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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

Relationship ending due to occasional drinking and outbursts... thoughts?

32 replies

Bettsy123 · 31/10/2022 14:32

Hi everyone,

Im feeling heartbroken. Me and my boyfriend have such a good relationship- apart from when he drinks too much.

I live in my house with my daughter who is 4 and he moved in with us about a year ago- just to clarify this has never happened in front of my daughter- she's never in the house- not that it excuses anything.

Myself and my boyfriend rarely drink but when he drinks too much he loses it. First time he was sober and made a harsh comment 'I can see why your ex didn't want to be with you'- completely out of order. my left my ex when I was 7 months pregnant and that was because I found out he was cheating on me. my whole life changed.

next time was when he had drank too much and at some point in the evening (usually around when we go to bed) he kicked off and I've never seen someone drunk like it, completely irrational, screaming at me about how I manipulate things and turning everything back on me, completely irrational and insane things.

I don't even know where he gets it from. this never stems from an argument and I try and stay calm and don't react.

another time we were visiting my family and when we went to bed he kicked off, again insane and screaming at me and shouting all crap and then saying that I was a liar and hurling shit loads of abuse at me. this time he grabbed my wrist and my car keys, my family came down and it all kicked off, my boyfriend was trying to ring the police because he said that I said he was lying, it was just absolutely insane.

since then he has been in therapy working on abandonment issues as he said he feels everyone is just going to leave him so he pushes them away. I said that was the last time and I can't do it anymore so he sorts his shit or that's it.

Now, this weekend we had friends round, we were playing a board game, having drinks and my boyfriend starts being rude to me which makes everyone think 'what the hell', then everyone leaves and he said he felt my mood shift and asked me why, I said he was getting drunk and being rude to me so it had annoyed me. this apparently wasn't a good enough answer, then the verbal abuse starts and he's erratic and saying me and my sister were making stupid looks at each other over the table and making fun of him and her boyfriend- this never happened and even my sister and her boyfriend said it was him who was rude and making it uncomfortable for everyone. Then he starts shouting that 'you're a fucking liar' because apparently I fabricate a life and tell him I love him and shouting 'fuck you and fuck your daughter' and that I need to call me cousin and tell him to give my boyfriend 20grand?? my cousin doesn't owe my boyfriend any money my cousin is just rather well. off because he's worked hard. He was saying how its always me and I manipulate things and this is what I do. none of it ever makes any sense.

He has said he will just not drink- I don't think drink is the only issue here as its absolutely insane and when it happens I'm scared. Ive voiced to him that I don't think it is just the alcohol and he doesn't agree.

I have a daughter to think about and although this has never happened in front of her or even her being in the same building (as we don't drink when she's in the house apart from me having the odd glass of wine) it now made me question him as a person and I've lost trust and I have to protect myself and my daughter.

I love him a lot and apart from this the relationship is good, but I will not accept that this is just down to him not being able to handle his alcohol and I am not in a position where I can take the risk.

I don't know why I'm writing this really but I'm finding it so hard, maybe looking for reassurance. He is still staying here, we only broke up yesterday and he needs to find somewhere to live. I really don't want us to break up, I want things to work and it not happen but I can't continue the relationship and accept the behaviour.

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 31/10/2022 14:52

I think you need to get out of this relationship. He doesn't sound well, from a MH point of view, and it's already escalated into violence.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/10/2022 14:56

If there is no trust, there is no relationship.

What is there to love about him, are you actually confusing love here with codependency?. Why are you so invested in wanting this to work because he will destroy you and your life if you are fool enough to stay with him. He's already insulted your friends and family because of his paranoia stemming from drunkeness.

Your boundaries here, perhaps already weakened by previous poor treatment, are being further got at by this man now.

He needs to find somewhere else to live. Where he goes going forward is not your problem. You are not a rehab centre for some badly raised man so stop acting as one.

He is an alcoholic and you cannot fix or rescue him because his primary relationship is with drink. If he refuses to leave your home use the police if necessary to have him removed. You may now have to take out a non molestation order against him too.

been and done it. · 31/10/2022 14:59

I haven't read anyone else's comments but I am totally gobsmacked to be honest why you would ask for advice about this shitstorm relationship ... surely you don't need the validation of a forum to know the right way forward in this case?

Notanotherwindow · 31/10/2022 15:06

Hell no. Drink isn't the issue here. He really thinks all this, it's only when he is drunk that it comes out. He is dangerous in that state and I would never allow a man who scares me to live with my child. He needs to leave today. Drink or no drink, it's downright endangerment to have him in your house with your daughter. To say nothing of the danger to yourself!

ICanHideButICantRun · 31/10/2022 15:56

Your love for him is incredibly unhealthy. Can't you see how abusive he is? He is absolutely the last person you should have around your daughter. He can't control himself and you certainly can't control him.

KangarooKenny · 31/10/2022 15:58

You need to protect your daughter’s parent, that’s you. Get out.

Keroppi · 31/10/2022 16:04

I really don't want us to break up, I want things to work and it not happen but I can't continue the relationship and accept the behaviour.

