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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

Don't know how to cope with DP revelation

346 replies

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 17:07

I've name changed for this.

Last night I was putting washing away when I came across a bank statement stuffed into my DP's drawer. I was shocked to see it was in a substantial overdraft as he'd told me he was using this account to put money away so he could plan a surprise for me and DS. (We share all other finances, so or I thought...)

I did a little digging and came across another more recent bank statement, showing very large sums being paid out to certain individuals. It also showed that he'd lied about how much money his dad lent us a few months ago when he lost his job due to the pandemic.

When he got home from work (he has a new job, luckily he was only out of work for about 6 weeks), I confronted him straight away. He admitted that last year he started using cocaine. He was incredibly stressed - I knew this and had talked him into going to a psychotherapist but he only went once and although he said it was a positive experience, he didn't go back despite me constantly asking him to. He said he just did it to try and help him focus at work and take the stress off, but it quickly became a problem both in terms of addiction and financial. He said he realised he was digging a huge hole that he'd struggle to get out of if in continued, so he stopped. He told me he hasn't used at all since last year but has spent that time worrying and trying to pay it back and also feeling immensely guilty for keeping this from me. He'd never done anything like this before.

He was so, so apologetic, upset, ashamed and embarrassed. He promised this is the only thing he's ever kept from me and although he knew he should have told me, he was worried I would leave him and he couldn't bear to lose me and his family.

We've been together over 6 years now. We are engaged to be married next year, already have a young child and have another on the way. Although I knew we were dealing with him feeling really out of sorts and stressed, which he said was pretty much completely down to his old job and then lockdown/both of us being on furlough, I thought everything was otherwise pretty perfect.

I love him with everything I have. He is an amazing partner, provides for us, works extremely hard and has always been a complete support to us. Loving, committed, honestly everything I ever wanted in a partner.

This has completely shook me up and I'm struggling so much with how to feel. There's no denying I still want to be with him. I told him I love him and although I'm incredibly disappointed, I'm not just going to end our relationship because things are difficult just now. We will work through it. I'm just worried because in the back of my head I'm wondering, "What if it happens again?"

He told me if he ever felt the urge to use again, he would instantly tell me and we would work together to get him help. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that right now some trust is gone.

It's made more difficult as I'm in the early stage of pregnancy and my hormones are already all over the place - but I feel somewhat numb about all of this. Detached from reality as if it's not really happening.

How do I move forward?

OP posts:
Isthisit22 · 09/05/2021 07:29

Good for you OP. You sound such a strong and kind person.
Hope it works out for you but not sure how you'll ever really know with him having lied so much and for so long. It will be very hard to know if he's lying in the future

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 09/05/2021 08:43

Best of luck. Fwiw I think you are doing the right thing to help him - he's more likely to put in the full effort to stop using if he experiences proper, meaningful consequences. If everything stays the same for him, he will get to think that you will always forgive him. Hopefully this will act as the shock he needs to make real change x

Alcemeg · 09/05/2021 13:26

Well done @daisydays90. Brave decision and I'm sure it's the right thing to do.

I'm a right one, in that I have experience of people using drugs and yet I remain utterly naive! I think you've kept your head screwed on admirably.

Good luck and I hope things work out for you. Flowers

ALittleBitConfused1 · 09/05/2021 14:19

7k over 6 months sounds about right to me, if he was using regularly.

My ex would happily shovel £400 in one night up his nose, most weekends. He would even do it on a Sunday night watching tv at home alone, after spending the weekend at mine.

Why on earth I don't know. Day to day I think he just did enough to make him normal, well his normal. Because after a bigger night he was a fucking moody shit. The odd line here and there inbetween kept him functioning.

But then again I'm describing someone who was a habitual user for over 20 years. Not someone who turned to it in stressful times then stopped just like that.

His dealer was also a friend. He had nights on tick then paid for them later, not 7k worth though.

Oh he also had huge panic attacks on come downs. Hense the odd line here and there before work. So alot of what your oh says does sound fesiable in my experience but as i said im describing a long term user. Fortunately he is my ex, unfortunately he is still using, he can't stop, even a serious medical condition didn't stop him.

Living with an addict is no fun, it's exhausting. Id advise you get help and support. But the only advice I would give is don't go into this believing everything he says, it could all be exactly how he says, the liklehood is that it isn't. And in all honesty drugs can turn the nicest person ever into a completely different human.

Good luck op.

