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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

Is this abusive or is it me?

37 replies

Namechange8688 · 28/08/2021 18:51

I had a very quick marriage to someone who I thought loved me very much. A complete whirlwind romance. It turns out he gets angry very often at me for things I do or say that annoys him. Things like this afternoon he's moaned about some metal thing in a kitchen drawer. I am 99.99% sure it was his and he moved in with it. I said this to him and he said it's not his, I said are you sure (he has got awful memory) and he said that I haven't learnt from any other time when I tell him he's wrong and he's not and it's going to go sideways. I left the kitchen and went back to the living room. He then came in the living room and started again. He says absolutely horrible things to me when he's angry with me. He threatened to move out again and said the only reason he didn't move out a couple of weeks ago is because I was upset about it (that isn't true, I was upset, I wanted us to split up and the only reason I stayed with him is because at the 9th hour he apologised and said we would get counselling- which is now booked for the 7th).

He's flicked me before in an argument but said that I was too sensitive when I told him that was abusive. He says my moods dictate his mood and that I make him feel like he is on eggshells. Apparently he's rang citizens advice about his housing situation and they think I'm emotionally abusive because everything is about my feelings. But he does things that upset me, that make me feel rejected and whether I don't say anything and just crack on with what I'm doing or if I say what you've just said has upset me, he gets angry whatever. I feel like he can say or do whatever he wants to do but if it upsets me then he turns it round to say I'm the problem.

My friends and family say I'm being emotionally abused by him and that he's broken me. But am I actually the one making him do this? I know everyone will say no I'm not, but am I actually in the wrong by feeling hurt all the bloody time. I constantly feel rejected by him and it shows in my face. A good example of this is that we were supposed to go out Thursday but he worked late, I wasn't upset about him working late but I was a bit disappointed that he didn't say we'll do it on our next free evening. I told him this and he shouted at me that I should have assumed that was what would happen, that I'm childish and my moods shouldn't take over the night (they didn't, I still cooked his dinner, cleaned the bin and chatted to him, I was just disappointed).

He just doesn't get me. All I want is to love him and be loved by him. I thought he was my one but the things he says to me are horrible. I want to end it, even if it's me that is the problem I'm really not happy and want to be free of the constant feeling of feeling unloved and the arguments. I am a big ball of resentment towards him now and I am hyper sensitive to how he is with me and expecting the negative. This annoys him a lot! But I can't change it, he's said and done so much I just don't trust that he has my best interest at heart. He's saying that I expect him to bow down to me and he's been making loads of effort the last couple of weeks and I've made none. That's not true, we argued Monday, Wednesday and Thursday! How can I make an effort when he starts demanding I do things and when I say no he shouts.

I was very lucky to get a very nice HA flat due to being a care leaver a couple of decades ago. I won't sign my tenancy over to a joint tenancy with him. He throws this in my face a lot. Apparently because we're married I can't kick him out until after our divorce is finalised. We haven't even been married a year! He also has so much stuff in my flat that I can't just bag up his stuff and he won't agree to stay with his nan or friends while he finds somewhere. But each time I agree to him staying while he finds somewhere we end up giving it another go. I feel utterly fed up of it all. Even if my moods and being annoying creates the arguing and him losing his temper it's obviously something I'm not able to stop so I don't get why he wants to keep trying anyway!

He told me to take my wedding ring off this afternoon and if I did that he would leave. I took it off and now he's cooking dinner!

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 28/08/2021 18:54

Gawd the drama

Just split up send him on his way life too short mate

Rocktheboat87 · 28/08/2021 18:55

HHm.... I was onboard with thinking perhaps you were the abusive one. However let's look at the examples logically.

metal item was in the draw. He got annoyed. Why?

Typically someone would say oh could you please put it in this draw in the future?

Then when he worked late. If my plans change out of curtiousness I always let my partner know because I love them and know that by choosing to work late (optional) and then not advising them when they know we had plans will cause them distress.

It sounds like he is the abusive one and he has you so on egg shells that he's actually got you to believe that you are the one causing issues.

