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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

Are my expectations unrealistic?

20 replies

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 19:31

Am I unrealistic to want my husband to always been kind and respectful and not to lash out at me when he’s stressed? Should I just accept he’s human and my expectations are unrealistic?

OP posts:
mdh2020 · 04/04/2021 19:33

You should always be kind and respectful to each other. Maybe you need to go to counselling when things open up?

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 19:35

We’ve already tried counselling, it made no difference. He’s extremely insecure, has anger issues and suffers with anxiety and when stressed he lashes out verbally at me. Then apologises, today I wouldn’t accept his apology. I just want him to stop. He says he’s just human and that I expect him to be always be perfect. I don’t. I just want him to be kind.

OP posts:
sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 04/04/2021 19:36

Freedom Programme.

giletrouge · 04/04/2021 19:42

How bad is this 'lashing out' and what form does it take? Verbal, physical? Sarcasm, agression, putting you down, telling you things about yourself, threatening you?

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 19:47

It’s a mixture of things, he’s never physical, always verbal, he’ll shout, he snaps, he can be very critical, and rude. Today he snapped and was rude, and genuinely I had done nothing to deserve it. The two things that keep going through my head is that I just want to be with someone who’s kind to me, and that I don’t deserve to be spoken to like this.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 04/04/2021 19:47

No you aren’t being unrealistic.

My dh used to be the same, his issued stemmed from a horrible childhood but one day I’d just had enough of his temper and told him we should seperate. This was after years of me putting up with his short temper, shouting and ranting at me, then 5 minutes later apologising profusely and acting as if nothing had happened. He’d be ok but I would be feeling really hurt and upset. He never did it to the Dc or work colleagues so I knew he could control it. He asked for one more chance and arranged counselling on his own. It helped him enormously.

I suspect your H has issues he needs to talk about and find out what’s causing this behaviour.

If I were you I’d ask him to go and find out why he’s like he is. Let him find a good counsellor who deals with childhood issues/ trauma because there will be something causing this which he has to address and stop his awful behaviour. If he won’t or if he can’t find out what his issue is then I’m afraid it would be separation for me.

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 19:50

You are absolutely right. He had a horrendous childhood, his Dad left when he was 3 months old. Very angry and narcissistic mother, he was packed off to boarding school at aged 7. I’ve said to him tonight he needs to get help or I want a divorce. I’d rather be on my own that keep going through this every time he’s stressed or upset about something.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 04/04/2021 19:56

So he’s mirroring how his mother spoke to him probably. He thinks it’s a normal way to behave.

Does he realise he’s repeating history?

toocold54 · 04/04/2021 19:59

Can you give an example?

None of us are perfect and we all shout and snap sometimes but there is a line that you shouldn’t cross. Everyone’s line is different though so if you don’t think this is acceptable tell him and give him an ultimatum and then if he doesn’t change then you’ll have to leave.

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 20:00

No- he just keeps saying he’s human and that I just expect him to be perfect and I crucify him if he’s ever anything less than perfect. He thinks his behaviour is completely normal and I’m having real problems trying not to doubt myself. This just isn’t right. He says that all relationships are like this because we’re all human and make mistakes.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 04/04/2021 20:08

He’s right in that we’re all human and mistakes.
But it’s not a “mistake” if it’s been prointed out to him that his behaviour isn’t acceptable to you. So he can either carry on thinking you’re wrong to expect to be spoken to with kindness and respect, in which case you feel like leaving him. Or he can realise he has an issue which he needs to seek help for.

LouiseTrees · 04/04/2021 20:12

@Andrewsgirl

No- he just keeps saying he’s human and that I just expect him to be perfect and I crucify him if he’s ever anything less than perfect. He thinks his behaviour is completely normal and I’m having real problems trying not to doubt myself. This just isn’t right. He says that all relationships are like this because we’re all human and make mistakes.
How often does it happen OP?
OldWomanSaysThis · 04/04/2021 20:20

He wants a free pass with this "We are all human and make mistakes" thing he's got going.

Doesn't mean you have to stay with him. You're going to end up with PTSD if you stay.

DinosaurDiana · 04/04/2021 20:23

He isn’t going to change.
You choose to stay or go.

Alcemeg · 04/04/2021 20:29

My first husband (of 17 years) was very much like this. Except that he never, ever apologised. I used to just think what a shame it was that he'd had such a lousy childhood. It was as though I was trying to make it up to him.

I'm now (many years later) remarried to someone who in 8 years has never got cross with me. He was once mildly irritated that I criticised his driving. And that's it!

You don't have to put up with this sort of thing, you really don't.

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/04/2021 20:37

@Andrewsgirl

No- he just keeps saying he’s human and that I just expect him to be perfect and I crucify him if he’s ever anything less than perfect. He thinks his behaviour is completely normal and I’m having real problems trying not to doubt myself. This just isn’t right. He says that all relationships are like this because we’re all human and make mistakes.
"He says that all relationships are like this because we’re all human and make mistakes." No, all relationships are NOT like this. Very few, and they're all totally dysfunctional. And he's not 'making a mistake' - a mistake is something we do once, learn from, and don't repeat. He is doing this again and again and again - and again. He's not treating it as a mistake at all. So why should you? You shouldn't.

"he just keeps saying he’s human and that I just expect him to be perfect and I crucify him if he’s ever anything less than perfect."
That is classic DARVO - Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. He is expecting you to be perfect - to take the verbal punch in the face, smile sweetly and ask if he'd like a footrub. He is absolutely trying to gaslight you here. I'd throw that back in his face and tell him to stop expecting me to be the Perfect Stepford Wife.

"I’ve said to him tonight he needs to get help or I want a divorce. I’d rather be on my own that keep going through this every time he’s stressed or upset about something."
And this was exactly the right thing to do. His problems are bigger than you can handle - bigger than anyone can handle, until he gets professional help. That would be the human thing to do - to acknowledge he needs help.

And I'd also keep in mind that even with professional help, he may still be a shit partner you should divorce. His problems are long-standing and deep-seated, and he may not be up for truly dealing with them and just try papering over the cracks.

Andrewsgirl · 04/04/2021 21:31

That’s the reason why I can’t accept his apology, it feels like he treats me badly, apologises and then it all happens over again and again. It’s not a mistake, it’s a pattern of behaviour. Probably happens every 2-3 weeks.

OP posts:
BillMasheen · 04/04/2021 22:00

If that’s what he is like, and he’s happy to be like that

And you don’t like it

Then regardless of any objective right or wrong, you are just not compatible.

I think you are right and he is wrong btw, but if he can’t or won’t see that, then it’s going to be easier to walk away citing incompatibility rather than trying to get him to see your viewpoint.

Mistystar99 · 04/04/2021 22:09

Fair play to you for standing up for yourself. This does not sound OK. He needs a real moment of insight or I'd be off if I were you. Why live your life being treated like crap because he can't be bothered to have a long look at himself. Shame on him.

Colourmeclear · 05/04/2021 12:36

We all react to feelings of shame differently. Some people withdraw, some people attack themselves, Some attack others and others avoid it. Most people will know which one they do and most people will be aware how this affects those around them.

However if you are with someone who attacks others and he has a sense of entitlement, i.e I'm right to attack you, that's what women are for, I don't need to actually be sorry, kicking you makes me feel better so you better take it etc then it's very hard to change them because they just won't see it. The only way to protect yourself is to leave.

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