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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

Please come and talk to me about the constant physical and mental pain and anguish of divorce

44 replies

Londono · 05/01/2021 13:42

DH and I are getting divorced. I'm having weekly counselling and I'm starting to think he is emotionally abusive after he has spent years telling me I am and that I'm a bully. It is VERY confusing, hurtful and we have lived with this for six months now. The divorce is filed but we will have to live together for for quite some time yet while the house sells.

I constantly feel sick to my stomach, can't sleep and feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest all the time. We are all at home so there is no respite for either of us or the DC now schools have not reopened.

I do go running once a day which helps but otherwise I feel the worst I have ever felt. Can anyone tell me about their similar feelings and how to alleviate it? I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

OP posts:
movingonup20 · 08/01/2021 08:56

2 years ago I laid awake worrying, could hear him snoring across the hall (I hadn't had decent sleep for years). 2 years on we actually get on well, rather than the barbed comments or outright moaning he is genuinely interested in what I'm doing and my welfare, he's happy (I think) in a new relationship and I've just bought a house with my dp who I met 18 months ago who couldn't be more different - so understanding.

What I'm saying is that your life is ahead of you, bite your tongue, ignore the comments and it will be ok

boymum9 · 08/01/2021 10:04

Op, and everyone else here, I sympathise and understand and it would be nice if we could be somewhat of a support for each other.

Exh and I separated 2 years ago, court delays because of COVID mean we're unfortunately still married right now (they lost our paperwork) We have 2 young dc's. We only stayed living together for 4 months, it wasn't ideal but the nightmare started after this when he moved out.

We never had a "bad" relationship, when it was good it was great, we got on so well, laughed a lot, had a lot of fun, great trips away, generally a nice life. But underlying was his lying and emotional affairs, he'd minimise my feelings on this and made me feel like it was my fault, any reaction I had that was hurt and pain and upset he thought was ridiculous and literally everything would be turned out onto me. He helped with dc's when they came along but did nothing else to help and support me, in the end I was just so miserable and decided to leave and that's when the s**t hit the fan.

He stalked me, pretended to break into my home and upheld the pretence for ages and I was terrified and he "came to the rescue" at the time because he's all I had to turn to, I didn't know it was him. He'd stand at my bedroom window (ground floor) and listen to conversations, he left dc's alone when he had them to stalk me or go to my home and go through all my things. One time he mentioned that years before he'd put a camera in our home years before to watch me because he didn't trust me, he seemed proud of it. After that I couldn't get that out of my head and kept wondering if he was watching or listening to me now somehow, for months and month I'd search my house, my mum was here searching too, I never found anything until one day I came back from going away for a couple of days with dc's and in bedroom I found on the floor an instruction manual for a hidden camera. I called him and demanded me to tell me where it was otherwise I was going to the police, it turns out he'd had a camera hidden in my bedroom for a year, and he'd gone in to re connect it to the internet I'd changed while I was away.
He still now tries to control everything I do, drives past my house and questions where I am and who with. He tried made my new partners life hell by going into his work and spreading lies about him.

I feel like I'm living in limbo with the divorce delays, the financial stuff isn't sorted out either and he'a lied about money and thought he could get things passed my lawyer. I just want to be free from him!

TheWindowDonkey · 08/01/2021 13:24

There are some heartbreaking stories on here, im so sorry to everyone going through this. Flowers

Londono · 12/01/2021 17:54

Hi everyone, how are you all doing? Thank you for sharing your stories - it can certainly be a harrowing time of life. I'm now on anti-depressants which I hope will help when they kick in. I just keep hoping this awful pain will ease and life on the other side of divorce will be much better.

OP posts:
HomicidalPsychoJungleCat · 12/01/2021 21:09

Was a good day here. Both making the effort to be civil...then a huge argument this evening...its such a roller coaster. Hope the anti depressants help Londono. Flowers

HomicidalPsychoJungleCat · 12/01/2021 21:38

Sorry, have namechanged. I was on here before, honest.

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 13/01/2021 08:49

Yes, ADs are definitely holding me together too!

In fact I think they’re holding more people together than we realise...

Londono · 13/01/2021 10:04

@ByeByeMissAmericanPie - Definitely. I'm surprised there are any left in stock! I resisted them for a while thinking it was normal to feel like this during a marriage breakdown but I am really struggling. I wake up feeling like someone has got their hand around my heart and is squeezing it Sad

OP posts:
ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 13/01/2021 10:09

I’ve never thought I’d succumb to them, but despite trying to exercise each day, and meditate too, I do need them. I’ve since discovered a number of friends take them... which surprised me.
Not sure which ones you’re on, but the ones I take have been absolutely fine. Just don’t miss a couple of days taking them. You’ll feel like the sky’s about to fall in on day 3 🤣

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 13/01/2021 10:10

And yes... my physical reaction to the stress was awful. Really awful...

Londono · 13/01/2021 10:14

I've been given citalopram - not sure I'm noticing a difference yet because it has only been a week.

OP posts:
ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 13/01/2021 15:54

That's what I'm on too. I Think it takes a couple of weeks...

HereIAmOnceAgain · 13/01/2021 20:31

Different AD here. Took me quite a while and building up to a very high dose. A single missed dose here and I'm in bits panicking. Still get some break through panic but at least I can function now.

Londono · 14/01/2021 09:53

@HereIAmOnceAgain I hope your settles down soon, I'm feeling much the same at the moment although I am managing to work which is something but struggling to concentrate. The turmoil at home combined with the pandemic is brutal for us all. Sad

OP posts:
ProseccoThyme · 14/01/2021 10:03

My sleeping pattern is up the creek 😫. I've run out of Zopiclone & can't sleep without it.

So worn down by the process, have had some time off sick & feel I'm heading that way again.

Londono · 14/01/2021 10:31

@ProseccoThyme Doc won't give me sleeping tablets they said to let the anti-depressants kick in first as they think that might help. A friend recommended blue nytol over the counter which I might try.

STBXH and I are still living together so I've accepted that I will feel like this at least until that is resolved. I can't take time off sick as I work in the NHS and he is WFH so not like it would be a break from him anyway.

I daydream about escaping to a cottage by the seaside to sleep and cry Sad

What about you?

OP posts:
HereIAmOnceAgain · 14/01/2021 20:38

I daydream about DH up and leaving because he's had enough. Everytime I see a thread on here with a title about an OH leaving I feel for the OP and part of me thinks I wish DH would do that.

Thanks @Londono. Everythings very overwhelming right now. Relationship stuff, but also kids with SEN and chronic illness me. I selfishly want our boys to be ok with DH so we can separate. Instead our middle boy who I thought most of it went over his head is starting to notice DH temper. I feel really trapped.

HomicidalPsychoJungleCat · 14/01/2021 21:10

I’ll go halves on that cottage by the sea londono, still living with dh too and its hell.

Tinseltangle · 15/01/2021 00:40

Im still living with my ex due to complicated finances and the need to sell some property. He ended it and has already moved on after 3 weeks and is dating, I suspect he was dating while we were still together, but its not important now. Every day is hard due to many different reasons and I wake up feeling sick and alone. Neither of us can move out until assets are sold, so its a living hell. I got myself in a bit of a state the other day and presented myself to the gp who sent me to see the mental health team. They were good and let me vent for 2 hours, but the problems remain the same. We are amicable, but even that takes a massive toll on me. God I just want to be able to go and never look back.

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