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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

Miserable, been an idiot, had enough

55 replies

ToxicTraits · 04/04/2022 16:56

Posting because I don’t know what to do, feeling miserable and like I’ve had enough. I need to give background to get informed responses, so if this is long please forgive me.

Three years ago DH discussed us having an open marriage with a view to swinging together. We joined Fabswingers and after a month or so I met someone from there. DH wanted me to meet alone initially. That first meet went great and things were good. A month or so later I met someone else. Again a solo meet. The meet went well but when I got home DH made me feel like shit, kept me awake to the point of tears. I vowed I wouldn’t meet anyone again. The next day DH apologised, encouraged me to carry on talking to my last meet (I’ll call him S). In the end I did and with encouragement of DH I met S again. Over the next number of months I met S a couple more times, talking in between via text. DH was generally encouraging S and I meeting, occasionally he’d be bit funny with me but always kept talking about S in the bedroom etc. During this time S and I became really good friends and it wasn’t just about sex. About a year or so in we both ended up with feelings for each other and called time on meeting in a sexual sense any more, but we were still regularly in touch and went and did just normal friend stuff on occasion. Initially I didn’t discuss the feelings with DH, but then I had a discussion about it with him. DH persisted to talk about S in the bedroom, even when I’d asked him not to. If he got annoyed with me he’d sometimes throw in my face regarding S.

Fast forward two years. Through covid S and I have regularly kept in touch, we’ve done things as friends and I’ve gone round to his place for dinner on a number of occasions. At Christmas and birthdays we have bought each other gifts; DH is aware of this. S has bought me more than I’ve bought him and sometimes has asked me if I’d like to go to things. He still doesn’t have a partner, we’ve become best friends in a sense and he isn’t interested in me in that way any more - we’ve had that conversation. Due to covid things have been rearranged such as shows, so things are finally taking place and recently are bunching up. This has been annoying DH, to the point he has made comments about me seeing S or going anyway with him. He will make comments and be nasty about it, I get grief if I go to things and if I see him.

Recently there was a concert that was a rearranged date for tickets S had bought me for the Christmas before last. I hadn’t mentioned the artist to DH initially as he would have been cross due to it being someone we are both fans of. Due to the way DH has been recently about me going to things with S I didn’t tell DH about the rearranged concert, just that I was going out on that evening but I didn’t say I was going with S either. I know it was wrong, I should have just taken the backlash but I didn’t want to get told off for seeing S again. When DH asked me who I was going out with I said friends from work. Again I know I was unreasonable for this. At the end of the evening I got a call from DH, angry, asking me where I was so I told him (I was on my way home at this point). Someone from his work had seen me and took a picture of me, sending it to him. He told me he was going to kill himself (I was about 30 mins away from home at this point). I drove home in a blind panic and nearly crashed at one point. DH does have depression and has been off from work recently, but he has used the threat of killing himself before if he’s been unhappy/angry with me.

