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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

Help my friend see sense

6 replies

Blackbelt · 31/07/2020 12:52

My friend Jane has been with Tom for 8 years.

They were due to be married Feb 2021 but Tom’s mental health has been really bad and he wants to postpone the wedding.

In my time of being friends with Jane, Tom has cheated on her, he has hit her and Jane calls me on average once a year with the relationship under strain with threats to split up. He shows her no compassion when she is poorly and lately had an epileptic fit, fell down the stairs and cracked her head open :( Tom downplayed the whole thing.

Jane is high up in her career, kind, good looking and artistic and creative. She’s sociable and has a lot of friends.
Tom works in a shop and mostly plays video games. He doesn’t have any friends but is close to his mum. He struggles with his mental health, we think he might have borderline personality disorder. Obviously that’s really tough but Jane is there to be a supportive partner, not his therapist.

I want Jane to realise she could do SO much better than Tom.

She’s so scared of being alone and letting go of 8 years and she says she’s loves Tom but Tom doesn’t find her attractive. He is obsessed with the gym and has openly told Jane he doesn’t find her attractive! So theyd pretty much be looking at a sexless marriage which to me is enough to call it a day...

Obviously I’m writing on someone else’s behalf so the story is mostly just factual but I’ve seen so many stories like this on here and I just don’t know how to make her see sense and leave for good...

OP posts:
Fallowfield · 31/07/2020 13:25

You can try to speak to her and say something, but be prepared for denial and/or anger, and it could damage your relationship with both of them.
I have a friend with an emotionally abusive and repeatedly unfaithful husband. I supported, but eventually called out the abuse. They were furious and neither will speak to me any more.
I think sometimes when you’re in that kind of relationship it can only continue to function while people don’t call out the reality of the abusive behaviour. If you do this she might cut you out to make her life easier to live - you just have to decide if you can stand to watch her live like that and not say anything. I couldn’t, but it damaged the friendship. You sound really caring, and I would say go for it, but be prepared for it to cause a rift.

Fallowfield · 31/07/2020 13:26

I should say ‘I supported HER’, I obviously did not support the emotional abuse!!

namechange12a · 31/07/2020 13:34

You can't do anything here. What are you planning on doing? Alerting the SAS storming her house and kidnapping her? She'll just go back.

The only thing you can do is tell her you are there if she needs you and have the number for the National Abuse Helpline handy in case she asks for help: 0808 2000 247

AnotherOldGeezer · 31/07/2020 14:21

You could try “imagine someone was describing this situation to you, what would you think?”

SciFiScream · 31/07/2020 14:23

Yes agree with a PP ask her what advice she'd give a person in the situation you describe. Change it slightly so not obvious is her situation?

DioneTheDiabolist · 31/07/2020 14:24

You can't make her see sense. We can't make her see sense. She doesnt want to and you cant force her.

All you can do is be her friend and support her when she needs it.

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