with him being from a non white background he just says well you will never understand. The ways he goes on he implies I don’t understand anything due to being white. I just lost my temper with him as he’s been goading me for years and insinuating I don’t understand anything about race. I said it was offensive and not to talk to me like that again.

He just said that’s this is the textbook reaction from a white person with no cultural knowledge and that I’m nuts. He was smirking.

I was enraged and said never to offend me like that again. It’s one thing to be abusive but implying ignorance and racism is so awful. I just wanted to log it here really.

My husband is not black but he has experienced racism himself. I’m not diminishing anything he has experienced, I just have a horrible feeling he was looking for a reaction from me this evening:(

OP posts:
NoMoreDickheads · 30/05/2020 00:40

It's emotional abuse. It sounds horrible. Sad Flowers

But he doesn’t treat anyone else like it and never does it in front of anyone else

This isn't uncommon with abusers.

he says it’s my pathology to react like that to any form of criticism, I’m paranoid and imagining it

Please try and ignore all that - it's gaslighting. He's not a psychiatrist- you've actually seen a professional and they've said to you that he's emotionally abusive.

Could you go back and see that counsellor? It sounds like they were helpful in helping you see things more clearly. During COVID they will probably be doing video or phone sessions.

HittyPitty · 30/05/2020 11:44

Thank you Nomore, I’m hoping to go and see the counsellor as soon as the lockdown is lifted, it’s been really helpful.

OP posts:
Allinadaystwerk · 30/05/2020 15:01

Hope you ate ok hitty. Dont think you cant revisit this thread or start another if you need some encouragement or just a chat. I have it saved and will always respond. From my experience the good times are often followed by the crappy stuff. We live in hope that it will not but inevitably...
Anyway if today is a good day, make the most if not, sad to hear but feel free to talk about it...or not FlowersSmile

HittyPitty · 30/05/2020 18:08

Thank you Allinadays I hope you are ok as well. I’m feeling quite anxious about last night’s outburst. I think it’s the implication that I’m ignorant about race and almost lumping me in with racist white people that upsets me, it’s such a horrible thing to imply and I think it’s dangerous to imply things like that. Oh well let’s hope things get better and wishing you a good weekend. Thank you again.

OP posts:
Allinadaystwerk · 30/05/2020 21:40

Bring accused of being a racist is so very upsetting. Race is such a sensitive subject and it sounds to me like you acknowledge and appreciate the complexities while understanding that you can imagine but not feel the same pain. Thats all you can do. It is a perfect opportunity to accuse you and belittle you on this topic because you might feel you cant say right from wrong as a white person not wanting to offend. For me, someone who is willing to have an honest dialogue about race and accept the reality is not a racist. We all have scope to grow in these matters. He is cruel to accuse you knowing that it will upset you and it's an easy win. My ex actually did the same. note the things he does and says that you feel are unfair and analyse them and resist engaging in conversation about it. He says you are racist and you will never understand say ok you're entitled to your opinion. Nod your head say ok that's your view. And walk away from him. It restores your own sense of control of yourself and your situation when you opt out of the drama. Give this a go next time he starts. It works Smile

Allinadaystwerk · 30/05/2020 21:46

I didn't sleep till 4am thismorning just thinking about how my life is in tatters. Of course it's not, it's just very different to what I wanted it to be having to start over at 50. But I have real moments of joy when I stop to soak up the peace and freedom of not walking in eggshells or being scared of how he is going to be. I will never return to that state of being.

HittyPitty · 30/05/2020 22:19

I’m sorry that you were awake so long worrying and really hope you have a good sleep tonight. Sounds like you have really been through a tough time. I hope you have lots of support. You have lots of time ahead to rebuild yourself and sounds like you are already doing that. I think it must take a few years to really get over this type of situation.

Thank you for your kind reply, he had told me tonight that I misunderstood him and that he was just telling me his opinion. He says I lack communication skills and that I need therapy to learn how to communicate. I misunderstand what he is saying all the time and pick out a few bits to get offended by. Apparently I have an inner rage so take offence to all sorts of things that I’ve completely imagined in what he’s said. It’s my pathology stemming back to childhood anger. Its actually amazing how he has an answer for everything!! He’s happy as anything now though.

It’s interesting that throughout the day I’m constantly being blamed or criticised for things. He often says well it’s your fault, really quite childish. He also says I imagine that I’m being criticised due to this inner anger. I’m sure the more I read it sounds like narcissistic traits.

Thank you so much for being so kind, and I wish you all the best. Sleep well!

OP posts:
Allinadaystwerk · 30/05/2020 22:35

Well I've had a glass of red tonight so I'll probably sleep better than last night. Your posts resonate so much with my experience. It's all a ploy to destroy your confidence and sense of self. Do not believe what he says about you. If you are so awful why does he stay. Often I found what he accused me of were actually aspects of his twisted personality. The irony is I do still feel love for him.. for the genuinely nice bits but then I have to realise they were all part of his pretence and I have to give my head a wobble. It's quite sad really. But I know I am getting better. Therapy is really helping. My ex is a well loved and respected ceo of a company. They have no idea what he put me through and I'm learning to focus on me not him. It's a journey.

HittyPitty · 31/05/2020 08:07

I hope you slept better last night and that you enjoyed your wine. It’s anazing how a lot of these men are such well liked professionals, it’s quite scary. I’m glad your therapy is helping and that you’re focusing on you.

It’s horrid how everything gets turned round, I find that everything I say he’ll say well that’s your fault or well that’s you.

Have a good day and hope you enjoy the sunshine.

OP posts:
Allinadaystwerk · 31/05/2020 12:55

Much better sleep thanks hitty. Having a good day do far. Got a garden visit later with a very good and supportive friend. Hope you are having a decent day too x

NoMoreDickheads · 31/05/2020 18:49

I misunderstand what he is saying all the time and pick out a few bits to get offended by. Apparently I have an inner rage so take offence to all sorts of things that I’ve completely imagined in what he’s said. It’s my pathology stemming back to childhood anger

He's AWFUL OP. I'm glad you're recognizing him for what he is.

You can leave during lockdown to escape abuse, and this is abuse.

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