When I got home I was berated (my own fault for not telling him) and I tried to apologise. DH refused to accept this and continued to tell me off. He tried to get me to sleep on the couch which I didn’t go. Previously he has taken covers away from me and made me sleep on the couch or floor if he’s been cross with me; but he let me go to sleep and stay in bed. Since then he has spoken to me like shit, ignored me on occasions and refused any apology. I went out with S on Saturday, which was prearranged and DH knew about. On getting home DH laid into me verbally, basically telling me he’d had enough and blasted me for every little thing, from S to the house, to spending any money or using petrol to see S etc. He threatened to not go into work yesterday unless I took him, which I was doing anyway, and said I had to write down any things planned with S that were booked/rearranged. Apparently I am allowed to do these but anything else in future I’m not allowed to agree to unless I ask DH and DH says I can do it. This includes going to see S at his own place. He’s also said he wants the equivalent of money I’ve spent going out to places with S..example S and I went away for a few days, So DH wants to calculate that and any money I’ve spent going to meals or whatever, or petrol money I’ve spent, and he wants that in a lump sum to do with whatever he wants. Now I must point out I asked full permission to go away and DH agreed to this. I’ve never said DH can’t go out and do things, but he doesn’t do a lot. He doesn’t drive, he doesn’t really see his friends, he goes to work and is at home. He is allowed to go out and do things if he wants. He has previously gone away to stag dos, gone out on a weekly basis and gone on trips with a sports team he used to play with. Granted this was all some time ago but I never once had a go at him. In this time I didn’t go out and do things hardly at any point, didn’t spend money. On the very rare occasions I went out for a catch up meal with my cousin (once a year at most), I was told I shouldn’t be out too long and had to keep in touch with messages to DH. I’ve only really been going out more (not just with S but other friends too) recently. Even if I go out with people who aren’t S I used to have to respond to messages on where I was and when I’d be back etc. I’ve written a list of things I have booked in/planned, not just with S but there is something with another friend and then things planned with DH. DH is now saying I have to now highlight the things with S specifically, but if I want to go out at all I have to ask DH. I have been told we will do things as a family at least 2 days a month and have to have a money talk budgeted to the penny. If there’s money left over I can go and see S, this includes petrol money so only going to visit him at his place, but only if I'm ‘on top of my other shit’. For clarity I have been the one budgeting, I am putting money into savings and have been. We aren’t in debt..we were at one point when DH was off work for two years sick and I worked like crazy to clear that and get us on track. We currently live with DH family and can’t move due to the housing market. DH is expecting me to agree to all of what he wants as outlined above and is expecting me to agree to it. I know I fucked up because I lied about where I was going, and although I did it because I didn’t want to get told off I know I shouldn’t have, but I am utterly miserable. I feel like I’m trapped.

OP posts:
LoudParrot · 04/04/2022 17:01

I think you have to move out OP. I can't see any way back from this.

HellToTheNope · 04/04/2022 17:02

Your marriage is a sham, a toxic nightmare. Pack your things and walk out the door.

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 04/04/2022 17:04

Sadly you both chose to play a dangerous game.
Time to end your marriage op.

NotaCoolMum · 04/04/2022 17:42

Again- why in earth do people get married and then decide it’s a healthy to play games outside of the marriage?

You both need to split. You’re toxic together.

DatingDinosaur · 04/04/2022 19:14

What’s all this “being/getting told off”? How old does your DH think you are? 5?

“Previously he has taken covers away from me and made me sleep on the couch or floor if he’s been cross with me; but he let me go to sleep and stay in bed. Since then he has spoken to me like shit, ignored me on occasions and refused any apology. ”

What the actual fuck is that about? Seriously. Who DOES he think he is? How DARE he treat you like that.

Regardless of what you have or haven’t done, you do NOT deserve that sort of treatment. No you don’t. Punishment? No it bloody well isn’t. It’s control, abuse and all other kinds of fucked up. And even if it’s some weird Dom/Sub fetish kink thing it’s gone hellishly wrong.

He has used the threat of killing himself when he’s angry with you? Good, well let him. He sounds like an absolute waste of space.

He’s really enjoying making you grovel for “your wrongdoing”. What an absolute… urgh… words fail me.

LTB

Seriouslynonono · 04/04/2022 19:19

It's sounds like a shitshow. What a mess. What a ridiculous relationship. It isn't a relationship. Let each other go and move on.

tocas · 04/04/2022 19:19

This isn't a healthy marriage in any way in my view, he sounds abusive. I'd leave.

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 04/04/2022 19:25

IMO an 'open marriage' is an oxymoron.

It's a door that, once opened, can't be shut again.

I agree with PPs that you need to leave.

Gerwurtztraminer · 04/04/2022 19:31

So he initiated the 'open relationship' then used it to shame and belittle you. (You don''t say if he ever met someone or if the swinging ever eventuated). It's entirely possible he did this deliberately to get control over you sexually and emotionally, along with the threats of suicide, money issues and telling you off/what to do.

