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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

Horrible fight :(

50 replies

happyboobs · 27/11/2021 20:50

Had a horrible argument with DH today. We don't fight often but when we do he shouts, calls me names, says really hurtful unforgivable things and never apologises.
I do none of these things.

I hate falling out and am guilty of being a pushover just to get rid of the atmosphere.

So exhausted this evening and he's creeping around me doing chores etc which is obviously as he feels bad but it would be so much easier if he could just say I'm sorry!

:-(

OP posts:
beastlyslumber · 27/11/2021 20:52

He abuses you. No wonder you feel terrible. The way he treats you is very wrong.

beastlyslumber · 27/11/2021 20:55

The doing chores is not because he feels bad. If he felt bad he would apologise, seek a way to make amends, and never do this again. He's doing chores because he is pretending that everything is fine. It's called gaslighting, and it's part of a pattern of abuse

girlmom21 · 27/11/2021 20:57

Just call him out on it.
Say "you could just say sorry."

Then tell him you won't stand for his vile abuse and ask him exactly why it is that he feels it's ok to talk to you like that.

Prick.

SanFranBear · 27/11/2021 21:00

Agree that you need to call him out on it:

"you could just say sorry*

Hope you're OK, happyboobs (great username, btw!)

Catcrazy83 · 27/11/2021 21:09

He often says unforgivable things…. and is then forgiven. Of course he keeps doings it and minimises. Don’t let him get away with it

beastlyslumber · 27/11/2021 21:15

@Catcrazy83

He often says unforgivable things…. and is then forgiven. Of course he keeps doings it and minimises. Don’t let him get away with it
Not sure how his behaviour is her fault? She said she goes along with him to make the abuse stop. She's obviously upset and frightened. Not really sure how she should not let him "get away with it"? Surely the problem is that he treats her like this at all.
TheFoundations · 27/11/2021 21:17

Set a boundary. Make it clear to him that if he does this one more time, the relationship is over. That way, you take charge of your own situation. One way or the other, you will not have to continue to put up with being treated this way.

If you make your boundary clear and he disrespects it, he doesn't respect you, so you need to get out, anyway.

Sorry you're being put through this. It's his fault, but it's your responsibility to make it stop happening in your life.

ExpectingLady93 · 27/11/2021 21:22

If he felt bad he would apologise OP.

Catcrazy83 · 27/11/2021 21:54

Bloody hell! I wasn’t victim blaming! I was just stating, op says he’s says unforgivable things, then she forgives him. Op don’t forgive him. Let this be the last time, is what I meant by don’t let him get away with it

TheFoundations · 27/11/2021 22:15

@beastlyslumber

The fault is the abuser's. The responsibility to make the abuse stop in the victim's life is the victim's.

@Catcrazy83 knows the difference.

Embracelife · 27/11/2021 22:20

You can only change your response op
A sorry makes no difference
Get up and walk out
Whether that is permanent or not is your choice

beastlyslumber · 27/11/2021 22:20

Sorry I misunderstood you @Catcrazy83

BourbonScreams · 27/11/2021 22:24

He'll never stop, the only way to end the abuse you're facing is to get out of the relationship. It's disgusting that he speaks to you that way and nobody who respects you would behave how he does.

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 22:27

I wwnt out with a man who did that (I'm suspecting not even to the extent your h does) and it didn't stop of change during the relationship.... I suspected I would not stop.

Because, ultimately, it's their character. They enjoy it. They feel compelled to do it. They're wired that way. He also dated the almost complete inability tk apologise or take responsibility or take anything back.

I described some of his behaviour on here and a poster said he was developmentally immature, he had developed emotionally, and I thought she had a good point. He was mid 40s and he wasn't going to change I felt. I could see smaller versions of what he did to me in his interactions with others as well.

When we finished, i doubted he'd manage not to throw insults and he did, saying "no wonder you're a spinster at x age" etc. (I was a divorcee btw lol).

A very roundabout way of saying; I dint thi k they change. It'll only be temporary.

When someone is immature, spiteful, nasty, malicious, accusatory, degrading etc in arguments m, it's them. It's one aspect of them. They clearly get something out of it, some gratification that is more important than your feelings or damage to the relationship. And that gratification, alongside the feeling you wont leave because of it ... makes them.repeat it.

With this type indent even think if they believed you'd leave, they'd even be able to stop themselves.