Personal I would call a women's support group, or speak to a friend to get a neutral idea of whether you are being reasonable or as I suspect you need to get the hell away from him. Don't ever continue thinking oh he'll change. He won't. So don't kid yourself.

Namechange8688 · 28/08/2021 18:56

He won't leave though! How do I get him out when he has soo much stuff in my flat in the loft, things like expensive mountain bike, kitchen stuff, tools, so many belongings. I havent ever had this before! I've lived and split up with two people before, we agreed to split and they moved out and came back for their stuff a few days later when they were sorted!

OP posts:
Sonata13 · 28/08/2021 19:02

You deserve to be treated with respect.
You deserve to be happy.
You deserve to be spoken to kindly.
You deserve to be loved.
You know in your heart that this is what you deserve.
Look after yourself because you are worth looking after.

Cloverforever · 28/08/2021 19:10

Pay a local man and van service to take it to a self storage place. A couple hours work won't cost you much.

girlmom21 · 28/08/2021 19:13

Neither of you are happy. It's better for everyone that you separate.

Namechange8688 · 28/08/2021 19:48

I know this needs to end. I thought marriage counselling could fix it. I just cannot take anymore of what he says in arguments to hurt me. Even if I'm genuinely so annoying to him.

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 28/08/2021 19:54

How would counselling fix it! Really sounds toxic

Pinkbonbon · 28/08/2021 20:09

Counciling cant fix toxic. No one can council basic human empathy into a person. They have it or they dont. The same thing with respect for other ppl.

It's also recommended that people never go to counciling with an abuser.

Definately start taking steps. If you could get him out for a few days it would give you time to change the locks, see a lawyer about things and and box up his shit (then just drop it round his mums or wherever he is staying and tell him its over).

Hekatestorch · 28/08/2021 20:15

He is abusing you. Call women's aid. They can give you advice. Yes, you may not be able to get him out until the divorce.

But, they can advise. What he is doing is illegal and that can get him out.
Counselling with an abuser doesn't work. At all. Its pointless and will make it worse.

You need to establish your legal position regarding divorce, as you have been married under a year. But you may as well start now. Starting later won't achieve anything.

Aliceinunderland · 28/08/2021 20:27

Make contact with a solicitor or women's aid and enquire about an occupation order to remove him immediately. Alternatively, speak to your HA. Even if you're married, I don't think that gives him any rights over your tenancy but I know HA have teams for people experiencing domestic abuse. Which this is and you need support to end this safely.

Namechange8688 · 28/08/2021 21:54

I really hoped counselling would help him see that shutting me down by being angry at me isn't the right way to go about it.

In some ways he's absolutely lovely. He buys me thoughtful presents, we like the same adventures, we used to read together and cook together. The cooking thing is another sore point though. We cooked together every night and then one day he came home and moaned about cooking and why couldn't I ever start it without him as I wfh. Never mind that I was and still am on my bloody laptop working when he gets home.

Tbh I've posted on the relationship board twice before with different name changes and been told that he's abusive. I can see it but I feel so guilty and that its my fault. I know this is 'classic abuser script' but I really feel that I have played a part in this because each time he's horrible to me when he's angry I've never let it go. Each time chips away at me and I'm not the care free happy person he met and fell in love with. If he loved me how he did before we got married, when I was the best thing that had ever happened to him (in his words), when I was adored and I adored him back we'd be ok but I can't be the best wife ever as I feel so hurt and let by him. I used to do so much that made him feel loved by me too but I can't do it anymore. I've got zero desire to bake flapjacks and make sandwiches for his lunch. I make him do 50/50 with housework and don't do his washing anymore. I just can't do it as I don't feel happy anymore and he's never put back the chips he's taken out of me.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 28/08/2021 22:13

The thing is op that whilst you just want a quiet life, HE wants to stress, upset and break you. So of course he isnt 'going to see' what you want him to.

It's not him that needs to understand.

He KNOWS what he is doing and he knows it's not right. The good stuff is just to mindfuck you into thinking 'but he cant be bad really because he does x, y z'. Its a trick.

His kind get energy from your upset.

Also, if you kicked a puppy and the puppy barked at you for it, is the puppy at fault? Of course not!

Nasty behaviour like his is just wrong. And nothing excuses it.

