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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

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:
Horehound · 07/05/2021 22:54

Ok but that's not very realistic is it?
You are going to basically baby your fiance because you cannot trust him.
You should just let him have total control of his money, if he fucks up, he's gone.

LIZS · 07/05/2021 22:54

But this is an account, with an overdraft you knew nothing about. What's to stop him opening another? It takes some effort to set it up, he did so deliberately for a specific purpose, not on a whim, and kept it secret.

Restlessinthenorth · 07/05/2021 22:55

@daisydays90

Also -

When I asked him if I could drug test him now he said of course. He'd do a test any time or place if I asked.

He also said he would go back to the psychotherapist or go to anything else I ask him to.

Also, you should know that every person who uses drugs that I have ever worked with would have promised to do drugs tests. They know exactly how to cheat them (very easy!) or time them around use/ have great reasons why they can't take one/great reasons why they might have been in touch with drugs that would cause a positive test.

It also very likely he had more than one dealer. I have never heard of dealers who would bother responding to paid off debt queries. It just doesn't ring true.

It is fantastic that you are supporting and by doing so, you are giving him so much more capital to recover with. Notwithstanding that, you are going into this with blinkers on. Please take care of yourself

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 22:56

@LittlestBoho

He really has no reason to lie about the amount.

Except that he lied about taking drugs, about being at work the whole time, about borrowing money from his dad, about getting an overdraft, about having drug debts and about quitting drugs last year (your more recent posts says it was January, previously he told you October 2020).

He hasn't just told you one lie, once. He's told you a hundred lies over a long period of time. Why would you believe a single word he says?

He was at work the whole time. He has consistently said he only ever took the drugs at work, never anywhere else. I believe this. Also he didn’t tell me he quit in Oct, he said that’s when he realises he had a serious problem and it was a sort of turning point then - I just initially took that to mean that’s when he stopped but I was wrong.
OP posts:
Surroundedbytime · 07/05/2021 22:56

I’m still thinking it’s not adding up sorry.

Youarewithme · 07/05/2021 22:58

There are some very naive posters on this thread who clearly have no clue about the huge middle class drug market and are wildly speculating here. There are plenty of dealers who are not breaking legs/ sending threats or shadily dealing on street corners wearing a trench coat to smackheads begging for their next fix!
Dealer could easily be say, a plumber with his own business, buying not huge amounts from a mate and selling it on to friends/ acquaintances. The people he sells to are also middle class, job having people who he knows and aren't in the game of buying fuck tons of coke and then fucking off because, you know, jobs/ families/ homes. Dealer takes bank transfers because his customers aren't likely to have the police banging down their doors and he takes a lot of bank transfers through his business, or from private work if he's employed. People who take a bit of coke with jobs, families, lives who know their dealer as a friend tend not to just refuse to pay because it's not in their nature. They would also sell on the higher end of the price range because they can. Their customers will pay it because they aren't addicts in Trainspotting, they don't know who else to go to. The dealer will wait for his money because he's never broken anyone's legs in his life and the customer will pay eventually so...
Having said that, it's a lot of money in a short space of time out of the blue. I would be very suspicious of what he says OP, there is a lot that doesn't add up.

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 22:59

@Horehound

Ok but that's not very realistic is it? You are going to basically baby your fiance because you cannot trust him. You should just let him have total control of his money, if he fucks up, he's gone.
It was his idea, not mine. He said he had no desire to have any access to money, and that way I won’t be worrying that he’s buying drugs. It’s not long term, but for now it’s a starting point. It at least will ensure I know he’s been clean for the amount of time he says he has.
OP posts:
Restlessinthenorth · 07/05/2021 23:00

OP, I'm not saying anyone on this thread is lying. I'm saying that in my experience of working with literally hundreds of people with addiction problems over many years, you are kidding yourself and your blind faith in what you are being told will likely cause you serious heartache going forwards. I'm not saying don't support him 100% and work through this together, but please be honest with yourself to give you both the best chance you can. There will be addiction support professionals of open NA or SMART meetings near you where you can access this

Pantsomime · 07/05/2021 23:00

Get him tested and go with him- hair, blood, urine- whatever it takes - you won’t regret it either way

OrchestraOfWankery · 07/05/2021 23:02

@Sssloou

I asked him to see his last correspondence with the dealer but he had deleted it all as well as his number. He said he didn't want it on his phone. So he offered to message the dealer asking if there was any money outstanding. He did this right in front of me and let me literally watch the phone while the dealer replied. He confirmed he doesn't owe any more money.

How was he able to text the dealer if he had deleted his number because he didn’t want it on his phone?

Hmmmm.....
daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:03

@Youarewithme

There are some very naive posters on this thread who clearly have no clue about the huge middle class drug market and are wildly speculating here. There are plenty of dealers who are not breaking legs/ sending threats or shadily dealing on street corners wearing a trench coat to smackheads begging for their next fix! Dealer could easily be say, a plumber with his own business, buying not huge amounts from a mate and selling it on to friends/ acquaintances. The people he sells to are also middle class, job having people who he knows and aren't in the game of buying fuck tons of coke and then fucking off because, you know, jobs/ families/ homes. Dealer takes bank transfers because his customers aren't likely to have the police banging down their doors and he takes a lot of bank transfers through his business, or from private work if he's employed. People who take a bit of coke with jobs, families, lives who know their dealer as a friend tend not to just refuse to pay because it's not in their nature. They would also sell on the higher end of the price range because they can. Their customers will pay it because they aren't addicts in Trainspotting, they don't know who else to go to. The dealer will wait for his money because he's never broken anyone's legs in his life and the customer will pay eventually so... Having said that, it's a lot of money in a short space of time out of the blue. I would be very suspicious of what he says OP, there is a lot that doesn't add up.
This sums up the dealer. He works for a respectable company and has a family of his own. DP knows him through mutual friends. They call each other “mate”. He isn’t some scary bloke going around with a knife threatening people if they don’t pay soon.