They are abusive (verbally abusive).

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 22:28

*He also shared

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 22:33

I'd be very interested to see the response if someone said this type "why do you think you behave the way you do during arguments?".

They don't get asked that because the person on the receiving end is (very naturally) hurt, angry, indignant, upset etc and just responding (and often too on the defensive to get on the analytical/offensive,).

I predict lots of side stepping, distracting and red herrings.

I predict "i am abusive, I enjoy it, it makes me feel good, it may me feel superior, I see it as a much better alternative than battering you" etc will not be said.

nocnoc · 27/11/2021 22:56

My DH does this. I’ve been called bitch, arsehole, liar, bullshitter…all during arguments. He can’t control his mouth when provoked. Any kind of issue raised is taken as a criticism and his immediate reaction is verbally aggressive defensive. Speaking to friends, must have men like this. It seems common. Shouting when not getting their own way. Verbally defensive. Mumsnet might leap to “it’s abusive” but I’m going to call it common, I’m afraid. I don’t know anyone who argues with respect or non shouting. You know he’s like this. He’s not going to change. I’m guessing like mine he’s fairly pleasant 90% of the time if he’s not being challenged. It’s not mature but no relationship is perfect. When the argument starts why argue? Just walk away. That’s what I do now. There’s no point arguing and a counsellor told me that demanding apologies isn’t mature or true conflict resolution anyway.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/11/2021 22:57

Why on earth are you tolerating this abusive bullshit? Your marriage sounds miserable.

nocnoc · 27/11/2021 22:59

@Aquamarine1029 but that’s not true. OP said in the post “we don’t argue often” why would you interpret that as being miserable

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 23:04

I don’t know anyone who argues with respect or non shouting.

But op said she doesn't behave like he does in arguments.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/11/2021 23:05

@nocnoc

I wonder how often "often" is, and in between that time I'm wondering if op has to walk on eggshells worried about him kicking off. Being shouted at, called horrible names, and have horrible things said to you, even once, makes a miserable marriage in my book. Many, many women need to raise their standards.

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 23:08

My DH does this. I’ve been called bitch, arsehole, liar, bullshitter…all during arguments

He's verbally abusive.

Are you calling him bastard, arsehole, liar, bullshitter too/first?

If so that would just make you both vet ally abusive.

It's incredibly sad that you think virtually noone can argue with relative respect. Thre are plenty of posters on hete whove judicature they can (and their partners).

Thetes no point saying "all men are like this" be abuse that's simpy not true. And even if it were, it wouldn't be a reason to accept it

youvegottenminuteslynn · 27/11/2021 23:08

@nocnoc

My DH does this. I’ve been called bitch, arsehole, liar, bullshitter…all during arguments. He can’t control his mouth when provoked. Any kind of issue raised is taken as a criticism and his immediate reaction is verbally aggressive defensive. Speaking to friends, must have men like this. It seems common. Shouting when not getting their own way. Verbally defensive. Mumsnet might leap to “it’s abusive” but I’m going to call it common, I’m afraid. I don’t know anyone who argues with respect or non shouting. You know he’s like this. He’s not going to change. I’m guessing like mine he’s fairly pleasant 90% of the time if he’s not being challenged. It’s not mature but no relationship is perfect. When the argument starts why argue? Just walk away. That’s what I do now. There’s no point arguing and a counsellor told me that demanding apologies isn’t mature or true conflict resolution anyway.
Firstly I don't believe that this level of hurtful name calling and anger is 'normal'.

Secondly, even if it was that doesn't mean you have to accept it.

You are being abused by your partner when you row. My partner has never shouted at me or said stuff he doesn't mean when we are having a disagreement. That's how it should be. That's acceptable, normal, healthy.

I don't know if you have kids but if you do, and they're seeing this behaviour, they will go into adulthood thinking it's acceptable to be called names and humiliated during arguments / disagreements.

And they are / hear more than you think. Assume they are listening when voices are raised.

It's no way to live, honestly.

WineAway · 27/11/2021 23:08

He does this because at a basic level he sees you as beneath him, a thing to be verbally kicked. Interesting that nocroc believes that it’s ‘normal’.

I wouldn’t tolerate it, I see no relationship as better than an abusive one.

Allsortsofroses · 27/11/2021 23:09

*There are plenty of posters on here who've indicated they can (and their partners).

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