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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

suspiscious or just mad

18 replies

1coffeetime · 08/11/2021 20:00

I have tried to make this thread 3 times now but always backed out because I am afraid. I have NC.

I'll try not to drip feed, also trying not to be outted.

Firstly, i have some stuff in my past which I see some professional people about. I often doubt my own thinking and whether I am just being paranoid etc.

Anyway, things have been a bit weird for a while. DH often in a mood, snappy, irritable, always saying it's been a bad day at work. A couple of weeks ago he decided he would buy me all sorts of things, dates, etc because 'I deserve it'.
I think something is off, so I anxiously ask him about it in a heart-to-heart one night, he says no, nothing is going on. He will not have his phone out when I am around (its been like this for years though) he leaves it in his office, brings it out if I am going out and then when I return he puts it back. Says he just wants to focus on us so he leaves it there.

After our conversation, we go into his office to get his drink and his phone lights up and I see a text from a number that's not saved in his phone, I don't know when it was sent and I can't say what it says word for word because as soon as I saw it he deleted it right in front of me but it started with "hey just messaging to say I hope he is feeling better now” and there was a "x" at the end (also another line of something but I couldn’t see it in time) our DC has been ill so I am wondering if its about that and I ask him, he says oh its nothing, and then I don't know who sent it and that it must be a wrong number, and then it meant nothing and then it might be about our DC or him as they have both been ill, and then he says it must be from his family from another country asking about DC (even though it was a UK number that text). He gets a bit angry at this point and keeps saying it meant nothing so it should mean nothing to me and I start to cry and feel crazy again. But it's not the contents of the message that's got to me, it’s the reaction to me seeing it, the deleting it and then the strange explanations plus the moodiness and sudden dates. I tell him I'm not stupid and he says maybe I need to take an anti-anxiety medication. I go to another room upset and he comes in and again says it meant nothing. Later on, he tells me I need therapy.

He is being lovely now and I just feel numb and anxious and that I am crazy.

Anyway, I can't talk to anyone in real life. I feel completely worn out but I am about to book therapy. I thought I’d post here so I felt less alone.
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
UndeadSlut · 08/11/2021 20:10

Oh Christ his reaction would tell me everything I needed to know.

I had this with my ex. He left his phone downstairs, I heard it beep so I (not suspecting anything, just being helpful) said I'd go and get it as I was on my way down anyway. He practically shoved me out of the way and ran down the stairs (and this man never ran anywhere), hysterically coming out with "explanations" as he went down. Explanations that I hadn't asked for because well...it was a text...?! Nothing suspicious. "Oh it's probably Lee, haven't spoken to him in ages, the daft twat probably texted me by accident ha! You don't need to go and get it, unless you don't TRUST ME ha ha...Or maybe it's my mum but she doesn't know how to text ha ha!" So then I WAS suspicious, and a bit of digging through his phone revealed my suspicions to be correct.

Your man could easily have said "oh it's just X from work, I told him DS had been ill" and that would probably have been the end of it, but he's gone completely OTT. Sorry OP.

Shitapillar · 08/11/2021 20:11

Look up gaslighting. Because that's what's happening to you. Flowers

KintsugiForever · 08/11/2021 20:29

Yep, the over the top explanation is what I would worry about. My ex did something very similar when we were driving somewhere. A call came through on his car phone and it announced 'Katy so-and-so' is calling. He looked at me and said 'I don't know any Katy's must be a wrong number '. Yes because a car announces the wrong name that's programmed into your phone 🤨
I just looked at him a second longer than was needed and looked out the window. I broke up with him the following week....

HairyFanjoBanjo · 08/11/2021 20:49

You’d be mad NOT to be suspicious..

IsThePopeCatholic · 08/11/2021 21:03

I would trust your instincts on this one, op. His behaviour seems very suspicious and he is gaslighting you. Stay strong if you can.

Bananalanacake · 08/11/2021 21:52

How on earth did these men ever get found out before the invention of the smartphone Confused

RogueV · 08/11/2021 22:22

You don’t need therapy!
It’s him he is lying to you and has been for a long time.

me4real · 08/11/2021 22:47

He is gaslighting and also exploiting your concern about your mental health to fuck with you. Sad And iit seems like he's having an affair or he'dve had no reason to lie about the text.

Alexandria94 · 10/11/2021 00:40

@me4real

He is gaslighting and also exploiting your concern about your mental health to fuck with you. Sad And iit seems like he's having an affair or he'dve had no reason to lie about the text.
This!

This man sounds awful. He definitely has something to hide from his behaviour, and the person who text him is clearly party to personal details about his life I.e. your DS being unwell.

I'm sorry OP, he is trying to confuse you but I hope you are able to stay strong and be firm in your thoughts. You know what you saw and you know how he reacted. Don't let him bullshit his way out of it.

Aquamarine1029 · 10/11/2021 00:50

Your husband is gaslighting you, and being very obvious about it.

MsDogLady · 10/11/2021 05:34

Don’t doubt yourself about this, OP.

It is a low person who would play the MH card to manipulate and destabilize his Wife in a frantic attempt to hide and protect his affair.

Your H was clearly flustered while trying to explain away what was obviously a message/kiss from OW. His repeating that ‘it means nothing’ tells you that it actually means a great deal. His other recent ‘off’ behavior also speaks volumes. It sounds like he created distance between you to justify his infidelity, but then drew you close to thwart suspicion.

You recently expressed your concern and gave him a chance to come clean. He didn’t, and has continued his illicit connection. I would be livid that he shares details about DS with OW and that he feels entitled to gaslight and make a mockery of you.

You don’t have to tolerate his sneaky cheating and contempt. Show him the door and tell him that he can carry on all he wants, but not while married to you. Flowers

Bogeyes · 10/11/2021 05:43

He's a rat

Tiredofbs123 · 10/11/2021 05:57

I’m so sorry but he is gaslighting you. Your spidey sense is tingling, you will need to do some digging.

It is unforgivable that he is trying to blame your mental health for his behaviours.

I loathe men like this!

froggy1811 · 10/11/2021 06:08

As others have already pointed out, he is totally gaslighting you! He has/is obviously up to no good and your instincts are correct!

Behaviour around ones phone is the first red flag! My husband started laying his phone screen down when he was up to the dirty! You also described general behaviour that suggests he is 'distracted' by something - or someone- other than you. Then he's made his guilt obvious by being overzealous with the dates/treats etc.

Please don't stand for this, or allow him to use your mental health against you ever again!

SpeakingFranglais · 10/11/2021 07:06

Textbook, absolutely textbook behaviour from him.

He’s seeing someone else.

Didimum · 10/11/2021 07:11

I’d do some further undercover digging. Safely gather as much information and evidence as you can before confronting. Stay strong. You deserve better than this.

froggy1811 · 10/11/2021 07:15

@Didimum

I’d do some further undercover digging. Safely gather as much information and evidence as you can before confronting. Stay strong. You deserve better than this.
This ^

Also, don't sleep with him until you find out the truth! Goodness knows what he might be fetching home to you!

coffy11 · 10/11/2021 09:57

It's very clear he's having an affair. Don't let him get to you and think you're crazy. As everyone else has mentioned he's gaslighting you and trying to get the focus off himself and make you look like your crazy,

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