Why do you want to continue a relationship with a violent, rude man? Because he gave you a sob story about abandonment issues? You crave love and are used to dysfunction?
No judgement just you need to genuinely think deeply about this - what would you say if it was your daughter and her partner was behaving like this? He's embarrassed and verbally abused you in front of friends and family and you are still wanting to work through it.. Why? No. You should get a claires law on him also just to see if there's a history

You already gave him an ultimatum and he did it again, so you need to finish it and grieve and then become stronger and work on your self esteem and boundaries.

Tell him he has until tomorrow end of day to leave and if he doesn't you are calling the police/your family and change the locks.

KettrickenSmiled · 31/10/2022 16:16

He is still staying here, we only broke up yesterday and he needs to find somewhere to live.
GET. HIM. OUT.

You are shacked up with a dangerously personality disordered man.
The drink is a red herring.
You cannot allow him to remain in your home.
You have a child to protect FFS.

Stop worrying about where he will live. He can pay for a B&B while he sorts himself out, if he has no friends to help him.

KettrickenSmiled · 31/10/2022 16:18

really don't want us to break up, I want things to work and it not happen

Stop being naive.
This is insane thinking.
This man is out of control. Get him out of your house.

KettrickenSmiled · 31/10/2022 16:20

What is there to love about him, are you actually confusing love here with codependency?.

www.verywellmind.com/what-is-codependency-5072124

www.verywellhealth.com/trauma-bonding-5210779

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/10/2022 16:20

He's an abusive prick hiding behind a bottle.

On the streets tonight. With the assistance of the police if necessary. He and where he sleeps tonight is not your problem. Because he's made himself not your problem.

EmmaDilemma5 · 31/10/2022 16:21

This is classic domestic abuse.

It doesn't happen to 'other people'. It's happening to you. Don't put your daughter through it.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/10/2022 16:21

He is a very scary, potentially dangerous man, and you have 100% made the right decision. The only thing you have gone very wrong about is allowing him to stay one second longer. He needs to leave right fucking now. Where he goes isn't your problem, and you should not allow him to be around your child at all.

Watchkeys · 31/10/2022 16:28

A healthy relationship is good, not 'good except for when he...'.

Stay away from relationships until you've worked out a) why you don't currently think that, and b) how to think otherwise.

What was your parents' relationship like?

Pineappleskies · 31/10/2022 16:35

I'm sorry to hear how torn and confused you feel right now.

As you can see from the responses here, there's a big gap between what you think is OK and what other women think is OK.

Having him make excuses and blame you isn't helping your confused thinking.

Just a few short weeks of cutting him out entirely will make a big difference to how you feel about all this.

His behaviour will get worse and you are in a very vulnerable state if he is living there believing the relationship to be over...

If you can't get him to leave, leave the house.

Don't stay in the house with this man.

LemonAndLimeTree · 31/10/2022 16:45

“fuck you and fuck your daughter”

He shouted “fuck your daughter” of your precious 4 year old little girl and you want things to work?

Please OP protect your daughter and get him out of your house.

PrincessofWellies · 31/10/2022 16:46

You need to have him removed from the house. I don't want to worry you, but when you split with them is when they really kick off and the violence can escalate. For your childs sake, he needs to go today. In your position I would ask the police to attend as you want to make a complaint about his violence and ask them to get him to go.

TheWolves · 31/10/2022 16:52

It's definitely not alcohol or abandonment issues.

The significant majority of people do not become wild when they drink. The significant majority of people with abandonment issues aren't violent or aggressive.

theonlygirl · 31/10/2022 17:15

This won't work out, it will only get worse. There's a lot wrong with this guy but for the sake of your child please don't try to fix him. You need to get away from him. For your safety and your daughters.

Bettsy123 · 31/10/2022 21:52

Thankyou everyone. The messages weren’t a pleasant read but I’m thankful either way. He has left tonight and I’m getting locks changed tomorrow (I have taken his key off him but just in case). My childhood was very abusive and neglectful and I have a lot of previous trauma. Definitely looking up a therapist and going to take the time out to work on me!

OP posts:
Keroppi · 01/11/2022 13:59

So glad to hear that. You've done the right thing for you and your daughter, so well done ❤️ It's not easy and I'm sorry to hear about your childhood - but you can actively break the cycle now. TikTok surprisingly has great content from therapists, I'd suggest naking an account and following lots of anti abuse, pro therapy content.

The book "women who love too much" is a great read and will hopefully be very useful for you. a therapist with experience in childhood trauma/cptsd would be best.

Unforgettablehamster · 01/11/2022 14:47

OP - it’s not your fault but it’s your responsibility to get this man out of your life forever and get therapy to work through your trauma and to establish self worth and healthy boundaries. It’s not your responsibility to fix him, help him, understand him, support him.
You have a good life ahead of you, don’t waste it on men like him.

Bananalanacake · 01/11/2022 15:42

It's best to not let a man move in with you when you have young DC.

LemonDrop22 · 01/11/2022 17:24

You have done absolutely the right thing op.

Don't ever let him back

That's terrible about your childhood. I hope you can get some counselling to help you.

LemonDrop22 · 01/11/2022 17:27

Sadly I also agree about not letting a partner move in for a long time.

It's lucky that none of the incidents happened while she was at home.

You could have seen this behaviour over time without him moving in (just with him staying if she was away or staying elsewhere with him, spending time with him). Moving him in just raised the stakes very high and made it much harder for you to psychologically detach and end the relationship etc.

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