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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

Read his journal, what do I do?

117 replies

Whaddyaknow2 · 15/04/2021 12:02

DH diagnosed with depression in 2019, on Antidepressants and had some CBT (pre-COVID, completely gone since March 2020), got into using meditation, feeling stronger, more confident, all in all that aspect is going well.

But our relationship has suffered immensely. We weren’t in a good place before his diagnosis (2 small kids, full time jobs, neglected ourselves as a couple for a few years) but since the CBT and counseling he’s come to blame me a lot for his depression, and generally everything. As and when it suits him though. Sometimes it’s ‘all my fault’ and sometimes it’s from his childhood, depending on his mood. His counsellor also told him that I was emotionally abusive and he leant on that a lot afterwards (blaming me). Then 2020 hit and we’ve generally been in the shitter. He has managed to keep up his meditation which has included keeping a journal on his iPad which is meant to be about focusing on positives and all that.

He’s said he only thinks about me in a negative way now, we argue a lot and I think there’s very little trust left. But he changes his mind depending on his mood and after a particularly crap day I ended up reading his journal because I wanted to see where his head actually was.

His last entry yesterday was about how horrible I am and If we broke up I’d have no chance of finding someone now because I’m fat and flabby but that some new starts have joined his team and he’s Facebook stalked 2 of them and they are young and hot and one in particular is ‘just his type, slim with big boobs’ and if he gets the chance he might try ‘making a play’.

As you can imagine this has thrown me completely. I wish I hadn’t read it but now that I have... what do I do? Is this just some kind of fantasy thing he’s written down? Should I tell him I read it and get into that world of losing any shred of trust that might be there? He knows I know his password and he leaves the iPad out so it’s not like he’s being particularly careful in keeping it secret. I know I shouldn’t have broken that trust that I wouldn’t read it but I’m pretty much at a loss of how to understand him anymore.

We had a heart to heart last night (before he wrote the journal) and It came to light that because I’ve ‘taken the lead’ in our relationship and life (for which he calls me a control freak) because he’s always been reserved and introverted and not had a whole lot of ‘life experience’ (like practical stuff, we met in uni but he’d had very a very hands on mother who did everything for him) that he now feels stronger and more confident and wants to be ‘in charge’ of more (but couldn’t tell me what those things would be), but he’s angry at me that I didn’t just know that’s what he wanted and why I’ve been not letting him. Anyway I came out of that conversation with a better understanding of his frustrations and I thought he had a better understanding of how I saw things and why the relationship is how it is in terms of division of responsibility. But then he went and wrote that. I feel completely betrayed and I’m wondering if this is likely to be something that turns into a reality...? This is going to sound really cliche but I never thought he would even consider cheating on me and ruining our family. My own father did that and he knows how much it has fucked me up-for him to even contemplate doing that to his own kids makes me feel sick Sad

What should I do? I don’t want to walk away but I deserve better than to be in a loveless relationship where I’m at fear of him following his dick and screwing up our life. Is he likely to follow through with this??

OP posts:
username34512875 · 15/04/2021 12:55

He honestly sounds so horrible. Sorry you’re having to go through this. It sounds like he’s using you as a scapegoat and projecting any negative feelings he has onto you as it makes him feel better about himself. I know it’s easy for us to come on here and tell you to “LTB” and it’s hard when you have kids, but it sounds like he had absolutely no respect for you. The way he has spoken about you in that journal entry really speaks volumes and the fact that he is so casual about potentially cheating is disgusting. If you are not ready to leave him as of yet, I do think you need to distance yourself from him emotionally so that you can in a way protect your own mental health and protect yourself, whilst also preparing for the worst. You deserve betterFlowers

tenlittlecygnets · 15/04/2021 12:55

Eurgh, he talks about you with such disrespect. Sounds like all the love has gone. I'd be making plans to split up.

Sakurami · 15/04/2021 13:00

He's vile and disrespectful.

I can't think of any reason why you would want to 1) stay with him 2) have your children see this as an example of a relationship.

Reinventinganna · 15/04/2021 13:00

You sound like a bad fit and I can only imagine your relationship getting more toxic.

bringbacksideburns · 15/04/2021 13:04

He blames you for all his problems and thinks you are unattractive and controlling.

He sounds really hard work. Obviously we are only getting your side of the story but it sounds like you have had to take charge and keep things together due to his depression and now he resents you for that.

I know its easier said than done but i'd rather be alone and give myself the possible opportunity of meeting someone who treats me with love and respect in the future than stuck where you have been for the past couple of years .

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/04/2021 13:04

Honestly I’d leave him and let him find another victim to blame for everything. Obviously every hot young woman wants a bloke with two kids and a hx of depression Hmm.

I’d also question the counsellor saying your abusive.

Notaroadrunner · 15/04/2021 13:07

You don't want to walk away? I'd be running! Regardless of his journal entry he treats you like shit and blames you for his depression. What must he be telling his counsellor if they also blame you? Do you really want your kids to see the way he treats you and have them believe that's normal? Save yourself the hassle of being his emotional punch bag and start making plans to leave. Give yourself the gift of freedom.

Sassysally12 · 15/04/2021 13:07

I honestly wouldn’t believe his therapist said you were emotionally abusive either. HE thinks it, so he wants to make out other people have backed him up and agreed. Again to make out all his problems are your fault. Leave. I was to blame for all the problems my ex brought on himself, and in the end even after all I did to try help him- he left me. He will do the same, he doesn’t love you and it’s like they get to the point they enjoy seeing how much you will take from them. You will bend over backwards, living unhappy and one day he will pop out and never return and then what? At least this way, YOU are steering the ship and can get your ducks in a row and accept the end of your marriage. Hope your okay, some people are just horrid. I’d rather have a bit of ‘flab’ and be fabulous than a serial sulker who’s blames everyone else for their problems are generally just a misery. Don’t spend a life with someone who would say these things about you xx

MadeForThis · 15/04/2021 13:11

Forget him and his feelings. What do you get out of being in this relationship?