All else aside- relationshipsare supposed to make you happy and bring out the best in you. If they dont, then its time for them to end. Abuse or no abuse.

Dashel · 29/08/2021 06:44

I would suggest that you tell him that the marriage is over, there will be no more attempts to fix things and he has a week to find somewhere else.

On that day you have a friend come around so that he is less likely to not go or create a scene.

If you think he is going to be abusive then get the locks changed in the day when he is at work, pack him an overnight bag and meet him on his way home from work in a pub or even outside your door and ask him to go, have a friend with you or behind the door who will be moral support.

Then see a solicitor and start divorce proceedings ASAP.

Don’t engage in arguments or the blame game, point scoring is completely irrelevant here. “This marriage doesn’t work for me any longer, we have tried to fix it and aren’t getting anywhere and it’s time to call it a day and move on and you need to move out” you don’t need to justify this to him.

Humblpi · 29/08/2021 06:51

Dump him and see how you feel in a year without his gaslighty presence. I'm still having revelations of 'oh, i'm not that way after all' after years of being told 'you're so/too XYZ'

TheSandgroper · 29/08/2021 08:14

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This crossed my path today. You may find it interesting.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 29/08/2021 08:18

He's definitely abusive and counselling won't fix that, it will probably make it worse. He doesn't want to leave because he has a cushy number with you in your low rent secure tenancy home. Sadly being married he might have some occupation rights but as it's such a short marriage maybe not. You need some legal advice. You need to get in touch with your local domestic abuse service and make an appointment to discuss how to get him out. They can help you get legal advice.

billy1966 · 29/08/2021 08:32

Of course he is abusive.

You have married in haste.
Big mistake.

I bet he wants in on your tenancy.

Cop on and tell him you want him out.

If he refuses, tell him you will involve the police.

Start divorce proceedings immediately.

Get him out and move on.

Namechange8688 · 29/08/2021 09:12

He's saying that he wants to go for our first counselling session before agreeing to leave. He's got everything written down, he wants the counsellor to agree with him that I'm in the wrong and although he says he "spoke like a cunt to me" he says it's because of an accumulation of me never admitting that I'm in the wrong.

I know he's using what I've said to him previously about all the resentment that has built up in me that is making me hyper sensitive and that I cant express my feelings on anything he's done because he's then horrible to me. He's twisting what I've said to him before and using my words against me.

I actually use a lot of communication skills and relationship building skills in work with service users. I managed a first class degree and got an additional award for outstanding practice in my field. I got that award because of my communication and relationship building skills. I really don't believe that when I try to talk to him about how I'm feeling about something that I'm doing anything wrong.

OP posts:
Colourmeclear · 29/08/2021 12:13

He just doesn't get me

It's not you. It's any human being with wants, desires, opinions, needs, expectations that aren't his own. People like him want to be in a relationship with none of the emotional commitment. The anger comes from their sense of entitlement, rooted in their personality. That's not environment based (i.e you) it's much deeper than that.

My ex would tell me I was boring and no fun anymore, I "acted" afraid of his rages, I always fucking cried. I turned discussions into arguments, he told me what I felt and what I didn't feel. It's all textbook stuff and you'll only really start beginning to process things once you're out of it.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 29/08/2021 12:14

This is why you don't go to counselling with an abuser.

billy1966 · 29/08/2021 12:17

He's stalling.

There is NO point.

Get him out.

Get your divorce started.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 29/08/2021 12:23

You need to get rid of him and not rush into a relationship again.

Pinkbonbon · 29/08/2021 14:12

He wants to go to therapy eo he can twist your words infront of the therapist and get them inside so he can use them as another eiltuck to beat you with. Thats why its recommended never to go to therapy with an abuser.

Tell him it's over and you're fone talking about it. 'We clearly are not making one another happy so lets call it a day' then just keep repeating. Tell him he has to leave today so to pack a bag with the smaller stuff he needs for now. The bigger stuff can be sent on later. If he refuses, call the police.

(Alternatively, wait till he is gone out then change the locks and then break up via phone).

Pinkbonbon · 29/08/2021 14:13

Fs

  • get them on side *another stick to beat you with