I don’t really get what doesn’t add up. I haven’t even specified the exact amount DP spent. If he was spending £100 a time, over 6-7 months, then that can easily reach into the thousands - which it did. It’s not £10k or anywhere near that, but it was in the thousands.

OP posts:
thepuredrop · 07/05/2021 23:04

He told me if he ever felt the urge to use again

He is going to feel the urge to use again. This will happen.
He needs support to maintain sobriety. Why wait until he gets the urge (and his resistance is at its lowest) to find support? He needs to find support now.
Only he can do it, it is his commitment, so his decision and his step forward.

You will not be able to have a relationship with an addict in denial.

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:05

He didn’t text the dealer, he messaged him via Facebook since he no longer had his number. Jesus some people really want to pick holes don’t they?!

OP posts:
Miasicarisatia · 07/05/2021 23:05

He only ever took the drugs at work, yeah right, who takes Coke only at work?
Coke is for parties and sex

JamieFrasersAuntie · 07/05/2021 23:05

I asked him to see his last correspondence with the dealer but he had deleted it all as well as his number. He said he didn't want it on his phone. So he offered to message the dealer asking if there was any money outstanding. He did this right in front of me and let me literally watch the phone while the dealer replied. He confirmed he doesn't owe any more money

How did he message him if he had deleted his number?

That message could have been to anyone about anything, could have been about someone picking him up a butty at work.

This person has lied to you and his dad for months. I would verify everything that he says.

InpatientGardener · 07/05/2021 23:05

OP I don't doubt some people can give up drugs easily. Everyone has different experiences. But I also believe from my own experience that if substances are used to self medicate they are much harder to let go of unless either the stressor is gone or dealt with by other means, such as therapy. And there is the potential if the stressor returns for the drug use to resume, or for it to have become so much a habit that the person carries on using regardless. This is why you should stay vigilant and if he's offered to take tests, follow through, and find out what he plans to do to manage stress in the future. He has a lot of good factors with you being supportive and having children who love and depend on him but sometimes that isn't enough if the underlying issues aren't dealt with.

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:07

@thepuredrop

He told me if he ever felt the urge to use again

He is going to feel the urge to use again. This will happen.
He needs support to maintain sobriety. Why wait until he gets the urge (and his resistance is at its lowest) to find support? He needs to find support now.
Only he can do it, it is his commitment, so his decision and his step forward.

You will not be able to have a relationship with an addict in denial.

He’s going to go back to his psychotherapist as a starting point, and we’ll take it from there. He isn’t in denial at all. He just knows what he came very close to losing and it scared the crap out of him.
OP posts:
OrchestraOfWankery · 07/05/2021 23:07

@daisydays90

He didn’t text the dealer, he messaged him via Facebook since he no longer had his number. Jesus some people really want to pick holes don’t they?!
What was the point of deleting the dealer's number then if he can access him via FB.
daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:07

@Miasicarisatia

He only ever took the drugs at work, yeah right, who takes Coke only at work? Coke is for parties and sex
Because the whole reason for him taking the coke in the first place was to get through work - the one thing that was the source of his stress and panic attacks. I’ve said this numerous times.
OP posts:
daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:08

@JamieFrasersAuntie

I asked him to see his last correspondence with the dealer but he had deleted it all as well as his number. He said he didn't want it on his phone. So he offered to message the dealer asking if there was any money outstanding. He did this right in front of me and let me literally watch the phone while the dealer replied. He confirmed he doesn't owe any more money

How did he message him if he had deleted his number?

That message could have been to anyone about anything, could have been about someone picking him up a butty at work.

This person has lied to you and his dad for months. I would verify everything that he says.

Except I saw the bank transfers to this person. It was the same name on Facebook.
OP posts:
Miasicarisatia · 07/05/2021 23:09

he messaged him by Facebook well that's alright then, I'm sure Facebook will verify that he's a bonafidee coke dealer who always tells the truth

thepuredrop · 07/05/2021 23:09

Good to hear, OP! Hoping he sticks with it.

MeadowsInSunshine · 07/05/2021 23:10

Oh OP what a mess. He is still lying to you, however much you want to believe him. You said earlier that he promised he hadn't taken any coke this year, and again that he said that he hadn't taken any at all this year. Then it's January, now he swears blinds it's 3 months ago ie February, but he can't remember when he stopped.

My XH took cocaine, and later worse. I had no idea either. Honestly, it's no way to live. You'll always wonder, you always be watching him and looking for symptoms, checking the bank account.

I wish you all the luck in the world, but please don't ever underestimate the impact what he's done, or is still doing, will have on your life.

daisydays90 · 07/05/2021 23:11

@Miasicarisatia

he messaged him by Facebook well that's alright then, I'm sure Facebook will verify that he's a bonafidee coke dealer who always tells the truth
Well I know it’s the same person as I saw the name on the bank statements. It wasn’t some long winded message, he just asked him if he owed anything and the dealer said no. Why do you think this is some conspiracy?! It genuinely isn’t.
OP posts:
unwuthering · 07/05/2021 23:11

@Restlessinthenorth

OP, I'm not saying anyone on this thread is lying. I'm saying that in my experience of working with literally hundreds of people with addiction problems over many years, you are kidding yourself and your blind faith in what you are being told will likely cause you serious heartache going forwards. I'm not saying don't support him 100% and work through this together, but please be honest with yourself to give you both the best chance you can. There will be addiction support professionals of open NA or SMART meetings near you where you can access this
This.

None of what he's said rings true. You seem deeply in denial. Good luck on the long and painful journey ahead.

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