You are an autonomous adult Op and should not be treated this way & don't have to put up with this. You have nothing to be guilty about Please leave him. You live with his family and don't have property to split. You don't mention children. Get out now whilst you can - this will only get worse and could escalate quickly.

TinaYouFatLard · 04/04/2022 19:36

You are both toxic. Him for suggesting the swinging and all his subsequent behaviour and you for not reigning things in with S when you realised DH wasn’t okay with it.

I hope there aren’t any children involved in this shitshow.

Split up and move on.

Fireflygal · 04/04/2022 19:37

Completely agree with everyone else. This is so toxic and screwed up.

Please say there are no children in the mix?

ReadyToMoveIt · 04/04/2022 19:40

This isn’t a marriage OP.

Wartywart · 04/04/2022 19:41

You say you live with his family? What do they say about you sleeping on the couch or the floor?

This all sounds awful. Make plans to leave.

stuntbubbles · 04/04/2022 19:44

Previously he has taken covers away from me and made me sleep on the couch or floor if he’s been cross with me
I don’t need to know anything else: that’s the dealbreaker for me. He’s a shitbag and I would leave now.

NoSquirrels · 04/04/2022 19:45

He sounds abusive and controlling.

You sound like you’re having an emotional affair.

Does your husband also see other people sexually in your open relationship?

You are not trapped because you can leave, and you should leave.

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 04/04/2022 19:50

@NotaCoolMum

Again- why in earth do people get married and then decide it’s a healthy to play games outside of the marriage?

You both need to split. You’re toxic together.

Quite. If you want to shag others don't get married.
OhSoStranger · 04/04/2022 20:19

What a shitshow.

You need to leave him.

WonderfulYou · 04/04/2022 20:23

So your DH was pushing you to have sex with someone else - massive red flag.

And you’ve been lying to him and giving an affair behind his back - now you’re trying to play the victim.

I think it was you that wanted the open marriage and DH went along with it for your sake.
He also went along with you meeting up with S and spending money on each other and even now that’s he’s found about about the lies he’s still going to let you see S because he thinks that if he stops you from seeing him you’ll leave.

This relationship is a joke.
Leave your DH and either be with S or someone else (or better yet single), let his poor parents have their house back instead of sharing it with 2 grown adults and next time you discuss having an open marriage only agree to it if you’re actually going to be honest about everything.

Has DH ever had sex with anyone else?

thenewduchessoflapland · 04/04/2022 20:25

He's abusing you.Leave him.

Franklyfrost · 04/04/2022 20:27

There’s no communication or mutual respect in this relationship.

Zerrin13 · 04/04/2022 20:31

This woukd make a great tv show

Norwolf · 04/04/2022 20:41

Wtf did i just read??? This has to be a joke!

ToxicTraits · 04/04/2022 20:45

I’m not trying to play any victim actually. I lied about where I was going once. I have acknowledged this was seriously the wrong thing to do. I take responsibility for not calling time on things with S when I should have. DH did consistently talk about me still meeting him, gave his blessing on more than one occasion and talked about him the bedroom when asked not to. S and I have done nothing sexually for over two years, that is not on the table. I did not bring up the idea of an open marriage, DH did and had for some time before I actually agreed to anything. When I got the initial message for S I wasn’t actually going to even meet him, but DH encouraged me and told me to go the next day. I did everything voluntarily, but he hasn’t had a passive role in this. No he hasn’t met anyone, to my knowledge, though that has been through his own choice.

Great to know you think my life would make for such great entertainment Zerrin..what a lovely person you are. I am a real person with real thoughts, feelings and emotions. My life is going to complete shit and mentally I am at my limit, but it’s a great laugh eh.

OP posts:
Chloemol · 04/04/2022 20:48

Leave

NoSquirrels · 04/04/2022 20:50

Why do you want to stay married, OP?

From the outside it looks like a really bad decision for you, not a nurturing relationship at all.

Is it a cultural pressure to be married?

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