Sssloou · 09/05/2021 15:19

@ALittleBitConfused1 - great post. IMHO I think your long term user traits are relevant here - but in reality none of us know - no me, PP or the OP - only her OH does.

Less debates, discussions, questioning etc - less words and less verbal engagement which with a lying addict just tie you up in knots - just boundaries and expectations need to be stated once and the non compliance consequence stated once and then immediate non reversible ACTIONS, ACTIONS, ACTIONs.

His recovery is HIS journey 100% - the best SUPPORT you can give him is to let him do everything 100% himself - detach with love. Any less is inadvertently “enabling” by disabling his ability be sustainably responsible and accountable.

Get professional help so that you can cope.

I suspect in time this will play out as the equivalent of him initially admitting to a ONS when in fact it is a long term affair.

Sssloou · 09/05/2021 15:23

I hope I am wrong - but maybe consider that so you are not blindsided further down the line.

Standrewsschool · 09/05/2021 20:17

Wishing you and your family all the best.

flowerbomb21 · 13/11/2021 23:07

How are things OP??

fournonblondes · 14/11/2021 06:59

What a way to deal with a financial crisis? I would be very disappointed and would not be able to carry on. However, everybody has to put up with something big or small from their partners. It is about what can you put up with or is no way going forward.

fournonblondes · 14/11/2021 07:01

Oops old thread. Hope you are ok

beastlyslumber · 14/11/2021 07:48

it was just a case of paying off the debts he owed for the drugs, which he says are now paid off.

I may be wrong, but I don't think drug dealers give their customers credit. So if he is still paying large amounts to an individual, then he's paying for drugs he's using now - not for ones he's used in the past.

beastlyslumber · 14/11/2021 07:56

Gah old thread! Sorry. Ignore me.

If you do come back to the thread and see this OP, I hope you're doing okay Flowers

Sally090807 · 14/11/2021 08:40

Seems very odd that a cocaine dealer accepts bank transfers which is traceable, also where was he using it as surely you’d notice a change in his behaviour after taking cocaine. Was he driving too whilst doing drugs?
I’d insist he takes a drugs test, I’m sure I’ve seen them for sale on Amazon.

flowerbomb21 · 14/11/2021 09:59

@beastlyslumber they say give me the money u owe me then il give u some more same day
So then the debt cycle jus carries on. It's basically always on tick

LittlestBoho · 14/11/2021 12:22

@daisydays90 How are things now? I hope your pregnancy went well. Flowers

Alexandria94 · 15/11/2021 00:09

Just read through and I think people were incredibly accusatory and pushed OP into such a defensive position. Gosh, pps just couldnt get over that whole "he must be a dealer" rubbish.

I hope the pregnancy went well and OP and her DP are happy and moved on from this difficult chapter Flowers

daisydays90 · 15/11/2021 00:54

Gosh, I was shocked to see this thread appear as I aimlessly scroll through MN…!

Thank you to the kind folk asking how I am doing. Flowers

I am good, we are good. It was a difficult time, but with good communication, DP started seeing a psychologist (specifically trained in drug addiction and the impact of drugs), got diagnosed with OCD which psychologist said she believes was the reason behind his drug taking, and we are in a good place now. He also changed jobs and got out of a very toxic work environment which I think has helped massively.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s not all peachy. I do have trust issues there now, which we talk about and discuss openly and he knows this will take a while to regain that back - but he’s trying.

The awful news is that I sadly lost our baby, 2 weeks after I posted on here. Perhaps due to the stress of it all, perhaps not, I don’t know. It was my third miscarriage in a year. It was also incredibly traumatic, something I’m still trying to heal from.

We get each other through the tough days. We genuinely do. I love him and I am proud of him. Smile

Thanks again to those who sent well wishes.

OP posts:
me4real · 15/11/2021 01:21

So sorry for your loss @daisydays90 Sad Flowers

Glad things are going well. Your DP needs that evidence based help to stay stopped, even if he stopped by himself- glad he's getting some. Stopping is easy compared to staying stopped.

IDK if you should postpone the wedding?

Lili132 · 15/11/2021 09:52

I mean it kindly but you cannot believe anything an addict says. He needs proper therapy and to stay clean for at least 2 years before you even start building your trust back. And I cannot stress enough the importance of professional therapy.

Lili132 · 15/11/2021 09:53

Sorry I somehow missed your last post 💐

flowerbomb21 · 16/11/2021 14:05

Messaged you privately @daisydays90 Daffodil

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