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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

Oversensitive to DH or doormat?

33 replies

boopeep76 · 19/03/2021 10:53

Been with DH for 20+ years with 2 teenage children. There have been multiple issues over the years, which have been more pressing for me in the last 2 or 3. When the kids were small I just got on with it (and to my shame) did not address things that needed addressing like lack of work ethic, DH not getting help with depression (gone on for many years), walking on eggshells around him and generally not really being me or in many ways a proper family (so many things I just did by myself when they were small and he was depressed). Things came to a head in the Autumn - he thinks it is covid - but lockdown has just shown me what my future will be when the kids have left if dramatic changes aren't made. He has made lots of promises - starts a new job this week, promised to get help when depression next hits and does not see any problem and that he is now doing everything I asked. To the outside world he is chatty, funny and adoring. There are many things now that if they happened again (or didn't happen if he said they would) that I will no longer tolerate, we will be finished. But these are the "major" things. He is in a "good place" at the moment, and thinks that this absolves everything from the past because "he's okay now" - and I guess I have asked him to do some things and need to give him the chance to prove himself with them. However tiny little things about how he thinks and reacts to things suck the joy from me and make me doubt there is any hope for the future. Some little examples - I wrapped in clingfilm (I usually use brown paper - and I wrap them so they don't spill fillings everywhere) and he had a go at me at how terrible it is for the world. This week my children bought me flowers, and I also bought some for my mum . Not something I usually have for myself or rarely buy for others and got a lecture on how terrible the cut flower industry is and why can't I enjoy flowers that are just outside. I know these sound like silly things but in a second something that made me feel good has made me feel shit. He will tell me he adores me and I am the best thing that has happened to him. But rarely a day goes past without some little thing that either feels like a dig or him thinking his opinion is more valuable and worthy than mine. My emotions are all over the place - I will have a glimmer of happiness or the though of what a great future we could have together followed by feeling like I will never really be able to be truly me or live the life I want on basis day to day things. Am I being oversensitive or a doormat?

OP posts:
irishoak · 20/03/2021 13:43

As someone who moved somewhere rural with their DH and then split up, I would just warn you against doing it. Everything he did got worse because we were so isolated and there was no escape from him/no time away from him even when he was in a good mood. Now I'm stuck here alone, having spent so much of my money on this place (because he didn't work, only my money to support us), hardly know anyone around here, etc. Split up with him where you have some family and friends around to support you, where it's easy to get him to move out because he has someone around to stay with, and then do the rural life in a few years when you're in a good head space, if you still want to.

boopeep76 · 20/03/2021 14:07

@irishoak Thank you for sharing that and sorry to hear how things turned out for you. I have to admit that is one of my concerns going forwards. This would be an absolute minimum of 5 years away but my DH circle of friends has become very small over the years and my friends are not that welcome in the house - definitely not unplanned to just pop in. This is one of the bigger things we have talked about as I have said I won't move somewhere with no family/friends if he won't make new ones. He says he wants to be more social (we no longer have joint friends/go out as a couple with others) and he insists it has been his mental health and he wants to change this - covid has been a great excuse for this not to happen - I doubt it will change, but I have said I will give him a chance to prove himself with somethings - and this is just getting put back more and more due to covid. This year will be a defining one (one way or another...)

OP posts:
Triffiddealer · 20/03/2021 14:11

@Triffiddealer - I agree that firm clear communication is the way to go - but I can't quite find it in myself at the moment to be using positive reinforcement in that way - it feels like praising a child when some of our bigger issues are that he doesn't take adult responsibility enough anyway. That doesn't mean I don't already say nice things or thank for what he has done but I don't feel I can give anymore than I already am on that front at the moment.

Well just start with the negative feedback - let him know just how low he is making you feel. Either he will want to change that or he won't - either way it tells you a lot about him.

But you sound really down and worn out. Do you think lockdown has made it worse or just highlighted how bad it is? I only ask, as I adore my DP and he's my best friend - but he's been really getting on my nerves recently, simply because we are in each other's pockets all the time. You sound like you need some space - so maybe when things are eased up some decent time apart where you can think about what you want, if that's a possiblity?

Dacquoise · 20/03/2021 17:37

@boopeep76, I got out about ten years ago, been divorced eight years. Best thing I ever did. The sense of freedom was fantastic. I have been with a new partner a few years now and it couldn't be more different. We have a truly equal, got each other's back relationship. Like you, I ended up doing most things alone and unsupported in my marriage. Nothing I did ever improved it, issues were never tackled or resolved. It just wore me out. It took therapy for me to realise that most of the problems were caused by his issues. He was terrible relationship material and I carried the load.

I do understand the 'hope' that things will change. That's what kept me in it so long, too long. But if you've been going this long, building up resentment it will take a road to Damascus epiphany on his part to change his behaviour and the forgiveness of a saint for you to move past his previous form. It's not your job to fix him and there are 'better partners out there.

Dacquoise · 20/03/2021 18:09

From your updates it is clear you are living with a mini dictator. Imagine what it would be like not worrying about or waiting for his next job fail, depressive episode or entitled opinions designed to bring you down.

irishoak · 20/03/2021 18:51

@boopeep76 my husband also blamed his mental health issues for a lot of the things that happened...now I've got some distance, it feels like it was just a good excuse for being a bully. You deserve better.

Saltedhero · 20/03/2021 22:00

It really grinds you down in the end..until there's little joy left

Nanny0gg · 20/03/2021 22:31

@Dacquoise

From your updates it is clear you are living with a mini dictator. Imagine what it would be like not worrying about or waiting for his next job fail, depressive episode or entitled opinions designed to bring you down.
This ^

It's been a miserable year for everyone but we're coming out of it now. If you stay, I don't think yours will change.

Sorry

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