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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

MH/gaslighting/both?

5 replies

Ohlookitskate · 02/05/2022 09:18

My (ex?) fiancée lives with PTSD. He's had treatment and manages his anxiety and triggers very well. Our relationship has always been great - blissful even.

TLDR; he experienced a huge trauma, changed, obsessed with his health, then obsessed with me lying and cheating on him, it got unbearable, I asked him to stay elsewhere, he's convinced himself and his family that I was abusive and called off the wedding.

A few months ago he had a hugely traumatic incident and was signed off work.
He completely changed. He became obsessed with his health and believed he was dying, after several hospital stays and every test under the sun, he was given the all clear. This then transferred onto me. It was constant. He wouldn't believe I had just popped to the shop because I had taken too long, would forget I'd told him I had an appointment so accuse me of hiding something, etc. He would ignore me for days then accuse me of being emotionally abusive and ignoring him. He'd forget he'd plan to do something then accuse me of making it up to mess with his head when I asked how it went. I smiled when a friend sent me a meme and he accused me of having an affair.
Every week or so he would break down crying, apologising, talk about what was going on in his mind, how scared he is and how devastated he is for treating me badly. He would make plans to ring for MH support the next day.. then wake up in the morning like none of it happened.

Two weeks ago, he told me in the morning that he was leaving in a few days. He said he couldn't cope with my family, friends and I hating him and treating him badly. I asked him what we'd done, he said he didn't know but he feels it so it's true. I went on my lunchbreak a little late to find several missed calls, I phoned back and he accused me of sleeping with colleagues and 'didn't want to hear my crap about going on break late'. I told him he was being controlling and asked him if he could maybe stay with family for a bit.
I came home from work to find he'd packed everything he owns from our home, on the phone to his family telling them he'd finally realised I'd been abusive our whole relationship. He left without saying a word to me.
He and his family have since all blocked me, he's told our respective children that they're never going to see either of us again, I've had notifications from all companies that our wedding late this year has been cancelled.

I can't process it. In four years he has never remotely been like this before. I can understand that he's been through an unimaginable trauma, then being at home 24/7 while I work.. but I haven't done anything other than love him and try to support him. I'm beside myself worrying about him. My brain is constantly trying to work out if its mental health or he's emotionally abusive, or both, or am I actually abusive? Is this behaviour OK if it's caused by MH? Can't process it.

OP posts:
DenholmElliot · 02/05/2022 09:22

how many unimaginable traumas has he suffered? First he had PTSD, then he had a huge trauma, then he had a hugely traumatic incident - could you tell us a it more about these incidents, it would help

Ohlookitskate · 02/05/2022 09:25

Sorry - it got a bit scrambled! He's had PTSD for a decade, then the traumatic thing a few months ago.

OP posts:
Maydaysoonenough · 02/05/2022 09:27

Sadly until he seeks professional help you need to keep him away. Before your mh is badly affected also.

catfunk · 02/05/2022 09:29

This sounds awful but honestly he's become abusive and controlling towards you so you're better off out of it, so he can either get help (or not)
A friend of mine had a similar experience with her previously lovely fiancée after a very public work related incident. He started acting like your DP, became dependent on drugs etc, then harassed and stalked her when she left - police involved. He was unrecognisable from the old DP and it was so upsetting.
I think you've got off lightly here. Although it won't feel like that at the moment.

DenholmElliot · 02/05/2022 09:30

If he's had PTSD for a decade and it isn't improving then he needs to get that reassessed and re-evaluated. What was the traumatic thing that happened a month ago? I ask because if he's got PTSD, he might be blowing it out of proportion

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