He sounds weak and nasty.

It's over. It should have been over even before you read the journal on the iPad. But you will never get over this. And you shouldn't.

You deserve to be with someone who brings happiness to your life.

AsterixGoesCamping · 15/04/2021 13:13

as a summary,

  • there is little trust left in the relationship
  • he blames you for everything
  • he is manipulating you (it's your fault/his childhood/he is being emasculated/you should have known that ...)
  • he is thining of having an affair
  • he has no respect left for you.

Why, why are you still with him?

If anything, I think you are the one who needs some counselling tbh.

Jonnywishbone · 15/04/2021 13:13

Don't waste your energy. It's dead. There is no way back

Illberidingshotgun · 15/04/2021 13:15

Clearly neither of you are happy, and he doesn't seem to have any respect for you at all. What would you gain by staying together? Do you really want to teach your children that a marriage has to continue, regardless of how unhappy both parties are? Are you being good role models for them?

The relationship is over, and virtually no one enters marriage believing it will end, but it often does. You deserve to be happy, and to be treated well.

youshallnotpass9 · 15/04/2021 13:16

On the other side of this, maybe you are controlling. You went through his journal which has his inner most thoughts. Why did you feel the need to do that?

On everything else, Depression does make you into a selfish person at time, but I wouldn't be staying with someone who doesn't like me,

BubblesThaDragoon · 15/04/2021 13:17

He sounds like a horrible man who is using his depression as an excuse to be a cunt to be honest. I’d ask him to leave - you deserve someone who treats you with respect and doesn’t use you as a scapegoat for all of their problems. I’d also stop doing anything for him like washing/cooking etc let him take the fucking lead the cheeky bastard!

Aquamarine1029 · 15/04/2021 13:19

Sorry, op, but your marriage is over, and it should be. What a miserable existence you're living with such a cruel, pathetic man. The only things you need to do are to get a solicitor and get away from him.

AsterixGoesCamping · 15/04/2021 13:20

I don’t want to walk away

Why?
I'm getting the feeling that you believe in the 'in health and sickness' of your vows so don't want to leave him because 'he is depressed and unwell and that would be a shitty thing to do'.

Well, you know what? If the situation was so crap, he would have left.
If you were abusive, he would have left (esp after having had the confirmation 'by his counsellor' that you indeed are!).
But nope. He is planning (or at least dreaming) to screw you over instead by seeing someone else whilst... let me think... you pander to his moods, do his washing/cooking/provide sex etc....
And all the while he is happy to beat you up with an emotional stick again and again.

Vows say 'in health and in sickness' not 'I am going to ccept any shitty behaviour from this man just because I am married to him'

Cowbells · 15/04/2021 13:21

You don't want to walk away, you say? Why not? He sounds like a life-sucking, immature, judgemental, blaming killjoy. I'd be waltzing away feeling like his journal entries were my get out of jail free card. Honestly, you deserve better than this. Maybe he does too, maybe you are just incompatible. Don't cling on to a relationship that has no signs of lasting respect, attraction or affection.

Goatinthegarden · 15/04/2021 13:25

Well, I would say that a journal is for private thoughts and things you wouldn’t necessarily say to others. But his private thoughts about you are vile and rude and deeply unpleasant. I wouldn’t write down, or even spend time, thinking such thoughts about people I really dislike. It says something about his character.

You shouldn’t have read it, but you have. I don’t think there is much hope left here.

Trixie78 · 15/04/2021 13:26

It sounds like the general consensus in here that the marriage is over. To make it back both people need to be committed to that and it doesn't seem to be the case here. It doesn't sound like he wants to save it. I don't think he was writing a fantasy, I think he's building himself up to try it. He'll use his journal as a way of justifying if to himself and trying out different scenarios until he feels confident to actually make a play for someone else. Beat him to it, ask him to leave.

Alfiemoon1 · 15/04/2021 13:28

I would walk away it sounds like the marriage is over

Beautiful3 · 15/04/2021 13:29

He wants to be a victim and thinks you're driving him to cheat!!!Hmmleave him. Theres no future for you both if he is calling you fat and flabby. You are beautiful and deserve better Flowers

Sstrongtn · 15/04/2021 13:30

Are you controlling and emotionally abusive? Why did the counsellor say that?

Reading his journal was absolutely and totally not ok and There are warning flags all over your post to me, it’s written in an odd way as if you have decided the division of labour and things.

Either way, what he wrote isn’t ok either, the relationship is dead and gone. Try to end it and co-parent as effectively as possible.

TillyTopper · 15/04/2021 13:31

What do YOU want to happen to your relationship OP? Do you want to stay with him and still try to make a go of it? Is he worth fighting for? Answer those questions for yourself not him. If you decided he's not worth it and you can't trust him or perhaps think the situation won't improve then you need to take control and make plans to split.

PotteringAlong · 15/04/2021 13:32

Well there obviously is no trust left because you read his journal.

You might not want to walk away but, if you’re honest, what have you got left to save?

Giantrooster · 15/04/2021 13:37

You shouldn't have read it, but now you have, you are informed, act on it.

When men find a partner to do the mummy stuff and then start complaining you are controlling it's a total lack of responsibility for their own actions.

From what you say he doesn't take responsibility for anything, does he? Why do you want to be with him? The things you list are grave, there must be some upside if you want to spend more of your life trying to save this, while being blamed for his shortcomings.